An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 225

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 225
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 225
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 225
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 225

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In 1885 Mr. Christenson married Miss Mary, daughter of Peter and Anna Elizabeth Peterson. na- tives of Denmark, who came to America in 1866. They located at Alden, Minnesota, and farmed until 1882, when the father died ; the mother still lives on the old homestead with her youngest son. Seven children

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Christenson : Hilda, Peter, Andrew, Anna, Olga, Robert A., and Victor. Mr. Christenson is a Republican and a strong supporter of those salutary principles. In 1896 he was nomi- nated against the fusionist, A. N. Tucker, for county commissioner, but was defeated as were the other' candidates for office on his ticket. He is a member of the Masonic and the K. O. T. M. orders. He and his wife belong to the Danish Lutheran church.

REUBEN J. SAGE. The occupations of farm- ing, stockraising and logging, have busied the sub- ject of this article for the years in which he has resided in Kootenai county and he is considered one of the leading and successful men of the community.

Reuben J. Sage was born in Grand Haven, Michi- gan, on September 5, 1863, being the son of James and Lydia (Budd) Sage, natives of Michigan. The father was a lumberman and did business there until 1877. when he came to Conconully, Washington, and he died in 1899, July 14. Our subject was educated in his native place and at the age of ten started out in life for himself. He learned the bakery business, continu- ing in it for three years in Marinette, Wisconsin. At thirteen he went to Matinique, Michigan, and there learned the blacksmith trade. After eighteen months at it he quit and went to the woods. He ran a camp for a Minneapolis house for four years out of Ash- land, Wisconsin, and in 1892 he came to Kootenai county. After due search, he settled his present home- stead, about two miles east from Laclede. He settled to improving and culturing the same and has a fine orchard, good buildings and handles considerable stock. During the winter months Mr. Sage does much logg- ing, having a fine outfit and being a skillful hand in this capacity. He puts up about sixty tons of hay each year and also raises considerable general farm pro- duce.

In Michigan, on March 12, 1883, Mr. Sage mar- ried Miss Minnie, daughter of Cuthbert and Catherine (Monroe) Cournyer, natives of Canada. They came to Michigan in 1865, where Mrs. Sage was born Aug- ust 26, 1867, and there the father died in 1901 and the mother in 1892. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sage: Nora C., Cuthbert J., Ruby M., James H., Lony J., and Grace. Mr. Sage is liberal in poli- tics, is an independent thinker and always takes an active part in the campaigns in the county. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and are devout in their faith.

THOMAS S. CAMPBELL. While the subject of this article is one of the prosperous farmers of northern Kootenai county, his land is so situated that he has the privilege of living in the town of Laclede, where the family residence is at present. He was born in Poysippi, Wisconsin, on January 6, 1866, being the son of Thomas and Kate (Wilson) Campbell, natives

of Ireland and England. They came to America in 1852, locating in Wisconsin where they lived for thirty-four years, then removed to Sprague, Washing- ton, where they now reside, the father eighty and the mother seventy. They raised twelve children : Ellen, wife of (). P. Shepherd, in Hartline, Washington ; Kate S. Hess, in Laclede; Mary Graves, also in La- ciede ; Luke, in Sprague; Jim, married and living at Wrencoe; Jane Summers, in Poysippi: Thomas S., our subject ; William, in Sprague ; Frank, in Laclede ; Robert, in Sprague and two that died in infancy. Our subject was educated in the public schools and when sixteen started for himself. In 1886 he came to Sprague and soon bought a dairy, where he did busi- ness for fifteen months. Then he worked in the rail- road shops in Sprague and in August, 1890, he came to Kootenai county. He took a homestead and bought thirty-four acres of railroad land. In 1900 Mr. Camp- bell sold twenty-five acres to Andrew Christenson for a mill site. Mr. Campbell has fifty acres cultivated, puts up considerable hay and handles some stock.

In 1892 Mr. Campbell married Miss Edith. daugh- ter of Francis and Elmina (Biggers) Markham. na- tives of Illinois and Missouri, whence they came to Oregon when young and there met and married. After many years of residence there they came to Kootenai county, where they still live. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell: Mina K .. Henry, died May 16, 1898; Francis A. ; James J. ; Oscar, died September 16, 1902. In political matters Mr. Camp- bell is an active Democrat and was the starter of the petition that gave them their present school district. in which he has been trustee since. He is a member of the K. of P., Red Cross Lodge, Spokane. Mr. Campbell is one of the substantial and respected men of this section and stands well with all.

