An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 226

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 226
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 226
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 226
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 226

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JAY K. MERRITT. The men who open the country for settlement are the ones who do the hard work and are called upon to stand all kinds of hard- ships and endure various deprivations, more than can be enumerated, and surely are deserving of especial mention when the history of their county is written. Our subject was one of this worthy band who opened Kootenai county and is now living three miles south from Valley on land that he has cleared and improved by his own labor.

Jay K. Merritt is the son of Thomas O. and Eliza M. (King) Merritt, natives of Cayuga county, New York. In 1861 they removed to Eaton county, Mich- igan, where the father died about 1870, and the family came on to Streator, Illinois. In 1888 the mother came to the home of our subject in this county and here she died aged eighty-two years. She had raised ten children, nine boys and one girl, five of whom are still living. Carrie, wife of E. B. Smith, in Coldwater, Michigan : Jay K., our subject ; Otis and Andrew, both in this county; Frank, married and living in Streator. Illinois. Jay K. was born in Tompkins county, New York, on April 6, 1845, and there he re-

ceived a common schooling. He remained with his mother until he was twenty-seven. In 1861 he began to learn the carpenter's trade and in 1868 came to Streator, where Mr. Merritt followed his trade for many years. In 1889 he came to Kootenai county and selected his present place. It was wild country with no neighbors near. He was obliged to erect his house and buildings without the aid of a team, later he bought a pair of bullocks which he broke to harness and afterwards traded for a span of horses; the joy of getting his first span of horses to replace the stub- born and slow oxen impressed itself firmly on Mr. Merritt. He has good buildings, fine well, good or- chard, and all other improvements needed. Mr. Alerritt devoted much attention to raising stock until 1896, when an under current broke out on his meadow and since he has been unable to get on it. He con- templates draining it as it is a very valuable piece of land.

On October 7, 1873. Mr. Merritt married Miss Ella A., daughter of Prince W. and Elizabeth ( Carey) Morris, natives of England. They came to Canada when young and to the United States in 1851, locat- ing in LaSalle, Illinois, where the father died in 1858. having reared seven children. The mother is now the wife of 'Squire Blakely. Mr. Merritt is an active Republican, especially in school matters. He was the first to agitate the question of getting a school and has since served as director with wisdom. Mrs. Merritt is a member of the Presbyterian church.

ALBERT H. NOBLE. In the person of the sub- ject of this article we have one who has weathered the adversity and panicky times that strewed the coun- try with so many financial wrecks, and has now come to be one of the prosperous farmers of northern Kootenai county, while he started here in the very midst of these times with no capital except a good stock of courage and determination that he would win. A detailed account of his career will be interesting to all.

Albert H. Noble was born in Monroe county, West Virginia, on January 26, 1852, being the son of Sepher and Emeline (Bocok) Noble, natives of Virginia. They moved to West Virginia and there farmed until their death. They raised two children. The father died when our subject was an infant and the mother married Joshua Morris in 1854. They raised five children. Albert received a good common schooling and remained with his mother in the work of the farm until he was nineteen and then in 1871. he went to Ohio and packed salt in the works there for one year. After this he returned to his native place in West Virginia and there farmed until 1887. In that year he came with his family to Sprague, Washington, thence to Wilbur and then operated a restaurant in Tyler. It was 1891 when he came to Kootenai county and for two years he chopped cord wood. In 1894 he filed on his present place, one- half mile north from .Athol. With his own hands he

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built a house, a barn and out buildings and when they came to count their assets they found that one dollar and twenty-five cents was the sum total of cash, and they had a small stock of provisions. The times had i en hard and the wages low for wood cutting in the two years previous and Mr. Noble had only succeeded in supporting the family. Now, a bunch of thieving tramps stole all the provisions and the cash, when all chanced to be absent from the cabin and it was evident that a crisis was on hand. This was the awful time of panic in this country and M1. Noble sought in every direction to provide for his needs. Soon he secured a part of a contract from a man to cut wood for the railroad, and with his son, twelve years of age, he succeeded in getting enough cut and hauled to weather them through, and little by little he began to improve his place. He has a good farm, is all out of debt, has some stock and is on the road to a gratifying competence.

