An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 246

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 246
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 246
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 246
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 246

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CHAPTER V.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

WALLACE.

Congressman Proctor Knott once described the city of Duluth, Minessota, as a glorious metropolis, "sit- ting at the feet of her own possibilities." Far more aptly would this apply to Wallace, the capital of Sho- shone county, for the Coeur d'Alenes are her possi- bilities, and among them she nestles, the prettiest, best groomed municipality in northern Idaho. To the Eagle, a small sheet published temporarily at the mining camp of Eagle, Wallace owes the first notes from the trump of journalistic fame. On May 10, 1884, the Eagle said, under headline of "Placer Center :"

"This is the name of a new town started on the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene, at a point about seven miles up the road from Evolution. The town is situ- ated in a good location and commands the Canyon creek mines and other tributaries of the South Fork, wherein mining in a small way is going on. The town will be a good point for prospectors who intend to put in a summer's work on the range between the Coeur d'- Alene and St. Joe, and its permanency is assured from the fact that it is on the Mullan road, which is the main emigrant road on the Bitter Root divide."

"Placer Center" is the Wallace of today, a city of handsomely paved streets, substantial business blocks. elegant, home-like residences, pure water in ample quantity, and supplied with all modern municipal im- provements. At a meeting of the Shoshone county commissioners, May 2, 1888, J. C. Harkness presented a petition from citizens of Wallace praying for in- corporation of the town, consisting of eighty acres, originally held by Colonel W. R. Wallace, by virtue of Sioux half-breed scrip. This petition was granted. The commissioners named as trustees W. R. Wallace, D. C. McKissick, Horace King, C. M. Hall and C. W. Vedder.

The city of Wallace is located on portions of two sections, 34 and 27. The former section comprised a part of the original filing for townsite purposes, of Col. W. R. Wallace: the latter, railroad land owned by the Northern Pacific railway company. The energy and patience manifested by Col. Wallace in securing the townsite of the city which bears his name, was not rewarded, so far as he was, financially, concerned.

His claim was successfully contested, and he lost the fruits of his labor. In a letter to the editor of the Mur- ray Sun, dated March 1, 1889, Col. Wallace recites his side of the controversy as follows :

For two years I held the land on which the town was built, on an agricultural location, and with my own hands split the rails and segregated the land from the public domain, and when I had secured the title to the same by the location of Sioux half-breed scrip, the outside fences were left stand- ing. and those on each side of the old Mullan road were taken down, as the title was unquestioned. And from all past pre- cedents as good as any patent could make it. The depart- ment never claimed that the scrip was other than genuine, but in 1887 it made, through the general land office, a decision that, 'because the scrip had been located by a duplicate in Dakota, the original and genuine scrip was canceled. I can prove hy the American consul, at Winnipeg, that the scrip was located by the original owners, Walter Bourke and wife; that he made oath, and still lives to verify the same; that he had never parted with the original, and never gave anyone power to use his name in any other location; never knew of any entry of this (his scrip), and under this I felt perfectly secure that the title would be made to the "Wallace Town- site Company" instead of the claimants in Dakota, and steps were taken to this end last November by D. C. Corbin, who employed the Hon. Luther Harrison, of Washington, D. C. * *

* The present jumping of the site is unjust,

and in line with other attempts made in the past to defraud our pioneers of their property. * * * * I have built roads leading here, and borrowed money to pay for the same that the community might thrive. I have lived here through dark and gloomy days, when none would take part in the present townsite as a gift, and I have been called a fool and crank because I could see in the future an opportunity to build a prosperous town. while they could not. But after I have proven the prophecy of five years ago, by my energy and work, they would roh me of what little I have left of the hardships and privations of pioneering. The mob has tried my case without my being allowed a defense. The higher courts will ere long decide the validity of the claimants. Re- spectfully yours, W. R. WALLACE.

Results of the decision of the Department of the Interior were sensational. Incidental scenes were thus graphically portrayed in the Wallace Miner :

On the night of February 19, 1889, the ground upon which the town of Wallace now stands suddenly reverted from patented ground to the public domain, and hundreds who had paid for government title to lots found themselves with noth- ing but squatters' rights. * The excitement in Wallace that night was great-greater than on any other * *

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

former vous1011. Lot jumping had grown to be quite an industry in our neighboring town of Mullan; it had thrived for a time. in Burke, but no man had dared to squat upon a foot of Wallace. Sioux half-breed scrip had been placed on this eighty-acre tract for the sole benefit of the half-breed, Walter Bourke and his heirs, and the government would pro- tect him in his right and title. W. R. Wallace and his com- pany owned the land, and they had established an undisputed ownership.