ADOLPH MILLER. Because of the labors of such men as the subject of this sketch, Kootenai county is becoming one of the well settled and thriving coun- ties of the state and it is with pleasure that we are able to record these faithful labors.

Adolph Miller was born in Baden, Germany. on February 29, 1868, being the son of Rudolph and Elizabetlı (Shoepflen) Miller, natives of Switzerland and Baden, respectively. The father migrated to Ba- den and there married and settled down to farming until 1877, when he died. The mother came to America and died in 1887, in New York. Our subject was edu- cated in the public schools in his native place and in 1883 came to Erie county, New York, with his mother. He worked on farms until he was of age and then, in 1887, came to Sprague, Washington. He wrought on a dairy farm for one year and then drove a herd of cattle to Kootenai county. Then he repaired to Portland and for three years he wrought at bridge work. Two years following this he worked in a brick yard, at this time he bought fifty acres of land near New Era, Oregon, but later sold it. In 1897 he came to his present place, about one mile east from

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Wrencoe, across the river. He took a quarter section of government land, improved it with buildings, as cabin, barn, and so forth and settled down to farming and raising stock. He now has a good frame house, barn, sixty acres under fence and cultivation and a bunch of stock. He has also a million feet of good saw timber. Mr. Miller is one of the substantial men of the community and has been prospered because of his thrift and industry. He has two brothers and one sister : Fred. Ernest, Mary, wife of C. E. Barger, in Kootenai county. Mr. Miller was married in Spokane, Washington, on December 27. 1902, to Miss Effie M. Barger, formerly of St. Joseph, Missouri, but lately employed by the telephone company of Spokane.

CYRUS B. SHEAR. A prosperous young farmer and stockman, whose labors have demonstrated him to be possessed both of skill and integrity, while he has a wealth of executive force, it is quite fitting that he should be accorded representation in the history of his county.

Cyrus B. Shear was born in Salt Lake City, on September 21, 1869. being the son of Edward A. and Annie (Stewart) Shear, especial mention of whom oc- curs in another portion of the work. The family went to Provo City, Utah, when our subject was small and there he was educated in the common schools and in the Brigham Young Academy. He remained with his parents in the various places where they lived until the time of his majority, when he took up work in the Park City mines until 1891, then journeyed as far as Koote- nai county, settling in his present place, two miles south from Wrencoe. He has one hundred and twenty acres, well cultivated and improved with good buildings, which supports a goodly number of stock. He raises a hundred tons of hay annually and keeps sufficient stock to consume it all.

On November 20, 1890, Mr. Shear married Miss Louise, daughter of Charles and Mary A. (Essicks) Cook, natives of England. They came to America in 1873 and after a three years' residence in Chicago removed to Denver, Colorado, where Mr. Cook died. Later they all came to Salt Lake City, where the mother still lives. Five children have been born to MIr. and Mrs. Shear : William H., Edward C., Joseph E., Ralph M., and Mable L. In political matters Mr. Shear is a liberal and independent thinker. In June, 1899. Mr. Shear was elected school trustee and called the first meeting to set off a new district. He is a supporter of good schools and is a laborer in the line of general progress. Mrs. Shear is a member of the Latter Day Saint church.

JAMES NELSON. Mr. Nelson has done a lion's share in the development of the west, laboring with an energy and skill that have brought their own success. At the present he is handling his estate on one quarter section, one mile south from Valley, where he does

a general farming business, raises stock, and is doing a first-class job in improvement.

James Nelson was born in TornbeSogen, Denmark, on September 22, 1851, being the son of Neils Jensen and Johanna Marie (Micheals) Dater, natives also of Denmark, where they remained until the time of their death. James received a common schooling, and worked out from the time he was ten, until he was fourteen, going to school, however, in the winters. When fourteen he went to do for himself, herding cattle and farming. Mr. Nelson desired to get in the marine service, but not being tall enough was de- tailed for the land force. That not being to his taste. he left Denmark and came to Pennsylvania, thence to California, then to Fraser river country and at the time of constructing the Northern Pacific he came to Idaho and wrought here between Spokane and Rath- drum for a period. He then took a squatter's right on surveyed land on Eight-mile Prairie, later sold it and built a schooner for the Pend Oreille lake and did freighting for a couple of years. Selling this, he came to his present place and took a squatter's right and homesteaded as soon as surveyed. This was in 1887, thus making Mr. Nelson one of the early pioneers of this section. He has over one hundred acres under cultivation and raises stock in addition to doing general farming. Good buildings, orchard, fencing and other substantial improvements are in evidence on the farm and testify to the faithful and wise labor of our sub- ject.