On November 9, 1875, Mr. Noble married Miss Harriet, daughter of Juble and Lucinda Paine, natives of Virginia, who removed to West Virginia and there remained until their death. They were parents of four girls. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have three children : Louise, deceased ; Albert, married and living in Gran- ite ; Mary, wife of Albert Sniders in Spokane. Mr. Noble is a Republican and serves on the school board. He and his wife are devout members of the Baptist church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Pine Lodge, No. 75, in Athol.

ULYSSIS G. SMITH. About one mile south from Granite one finds the home of Mr. Smith, which is a valuable place, and which he is improving in a thrifty way, devoting himself both to general farm- ing and to raising stock, of which he has about thirty head at the present time.

Ulyssis G. Smith was born in Huntington, In- diana, on July 16, 1865, being the son of John and Elizabeth ( McClure) Smith, natives of Indiana, and later they moved to Michigan, where they now live. Our subject went with the family to the vicinity of Lansing and there received his education in the common schools and finished it in a business college. When eighteen he began lahor for himself and for a time wrought on the neighboring farms and in Lan- sing. Later he was in Richmond, Indiana, working for the Adams Express Company. In 1889 he came to Seattle and there wrought at contracting for a time. Then he visited Yakima and spent one year on a farm and also one season on the Yakima reservation farm- ing. After this he sold his stock and came to Col- fax and conducted a wood yard for a time. Next he took a contract of cutting three hundred cords of wood near Rockford and after completing that he came to his present place, having also spent some time in Rathdrum. He is one of the enterprising farmers of the community and is doing well, while he main- tains an untarnished reputation among all.

In June, 1900, Mr. Smith married Miss Addie Shyter, whose parents are natives of Michigan. They came to Wisconsin and in 1888 made the journey to Kootenai county, where they now live. One child has been born to this union, Ivadell T. In political matters Mr. Smith is a firm Republican but is an in- dependent thinker. He is a member of the MI. W. A. at Athol.

CAPTAIN PETER C. SORENSEN. Among the very first who settled in the vicinity of Coeur d'Alene and having maintained a steady residence since those early days, a man who has done a lion's share in the development of the resources of the county, while also he has made rapid strides in the business world, where he has accumulated a fine property, the gentleman whose name appears above is one to be represented in the history of his county, since also he is a man of stanch integrity, and is a substantial and capable citi- zen, intelligent and upright.

It will be interesting to note the details of his suc- cessful life so we append the following. Peter C. Sorensen was born in Krogro, Norway, on December 25. 1833, being the son of Samuel and Margaret (Christensen ) Sorensen, natives of Norway, where they remained on a farin until the time of their death. Six boys and six girls were the children of this family. Peter C. was privileged to attend school six weeks of each year until he was sixteen, when he took up the stone cutter's trade. He came to America in 1866, locating in Depere, Wisconsin. There he built two smelting furnaces and worked for the Fox River Iron Company for eleven years. Then he came to the Sound and soon returned to Coeur d'Alene. He built a steamboat for the government, known as Amelia Wheaten, the first boat on the lake, of which he was captain for three years. He named all the points about the lake, such as Cougar bay, Collin bay, East point, West point, and many others. He also ex- plored the Coeur d'Alene river and dug through the bar that hindered navigation. Then Captain Soren- sen gave his attention to building ships and more or less since that time he has labored at this intricate craft, in which he has done some excellent work. He built the Spokane a passenger boat, and has just com- pleted a ship to be known as the Colfax, which was launched on July 24, 1902. Captain Sorensen has also constructed for himself a fine hotel of twenty-one rooms, in the heart of the town, while he has a fine residence two miles across the lake, which place is known as Northcape. He has two good cottages, also six hundred fruit trees. And as an ornament the Captain has constructed a prohibition church eight feet square and the same height, entirely made of bottles of all kinds. He has also constructed a sun dial, known as the Coeur d'Alene. He has also a Marconi wireless telegraphic paraphernalia complete. These things demonstrate the genius and excellent taste of the Captain and make his home place one of the most attractive and pleasant on the lake.

CAPT. PETER C. SORENSEN.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

In 1854 Captain Sorensen married Miss Marie, daughter of Ole and Hilga Olesen, natives of Nor- way, where they remained until their death. This estimable lady died in 1861, leaving one child, Chris- tine, now Mrs. Amanuel Hosle, who is landlady of the Sorensen hotel. Captain Sorensen is an active and ardent Republican and for three years, from 1888 to 1891, he was a member of the town board. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and is one of the most affable and genial men of the county.