But when the secretary of the interior decided against a certain Sioux scrip location, near Glendive, Montana, a few of our citizens concluded that if that location was defective this one here must be It was not, necessarily, a logical con- clusion, but it was sufficient for the purpose. One of the more daring looked over the town plat, and finally concluded that the lots on the corner of Cedar and Sixth streets pos- sessed superior advantages as a business location, so he quietly walked over and took possession of it, posting a notice in a conspicuous place, asserting his claims. This was he-

tween nine and ten o'clock in the evening. This was the beginning. The corner of Bank and Sixth was next taken. The jumping hecame general. Business men, laboring men, hoboes and rounders all joined the wild scramble for lots. Choice business locations went first, then outside property. Excitement was intense. Hurriedly written notices claiming so many feet of ground were placed on every available lot. It was astonishing to see how excited some men got over the affair. A few were cool-headed and quiet in their de- meanor. Notable among these was Henry Howes, who, view- ing the wild uproar all around him, quietly said he had been working here hard for three years, and had finally secured a place to build a home. D. C. McKissick and C. B. Halstead were two other cool ones. They quietly took possession of three fine lots, corner of Cedar and Fifth, built a bonfire and -sat up all night.

When morning dawned and our citizens realized the great change that had taken place in the ownership of property, it was regarded by some as a huge joke, so great was the con- fidence in the word of W. R. Wallace. The hoho element was going to hold the ground, right or wrong. Possession was all they wanted, and this they had. The conservative element, which included the mass of the inhabitants, realized that the state of affairs was a serious thing for the town, so long as the status of legal right to the ground was unsettled. Mass meetings were held, records examined and the conclusion reached that the land was public domain, subject to occupancy by any citizen of the United States. The secretary of the interior has just decided that they were right, and the appli- cations now in for a patent will, in all probability, settle the matter beyond a doubt.

The foregoing article, published in the white heat of the excitement attending the decision of the secretary of the interior, must be accepted with due consider- ation. Many respectable citizens were compelled to "jump" lots in order to protect their rights and the homes they had established. In order that a full 1111- derstanding of this case may be presented to the reader, the following ruling by the commissioner of the general land office concerning this matter is herewith given :

Pages 27 to 32 of the decision of the commissioner (of Sept. 6) is as follows: By act of congress approved July 17, 1854, this class of scrip was authorized and the commis- sioner of Indian affairs issued the same. To the said Walter Bourke were issued five pieces of scrip for 480 acres of land. Said scrip, numbered 430. letters A. B. C. D and E., A and B for forty acres each, C for eighty and D and E for 160 acres ·each.

Upon representation made, that to 430 C had been lost, commissioner of Indian affairs issued a duplicate thereof ; said duplicate was duly located March 9, 1880, and a patent for the land embraced in the location was properly issued as hereinbefore set forth. Thereafter, on the fifth of June,

1886, the register and receiver of the Coeur d Alene land office, Idaho, allowed a location by W. R. Wallace, attorney in fact, with the original of said piece of scrip, for a tract of land, and on the seventeenth of said month transmitted the paper in the case for the action of this office in the matter. Said act of congress declares that no transfer or conveyance of any of said certificates, or "scrip, shall be valid."

In the case of Gilbert vs. Sharpson (14 Munn, 544) the court held that a "power of attorney as far as intended to operate as a transfer would be of no avail; the right of the half-breed in the scrip and the land would remain the same ; it could not be made revocable nor create any intent in the attorney. Therefore the matter is solely between the gov- ernment and scripce It is claimed by the scripee that he did not locate the duplicate of said scrip and receive a patent for the land embraced in the location as herein stated, and the papers therein appear regular; therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the location made with the duplicate scrip was properly made and that the patent therein was in full satis- faction of the claim of the scripee against the government as represented by the piece of scrip.

The government having thus discharged its obligation to the scripee, the original scrip was thereby rendered of no effect, and the location made therewith was fraudulent and void in its inception; and the cancelling of the same by this office as herein set forth, is authorized by the decision of the supreme court of the United States in the case of Hark- ness and wife vs. Underhill ( Black, 316). Under date of March 13, 1889, the Register reports that Mr. Wallace was duly notified of the said decision of this office in this matter, but no appeal was properly taken therefrom. In view of the foregoing, and after a careful consideration of the arguments submitted by the counsel on both sides, I conclude that the action of this office was properly taken and the petition of Mr. Wallace is denied. Action is suspended under Rule 80, of practice.