On June 6, 1888, Mr. Nelson married Miss Emma B. Long, of Nashville, Tennessee. She came, in 1886. to Sandpoint, Idaho, where she met and married Mr. Nelson. Mrs. Nelson has been in the work of the educator for a number of years, teaching four terms before she left Tennessee. She also taught two years in Idaho, and is now school clerk. One child has been born to this happy union, Grace J., now in school. Mr. Nelson is independent in politics. He resigned the office of road supervisor. Mr. Nelson is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 67, at Priest River. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are widely known and highly respected. being capable, upright and enterprising people of excel- lent standing.

EDWARD A. SHEAR. As one is known by his work, so it is right that one's work should praise him. Surely in this case before us, it is but right to state that the subject of this article has been one of the most active and successful mechanical engineers in this portion of the west and it is with pleasure that we accord him representation in this volume.

Edward A. Shear was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on January 5, 1850, being the son of John B. and Ann Robinson, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. They came to Grand Rapids and later moved to Lowell, where they died. The father had been a successful operator in the lumber and general merchandise business. Edward was educated in Grand Rapids and went with his parents to Lowell. where he learned well the business of his father and

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

also was well trained in the line of mechanical engineer, being apt at this calling from the start. While still a young man he came to Sedalia, Missouri, and took charge of a large mercantile establishment, which he closed out in 1870, for the owners. Next he went to Texas and shortly was in Salt Lake City with a bunch of cattle. He soon went to the mines and in that capacity he has wrought more or less since. He soon gained the name of the Nevada mill builder. He built the largest cyanide mill in the world and a thirty stamp mill in the Custer City district in Idaho. He also superintended the Raymond, which was twelve hun- dred feet deep, and Eli mines in Nevada. He built two mills in the Wood river country and put up the first mill in the Okanogan country, for ex-governor Lawton. Mr. Shear also erected the Last Chance mill in Bingham, Utah, and the Crescent and the Glencoe mills at Park City, Utah. He did other work at Park City and also put up the hoisting works of the Lady of the Lake Anchor mines and the Cactus concentrator at Copper Gulch, near Frisco, Utah. In 1901 he put up the works on the Wabash, in Park City and also the large saw mill at Sandpoint. He erected the cyanide mill in the Seven Devils country and many others in the last thirty years. In 1891 Mr. Shear came to Kootenai county and bought a relinquishment of his present place in Wrencoe, which he has improved un- til it is one of the finest places in the entire county ; he handles many tons of hay and lots of stock each year. Mr. Shear is also interested personally in dif- ferent mines and is a man of commanding ability and force in his profession, having demonstrated this in many excellent works.

In 1874. Mr. Shear married Miss Annie Stewart, whose parents were natives of Utah. The wedding oc- curred in Silver City, Utah. Two children have been born to this union: Cyrus B., married and living in this county ; William, with his parents. Mr. Shear is a man whose labors are well known all over the west and is in demand by the best mining companies, having made a very enviable record. He is esteemed by all who know him and is counted in his home place as one of the best of neighbors and a genuine gentleman. genial and affable. He is now engaged in a general merchandise business at Wrencoe, Idaho.

DONALD O. MERRITT, a stirring young gen- tleman of whom we now speak, is one of the later set- tlers in Kootenai county, having a farm one and one- half miles south from Wrencoe. He is a man of energy and patriotism and is doing a first class work in the improvement of his place.