SAMUEL H. WATKINS. This well known merchant of Athol and dealer in lumber products is one of the real pioneers of northern Kootenai county and has the distinction of opening the first mercantile establishment in Athol, where he has continued since, now doing a fine business.

Samuel H. Watkins was born in Detroit, Michi- gan, on March 4, 1850, being the son of Washington and Mary A. (Hendricks) Watkins, natives of New York. The mother died in Cleveland, Ohio, in De- cember, 1875, and the father died the following year. The father had served in the Mexican war and they were the parents of five children: Steven E., de- ceased ; Benjamin, deceased : Mary H., living in De- troit ; Sarah B., married to Mr. Stevens, an attorney in Detroit : Samuel H., our subject. He was educated in Detroit and Ypsilanti and then completed a course in the state normal in 1868. When eighteen he went to Cleveland and learned the harness trade, following it until 1872. Then he enlisted in the Fourth Regn- lar Cavalry and served through the Indian wars in New Mexico and Texas under General Mckenzie. He re-enlisted in the First Regular Cavalry under General Grover, uncle of Grover Cleveland. Serv- ing his five years, he came to the coast and then to Colfax, Washington. From there he went to the Coeur d'Alenes at the time of the gold excitement in 1883. Later he went to work on the Northern Pacific. In 1888 he opened a general merchandise establishment in Ritzville, Washington, under the firm name of Bellamy & Watkins, which he continued until 1895, the time he came to Athol, erected a store and brought his stock hither. During his stay at Ritzville Mr. Watkins made a trip to New Hampshire.

On January 16, 1879, Mr. Watkins married Miss Mattie E .. daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah A. (Brown) Freeman, natives of New Hampshire, where they still reside, being in the shoe manufactur- ing business. They were the parents of ten children : Charles W., married and living in New Hampshire; Lizzie A., wife of George Adam, living in New Brunswick : Albert, deceased ; Frank, married and liv- ing in New Hampshire; Orrin G., married in Mas- sachusetts ; Hattie, wife of Samuel E. Noyse, in New Hampshire : Bert, deceased : Harry O., single and liv- ing with parents; Lucius R., married and living in New Hampshire. Our subject has three children : Earl F., Mark O. and Glen E. Politically Mr. Wat- kins is a Democrat and on September 12, 1901, he 60

was appointed by Governor Hunt to the position of county commissioner. He was nominated for county commissioner in 1902. Mr. Watkins has taken great interest in organizing districts forty-nine and sixty- four in Kootenai county, and is a champion for good schools. Mr. Watkins is affiliated with the I. (). O. F., Pine Lodge, No. 75, of Athol; and is also a member of the K. P. of Rathdrum. He and his wife are also members of the Rebekahs, Evergreen Lodge, No. 51. They attend the Methodist church and are good people and have done very much for the up- building of the place and this portion of the county.

IRA L. YOUNG. Deeds speak louder than words and the best introduction to the life of this enterpris- ing and successful man is to recount, as fully as space will allow, his deeds of labor and his achievements.

Ira L. Young was born in Davenport, Iowa, on May 10, 1863, being the son of Jethro J. and Margaret E. (Ferguson) Young, natives of Pennsylvania. The family settled in that colony long before the Revolu- tion and both the great-grandfathers of our subject fought in that conflict. His mother's grandfather lost two children by Indian massacre and all his property, while the ones suffering in the terrible Gilbert massa- cre in early days were his relatives. The parents came to Illinois, thence to Iowa, and later to North Dakota, where the mother died and then the father returned to Jasper county, Iowa, and is living there now. Ira gained his education from the schools where the family lived in his minority and when seventeen commenced working out on adjacent farms but made his home with his parents until twenty. Then he went to North Dakota, herded cattle, farmed and dug wells until 1895, when he went with a good outfit to thresh and the Great Northern engines set fire to his property through prairie fires and destroyed it all. He experienced great inconvenience in the blizzards in that country also, living one week on pota- toes, as the weather precluded a trip for supplies. He took a timber claim there and still owns it. The losses of nearly six thousand dollars worth of property in the fire spoken of occurred in 1895, and he went to work by the day for a time and in 1897 he left Turtle mountains with a pack train of six horses for Wash- ington. He left the horses for the winter in Horse Plaines, Montana, and the next spring went back from Spokane for them and found they had all been eaten by grizzly bears and mountain lions. He then came to Athol, bought a quarter of railroad land and settled down, but he had not a dollar and so went to work to get supplies and then he improved his place in good shape. In 1901 Mr. Young went to the Palouse country and there lost his wife. He then went to Yakima and there labored and took a desert claim, which he still owns. In 1902 Mr. Young came back to his present place, one-half mile west from Athol and resides there now. He has over two thou- sand acres of land, which he has accumulated in the last five years.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