On June 11, 1892, a townsite patent for the Wallace location was issued to Jolin L. Dunn, John B. Cameron, George P. White, Henry E. Howes and Thomas A. Helm, trustees of Wallace, for the north half of the northeast quarter of section 34, township 48, north range 4, east Boise meridian, containing eighty acres. This tract embraced the greater portion of the present townsite. The land on section 27, north of an alley between Pine and Cedar streets, was railroad land. This has been sold to Wallace citizens, a portion, lying along the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene river, hav- ing been donated to the city for park purposes by the Northern Pacific railway company.

Following the contest on July 12, 1892, was filed the original town plat, surveyed by J. M. Potter. Ad- ditions, preceding and subsequent to, the filing of this plat, are as follows: Mountain View, October 24, 1890; Knob Hill, June 3, 1891 ; Sunnyside, July 11, 1895: Huttons, October 1, 1891 ; Teal's, October 14, 1893 : Park, June 15, 1899.

In 1889 Governor Stevenson said in his report :

"The town of Wallace, one thousand population, is situated in a beautiful basin of the South Fork Val- ley, at the junction of Nine Mile, Placer and Canyon creeks, and is the supply depot of the great mining interests of these gulches. It is the railway transfer point of all the tributaries of the upper south fork and has many well supplied and substantial business houses in every branch of trade. It has two first-class hotels, several societies, good schools, and an able and enter- prising tri-weekly paper, the Wallace Free Press. Wallace will more than double in population the com-

1028

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

ing year from the fact of its situation and selection as the division terminus of the through railroad, now building toward Missoula, Montana."

The death of Col. W. R. Wallace, founder of the prosperous city which bears his name, occurred in No- vember, 1901, at Whittier, California, whither he had gon in search of health.

During the five years previous to 1893 the town of Wallace was governed by a board of trustees. In that year it was organized under a city charter. W. S. Haskins was the first mayor elected. The succeeding mayors up to the present period have been Oscar Wal- lace, son of Col. W. R. Wallace, now a resident of Spokane, Washington, Jacob Lockman, Herman Rossi, T. N. Bernard, Frederick Smith, who served three terms, and T. Connor, present incumbent. At the present writing, July 1903, the municipal administra- tive officers of Wallace are, T. D. Conner, mayor ; J. F. Whalen, city clerk ; H. P. Knight, attorney ; Maurice H. Hare, treasurer ; George A. Cunningham, police judge ; P. F. McGovern, chief of police; P. F. Smith, assistant. Councilmen : First ward-H. M. Thosten- sen, W. H. Turner : second ward-John Pressly, Davis Walford; third ward-E. Burnham, James H. Taylor ; fourth ward -- John Hogus, Herman J. Rogers. From the date of the organizaton of the city government, in 1893, until 1900, Wallace contained but three wards. In 1889 an excellent sewer system was added to the municipal improvements, at a cost of $20,000. The work was completed under direction of Contractor Thomas Olson.

The earliest pioneer in Wallace, in a business sense, was Alexander D. Mckinlay, who came here April 16, 1885, accompanied by Peter J. Holohan, a partner with whom he has been associated twenty-eight years, in Idaho and other states. Mr. Mckinlay recalls the fact that he was obliged to cross the swampy area of Cedar street by leaping from log to log and stump to stump in order to pass over dry shod. In 1886 Messrs. Howes & King located in "Placer Center," and opened a general store in a log building, having pur- chased the grocery business of A. D. Mckinlay and J. P. Holohan. E. D. Carter, the same year, erected the first sawmill, which, as may be readily imagined, enjoyed a handsome patronage. The initial drug store was opened by E. A. Sherwin, and the first hardware concern by J. R. Marks, William Hart, and E. H. Moffiitt, whose pioneer institution is now the Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company. John Cameron arrived in the "camp" in the winter of 1886-7, and he became the proprietor of the original saloon on the townsite. The first business lot purchased from Col. Wallace was bought by E. D. Carter, in 1886, on which he erected a frame hotel. The first livery and transfer business was controlled by Southerland & White. In 1887 Will- iam S. Haskins arrived from Kingston, with a fair stock of general merchandise. Subsequently he dis- posed of his goods and business to O. C. Otterson. The Dunn Brothers, A. J. and J. L., were the pioneer editors and proprietors of newspapers in Wallace, their first venture being the Wallace Free Press. This plant they sold out and placed the Miner in the field in the

fall of 1890. At present the press of Wallace is rep- resented by the Idaho State Tribune, edited by J. R. Sovereign1, and the Wallace Press, E. B. Reitzel, pro- prietor. In December, 1886, the Carter Hotel was completed and M. D. Flint assumed charge of the same as proprietor. Wnat might be termed the spontaneous growth of the young city is described in the Murray Sun, of December 4, 1886:

The town of Wallace is more than holding its own in the way of solid and rapid improvement. One of the finest, if not the largest blocks in the Coeur d'Alenes is now in the course of erection by Col. Wallace. It is seventy-five by eighty feet in size. The ground floor will contain three spacious apartments finished in the very best manner, and the second will be devoted to a large public hall. Carter's saw mill cannot supply the demand for lumber. Flint's hotel is to be enlarged. George & Human, of Delta. have bought two choice lots and intend building on them. Charles Seelig has purchased a location with a view of building a brewery thereon. Three saloons are doing a flourishing business. The work of clearing Main street is being pushed with vigor. The use of giant powder is clearing the town of stumps.

The excellent school facilities at present enjoyed by Wallace are developed from humble and primitive origin. In the fall of 1887 the first school was opened in a log building on the corner of Cedar and Third streets, with Miss Annie Angell as teacher. Here school was continued for one year, when a frame build- .ing was exchanged for a log "shack" on Pine, between Fifth and Sixth streets. One year later the trustees of the school district erected a building for school pur- poses which was subsequently converted into a resi- (lence by O. B. Olson.

In June, 1892, the trustees purchased six lots on the northeast corner of Third and River streets, com- prising an area of 100x150 feet, and a most eligible site for school house purposes. The price paid was $1,750. The same year a handsome brick building, two stories in height, surmounted by a tower of Moor- ish design, was erected. During the spring of 1901 an annex to the original edifice was built, somewhat larger, but of the same style of architecture and general design. It is, at present, one of the most attractive structures in the city.

From this institution, on May 17, 1895, was gradu- ated the first class in the history of the Coeur d'Alenes. The exercises took place at the Methodist Episcopal church under the direction of Prof. C. W. Vance. The graduates were Myrta Howes, Nina Hogan, Katie Hanley, Katie Baldwin and Luneti Worstell. With the exception of two slight epidemics of diphtheria the Wallace schools, in District No. 8, enjoyed uninter- rupted success during term time since 1892. At the present writing, 1903, the officers and faculties of the grades are as follows: Superintendent, H. M. Cook; principal of high school, Mrs. Edna Clayton Orr ; music teacher, Miss Grace Jenkins; grade teachers, Kathryn Cunningham, Mollie Fulmer, Myrta Howes, Sadie Skattaboe. The high school enrollment in 1903 was, boys, eighteen; girls, twenty-four. The average attendance is twenty-nine. During the past nine months there have been no graduation exercises, Charles Dunn, eligible to that honor, having been ap-

1029

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

pointed to the naval academy, Annapolis, and dropping out without formal graduation from the high school.

The following comprehensive resume of existing conditions in Wallace in 1900 was furnished by the Coeur d'Alene Mining Journal, of date January I, 1901 :

The year 1900 gave to Wallace its greatest measure of advancement for a single year in material improvement and general enlightment, and her citizens cross the threshhold of a new year satisfied with the treatment they have received at the hands of the departed year. * *

* * Suffering nearly total destruction by fire on July 27, 1900, the town has made better progress than formerly, until it has become what the severe critic would term an "ideal mining town," possessing all the embellishments of modern civilization, splendid build- ings, superb electric light and water plants, all the standard fraternal organizations and religious societies, good public schools, a magnificent Thespian temple, etc. The city's popu- lation today is only two thousand, but the next five years assures an increase of not less than five thousand, and pro- portionate expansion along other lines.

Wallace made permanent progress during 1900 in every commendable respect, truly reflecting the unprecedented pros- perity in local mining circles. The municipal improvements, new cross walks, leveling, grading and macadamizing of streets, made during the year, cost $14,450.29, every dollar of which was judiciously expended. The city officials, led by Mayor Smith, have made a splendid record. Municipal af- fairs have been well managed, and let it be said incidentally that the city's indebtedness is only $8,000, a bond obligation created to furnish the city with a first-class sewer system. And it should also be stated in this connection that the Wallace Manufacturing, Electric & Power Company has a splendid combination light and water plant, which has a patronage of 3,000 incandescent and eighty arc lights, and 600 faucet and surface connections. The double plant is one of the best and most perfectly equipped in the west, worth $150,000, and is under the management of H. W. Fellows, the officers of the proprietary company being A. B. Campbell, president ; Rich- ard Wilson, vice-president and F. F. Johnson, secretary and treasurer.