Donald O. Merritt was born in Streator, Illinois, on December 19, 1875, being the son of Jay K. and Ella (Morris) Merritt, natives respectively of Michi- gan and Canada. The mother came to the United States when ten years of age, settling in Streator. The family remained there until later years when Mr. Merritt brought them all to the Hoodoo valley in Idaho, where the parents now reside. Our subject

received his education in Streator mostly, and when he came west he took hold with a trusty pioneer spirit and is the proud possessor of a record equal to any. In 1898 he enlisted in Company B, of the Idaho Vohin- teers, and went to war in the Philippines. He fought in the battles of Manila, Santa Ana, and Calookan and was then taken sick and languished in the hospital in that tropical climate until July, when liis regiment was ordered home and he was able to join them before they sailed for San Francisco. He was mustered out in San Francisco after a continual service of sixteen months and came home via Boise. He was taken sick in May, 1899, left Manila July 31. and was mustered out on September 29. He wrought in the woods the following winter and in 1901 bought his present place, which he has begun to develop in good shape. He has twenty-five acres under tribute to crops, comfortable buildings and is handling some stock.

On December 25. 1901, Mr. Merritt married Miss Maggie L., daughter of Harry and Ellen White, natives of Kansas. They came to Spokane Prairie, Washington, in 1891 and reside there now. Mrs. Merritt has one sister, Jennie, with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt are members of the Seven Day Advent church. They are young people of good stand- ing and are a valuable acquisition to the society of the community.

HANS L. JORGENSEN is an enterprising agriculturist and stockman and also one of the lead- ing citizens of his home community, where he is highly respected and known as a substantial and up- right man.

Hans L. Jorgensen was born in Hoithorthrup coun- ty, Denmark, on November 20, 1850, being the son of Peter and Esther (Larsen) Jorgensen, also natives of the same place, where the father died in 1887, aged sixty-four, and the mother in 1898. The father was a teacher in the public schools and after forty years of this commendable labor he received a pension from the government. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, Jens Jorgensen, was also a teacher and pensioned for his services. King Christian, the Ninth, gave him a medal of decoration for his long service. He cele- brated his silver, golden, and diamond wedding in the same district where he had taught for so long. He died aged ninety-four and his wife preceded him one month, being ninty-three. Our subject received a first-class education and at the age of twenty gradu- ated from the Royal High Agricultural School in Copenhagen. Then came six months' service in the army and after that he was the favored one whose lot was drawn to be allowed to spend his time at home. He remained for some years on his uncle's farm. drilling one month each year in the army and then operated two years each on two different farms as foreman. He also conducted a dairy farm for some time. In 1880, Mr. Jorgensen came to America, locating in Muskegon, Michigan, where he wrought in a saw mill. Then we see him in Racine, Wisconsin,

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the next spring he went to Duluth, then to Dakota, where he rented a farm near Valley City for one year. Next he migrated to Spokane, where two and one-half years were spent, and in 1890 Mr. Jorgensen same to his present place, in Valley, where he has dwelt since. He bought a squatter's right for sixty dollars, has done fine improving on his land, has a goodly herd of cattle and raises general produce.

On February to, 1895, Mr. Jorgensen married Mrs. Catherine A., widow of Karl J. Agergaard, of Lemrig, in Jutland, Denmark. He died in Minnesota in 1886. Mrs. Jorgensen was born in Denmark in 1851, March 14, and there was educated. Her parents, Frederick M. and Frederica (Knebus) Becher, were natives of Denmark, where they now live aged eighty-five and eighty-four, respectively. After her first husband's death, Mrs. Jorgensen went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, thence to Laramie, Wyoming, later to Walla Walla, thence to Portland, and finally to Kootenai county, where she met and married Mr. Jorgensen, as stated. She has one child by her former marriage, Dana B., going to school. Mrs. Jorgensen is a member of Danish Sisterhood Lodge No. 8, at Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin. She and her husband are members of the Luther- an church. Mr. Jorgensen is an independent thinker in political matters and has been active in the realm of good government and progression. He was at the Populist convention in 1894 and in 1902 was elected justice of the peace by the Republicans. He has also served on the school board, being a supporter of good schools.

WILLIAM R. HOAR. This enterprising and capable gentleman is possessed of more than the ordi- nary pluck and determination since he has, in spite of the severest obstacles, wrought his way to success and showed his ability to overcome.