On February 9, 1900, Mr. Young married Mrs. Malissa E. Coursor, of Buffalo, Missouri, and on Sep- tember 8. 1901, she died. Mr: Young is a charter mem- ber of the M. W. A., Athol Camp, No. 8388. In politics he is a Republican and active especially in local mat- ters. Mr. Young was in the government service freighting when the Sioux broke out from the Pine Ridge agency in Dakota, and he heard the shot that killed Sitting Bull, the famous chieftain of that tribe.

On December 29, 1902, Mr. Young married Sally A. Dula, of Lenoir, North Carolina, who came all the way from her home to get married. For pastime Mr. Young has recently taken up photography, and has taken some very fine views of the country and logging in his neighborhood.

ROBERT C. EGBERS. Prominent in the edu- cational circles of northern Idaho, as also he has been in other places, a man of culture and talent, while also he has taken hold with a willing hand to do the pio- neer's noble work, it is proper to place a review of the life of our subject in the history of Kootenai county.

Robert C. Egbers was born in Hancock county, Illinois, on March 26, 1866, being the son of Francis M. and Elizabeth (Wilcox) Egbers, natives of Lou- isiana and London, England. The mother came to America in 1847 and located in Illinois, where she was married, and for twenty years they lived in Hancock county, and in 1885 came to Ritzville, Washington. In 1901 they came to Kootenai county and now reside liere. Robert received a common school education and at seventeen started out for himself, teaching vocal music to pay the expenses of a more extended course to fit him for his profession. He taught his first school in Stillwell, Illlinois, in 1885 and since that time he has been more or less steadily in this line of endeavor. He removed to Ritzville in 1886 and was soon one of the board of examiners for Adams county. In 1888 he was nominated by the Republican party against J. C. Hoffman, Democrat, for county superintendent of schools and won the day by ninety-nine votes. In 1890 he won against W. R. Cunningham by the same ma- jority, and in 1892 he won against B. J. Neare by thirty-six votes. In 1894 he was nominated for clerk of the court and was beaten by Louis Walton, fusion- ist, by a small majority. His wife's health was fail- ing and he was forced to make another move, and ac- cordingly he came to Athol, Idaho. He at once went to teaching and for five years he has taught steadily in one school, giving perfect satisfaction and doing a thorough and commendable work. Mr. Egbers has taken a homestead where he now lives, four miles southeast from Athol, and he has bestowed much labor in improving it in good shape. In 1900 Mr. Egbers was nominated by his party for county superintendent of schools against Daniel Van Duzer and was beaten by a small majority. Again in 1902 he was nominated on the same ticket, Mr. Van Duzer being his opponent, and was elected by three hundred and eighty-one ma- jority.

In December, 1888, Mr. Egbers married Miss Rhoda M., daughter of C. R. and Mary Bardwell, natives of Pennsylvania and Minnesota, respectively, but now residents of Ritzville, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Egbers are the parents of six children, four of whom are living, as follows: Miles F., Mark W., Ruth L., Dwight S. Our subject and his faithful wife are members of the Methodist church and are leading and highly esteemed people. In the five conventions that nominated Mr. Egbers he has never had an oppos- ing vote.

ANTHONY A. SAGE. Six and one-half miles southeast from Athol is the estate of Anthony A. Sage, and it consists of one section of good land, while his son and daughter own enough adjoining to make it fourteen hundred acres. Mr. Sage is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Kootenai coun- ty, and he is an upright and reliable man of good standing.