The business of the Wallace postoffice for 1900 was one- third greater than for the previous year, which very accurately reflects the general advancement of the community. Ac- cording to comparative population of Idaho towns, the Wallace postoffice easily ranks first. But the record of the First National Bank is another evidence of the permanent advance- ment of the city. By the official report of the First National, issued December 13, it was learned that the individual de- posits were $552,313, against $166,523 for the corresponding month of the previous year, while the deposits, subject to check, in September, 1898, were only $272.703. * * * The First National began business August 8, 1892, and closes the year 1900 with resources of $784.513.

The building record made by Wallace during 1900 eclipsed that of any preceding year, the money ex- pended in the erection of business houses reaching close to the $100,000 mark, while the erection of dwell - ings and handsome cottages absorbed about $50,000. The new business structures included :

Holohan-Mckinlay block, two-story brick, with fine store rooms on the first floor, $20,000: Sunset brewery, four-story brick block, erected and owned by ex-Mayor Jacob Lockman and association, $15,- 000; brick warehouse, by White & Bender, $12,000 ; Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company, warehouse No. 2, fac simile of No. 1, $7,000; Furst block, two-story brick, by John Furst, $7,000; Otterson, two-story brick, 50x100, by O. C. Otterson, $12,000; Heller,

two-story brick block, by Mrs. Eliza Heller, $7,000; Carl Mallon, brick and stone brewery, $6,500; Mayor P. F. Smith, warehouse, $3,500; Jones & Deane, addi- tion to second story, $5,000; Coeur d'Alene Iron Works, two-story frame, 35x100, $3,000; fifty feet addition, two-story, to Odd Fellows Hall. $3,000; Wood & Keats, two-story frame, 25x60, $2,500; M. C. Murphy, lodging house, $2,500 ; Fred Kelly, lodging house, $2,500; George F. Moore, improvements on furniture store, $2,000 ; total, $97,000. The new resi- dence buildings included : William Hart, $7,500; E. Proesting, $6,500; Dan McGinnis, $5,000; Mrs. Mo- riarty, $3,000; George Garrett, $3,000: W. D. Pow- ers, $2,000; John Pressley, $2,000.

Among the business houses represented in the Wal- lace Press in November, 1890, were these :

Hotels : Carter House, E. D. Carter, proprietor ; the Idaho, N. R. Penny; the Crazy Horse, Simnett & Webster ; Hanley House ; American House, George H. Heller; Michigan House, Charles Mehl. Liveries : Sutherland & White, Red Front, McDonald & John- son. Clothing houses : The O. K., Julius Kohn, man- ager ; the Colorado, Sam Heller, proprietor. Res- turants: The Cedar Street, Mesdames Hogan & Place, proprietors; the Frankfurt. City transfer : Paul F. Smith, William H. Otto. Jeweler : Eli Ritch- ott. Meat markets: Silver Belt, Barger & Sears, pro- prietors ; Follet & Harris. Hardware: Holley, Mason Marks & Company. Furniture and undertaking: Will- iam Worstell. Bank: Bank of Wallace, Charles Hus- sey, proprietor, C. M. Hall, cashier. Ice: Carl Mal- lon. Dry goods, Mrs. A. A. Schofield ; Galland Broth- ers ; Chicago Beehive. Blacksmith : James Hennessy. Real estate: N. Witner. Bakeries: City Bakery ; Muir & Dicks, proprietors ; Walalce, Woods & Keats; Bank Street Bakery, Paul Herlinger & Company. Tin shop : K. B. Sauter, proprietor. Photography: T. N. Barnard's Studio. Lawyers: Walter A. Jones and j. C. Harkness : Henry S. Gregory ; W. B. Heyburn ; A. L. Dunn. Building contractors : Fuller & Warren. Cigars and tobacco: W. H. Leghorn & Brother. Sash and door factory . H. Wood. Painters: McFadden & Langrell. News stand. Tabor & Vinos. Harness shop: J. M. Carmelius. Justice of the peace : A. E. Angel. Doctors: U. T. Campbell, A. Boston. Engi- peers: W. Clayton Miller : George R. Trask. Grocers : White & Bender ; Howes & King. Tailors : Pfister & Wassenberg. Wholesale liquors: D. C. McKissick. Brewery: Carl Mallon. Street lighting: Wallace Manufacturing, Electric & Water Company. News- papers : The Wallace Press : the Wallace Miner. Bot- tling Works : Staley & Zweifel. Harness and saddlery : J. M. Carmelius. There was also the American Loan Company. The saloons of Wallace at that period num- bered twenty-seven. General merchandise was repre- sented by Dobson & Nottingham.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 246

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