William R. Hoar was born in Pointe De Bute. Westmoreland county, New Brunswick, Canada, on April 4. 1848, being the son of Archibald and Miranda (Wells) Hoar, natives of the same place. The mother died many years since, but the father lived until 1888. He was a harness maker and owned a shop of his own. William received a common schooling, spent one year in Amherst college and then learned the harness makers trade from his father, which he followed for three years. Subsequent to that, he went to sea for six years and then learned the tanner's art, operating a plant of his own for three years and in 1879 came to Britishi Columbia and opened a tannery on the Fraser river. In 1884 he sold out and came to Auburn, King county, Washington, where he opened a store, also was post- master and had a telephone office. This occupied him until 1890, when he sold out and came to Ellensburg. Washington, from which point he prospected and worked on the railroad until 1896. During this time, he had the great misfortune to lose one of his arms, which laid him up for one year. Arising from this bed of suffering and hardship, Mr. Hoar again con- fronted the battles of life and although thus hampered,

he bravely set his face for success. in 1898 he came to his present place, in Valley, where he bought land and went to farming and raising stock. He has made an excellent showing here and is on the road to a fitting success.

On January 24, 1876, Mr. Hoar married Miss Mary J., daughter of Burton and Caroline (King) Chappell, natives of Nova Scotia, where they remained until the time of their death. Three children have been born to this union: Herbert C., living in Spokane; William G., also in Spokane; Virgil, attending school in Spo- kane. Mr. Hoar is a stanch Republican and takes an active part. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 60, at Auburn. Mrs. Hoar is a member of the F. U. of America.

ANDREW A. MERRITT. In the financial realm Mr. Merritt is a prosperous farmer and stock- man. Politically he is influential and a stanch Re- publican. In 1902 he was nominated by his party for county commissioner from the second district against S. H. Watkins, Democrat. He has been influential since his residence here, in all the conventions and caucuses and is now one of the substantial and capa- ble men of this section.

Andrew A. Merritt was born in Lansing, Tomp- kins county, New York, in 1860, being the son of Thomas and Eliza (King) Merritt, natives of New York. In 1862 they removed to Michigan, where the father died in 1868, the mother residing there a de- cade longer and then removing to Streator, Illinois. In 1889 she came to Kootenai county, where she died in 1895. Andrew received his education in the var- ious places where the family lived, remaining with his mother until 1878, when he started in life for him- self : He married soon and moved to Illinois where he wrought at the carpenter's trade. Then he went to Colorado and there wrought for two years. In 1883 he was in Colfax and there did carpentering, also handled a farm and in 1887 he came to his present place, about two and one-half miles southwest from Valley. Here he has resided since and in addition to the homestead, he bought a forty acre tract of tim- ber land. He has improved his place in fine shape ; has considerable stock and raises much poultry.

In Eaton county, Michigan, in 1879, Mr. Merritt married Miss Cora E., daughter of Cyrus and Emma Cowan. In 1883 he got a divorce and has not mar- ried since. Mr. Merritt has always conducted him- self so as to win the esteem and approbation of all who knew him and is a popular and upright man. He has heen elected road overseer for a number of terms. He is a member of the K. O. T. M.

CHARLES GERTUM. Adjoining the hamlet of Valley lies the estate of our subject, to which he acquired title by the homestead right and he now de- votes himself to the improvement and cultivation of

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the farm, having demonstrated himself to be a pro- gressive, capable and upright man, which has given him the confidence and esteem of the people.

Charles Gertum was born on June 21, 1851, in Brooklyn, New York, being the son of Charles and Helen (Dick) Gertum, natives of Mayence, Germany, that place being on the Rhine. On account of taking part in the rebellion in Germany in 1848, the father was forced with Carl Schurz, General Sigel and others to flee that country. He located in New York and fol- lowed merchandising and in 1851 went to Brazil where he did an importing and exporting business until 1860, in which year he returned to the United States. In 1861 he bought a truck farm near Brooklyn and oper- ated that for two years and then sold out and moved to Brooklyn where he was elected justice of the peace and continued in the office for twenty-seven years. He died in 1894; his wife had died in 1871. Charles re- ceived his elementary training in the common schools, then spent three years under private instruction and in 1867 graduated from Tuner College. Then he took up the art of the carpenter and builder and mastered it in due time. In 1884 he came to Minnesota, settling in Ottertail county, and farmed there for five years. In 1889 he returned to New York to take charge of build- ing a block and in 1890 he came back to Hubbard county and wrought at his trade for four years, when he came to his present location. He has thirty acres cultivated and his farm improved with buildings, or- chard, fence, and so forth. He handles stock and puts up some hay. In political matters Mr. Gertum is a Democrat and has done good work in promoting the schools of his vicinity. He is now justice of the peace and has served six years as clerk of the school board. Mr. Gertum is a charter member of the F. O. A., Court No. 18, at Priest River.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 225

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