Anthony A. Sage was born in Saratoga county, New York, on January 24, 1850, being the son of Nester and Susan (Gray) Sage, natives of New York, but emigrants to Iowa in 1848. They located at Ana- mosa and there the father wrought at the carpenter trade until 1862, when he enlisted in the Thirty-first lowa and fought for two years and then died at Memphis from a disease contracted in his service. In 1866 the mother married again, I. N. Potter be- coming her husband and in 1877 he died. She now lives in Wyoming and last year made a visit to this son. Anthony received his education in the places where the family lived and after his father's death inuch of the burden fell on him as he was the eldest son. After his mother's second marriage he again took up school until eighteen, when he started for himself. He rented land until twenty-one, and then married and soon after he was taken sick. By mis- take he was given a teaspoonful of morphine and the result, while not fatal, was such as to aggravate the disease so that he did not recover for several years. In 1874 Mr. Sage bought cattle in Minnesota and opened a butcher shop in St. Paul, in which his part- ner cheated him out of his capital. Then he wrought on the railroads in different capacities, especially in the shops, both in St. Paul and in Iowa for a number of years and then came to Ritzville, Adanis county, Washington. He bought a half section of land and at once started a nursery, seed farm and experiment station. This was operated until 1896, when he sold out and bought his present place. During the stay in Adams county Mr. Sage also operated a butcher shop in Ritzville and very much credit is due him for the excellent manner in which he assisted to de- velop Adams county, both in general labors and in his experiment station, where untold benefit was done to the farmers. He now raises hay, does general farm- ing and handles stock.

In 1872 Mr. Sage married Miss Minerva A., daughter of Lemuel and Caroline (Braybender) Streeter, natives of Pennsylvania. To this happy

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

union there have been born five children: Nester J., George L., married and living at Ritzville ; Pearl, wife of R. E. Butler, in Lincoln county, Washington : Josie and Paul. Mr. Sage is an active Republican and always takes a prominent part in the labors of the campaign and is an influential figure in the con- ventions. Mr. Sage is a member of the K. P., Ritz- ville Lodge, No. 36, and is also a member of the K. O. T. M., also at Ritzville. His people are mem- bers of the Catholic church. Mr. Sage has manifested great wisdom and energy in his labors in the county, and he is one of the substantial men who form the bone and sinew of the worth of the county.

ALFRED MARTIN. This industrious and ener- getic young man is one of the potent factors in the de- velopment of northern Idaho and he has done a good part in this work while also he has carefully conserved his business interests in using his homestead right and securing a fine piece of land only three-fourths of a mile south from Elmira.

Alfred Martin was born in the vicinity of Ottawa, Canada, on April 22, 1873, being the son of Joseph and Catherine (Duncan) Martin, natives of Canada. They all came to Chattaroy, Washington, in 1886, and toiled there for nine years, when they removed to Spokane. In 1897 the parents came to Kootenai coun- ty and reside here now. They are the parents of nine children : John, in Spokane; Alfred, the subject of this article; Robert, in Spokane; Maggie, wife of Charles Glover, in Spokane; Nettie, wife of James Fahey, in Spokane; Minnie, wife of Walter Geer, in Spokane: Lizzie, single, living with her brother Al- fred : Harry, living in Elmira ; Nellie, living with her brother Alfred. Our subject received the educational training to be had from the public schools and labored with his parents until twenty-three and then went to work in the woods, getting out poles, shingle bolts, and so forth. In 1897 he located the homestead where now he resides and he has devoted himself to improving it and tilling it since that time. He made his final proof in 1902. He has some hay land, a small orchard, and other improvements. Mr. Martin is a member of the Baptist church and is an exemplary and upright young man, who has the respect and esteem of all the com- munity.

JAMES McDONALD. In many sections of the west has the worthy gentleman, of whom we now speak, done pioneer work both in opening the farm lands and in locating valuable mining properties.

James McDonald was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on January 31, 1858, being the son of James and Cordelia ( Beebe) McDonald, natives of Vermont. The family came to Chippewa Falls in an early day and the father operated a large hardware store there. He died in September, 1871, his wife having died in March, 1870. They were the parents of six children, Albert, Charles, Clarence, Mayannie.

Julius and James. All are deceased except Albert, who is in Alaska, and the subject of this sketch. James received a high school education and when his par- ents died, he being about thirteen, he went into the woods to assist in cooking. Ten or more years were spent in this work and cooking in a restaurant, and then he came to the Murray country and took a placer claim. Selling this he prospected in the Priest river district. He took a piece of land, but as it was not surveyed he sold his right and went to the head waters of the Fraser river and took a mining claim. This was sold for one hundred dollars and the next year when he went back to it it was worth fifty thousand dollars. Some further traveling he did and then came to his present place, two and one-half miles west from Athol, which he secured as a homestead. Mr. Mc- Donald has improved it in good shape and last year he received over two thousand bushels of grain, which will be increased annually. He has good buildings and raises some stock.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 226

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