An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 25

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 25
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 25
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 25
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 25

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Disappointed in this project the friends of the movement, through Councilman Taylor, introduced a bill providing for a special election to be held on the first Monday in June in Nez Perces county at which the advisability of relocating the county seat should be submitted to a vote of the people. The bill was, of course, introduced in the interest of Moscow. One of its provisions was that if the electors decided to re- move the county seat from Lewiston, the place selected should deposit with the treasurer a sum sufficient to erect new county buildings and pay all the expenses of removing the records, etc., to the new seat of gov- ernment. The bill passed both houses. A lively cam- paign followed, both parties to the contest making a thorough canvass and arguing the question in all its phases with spirit. The result on election day was in favor of Lewiston, that town receiving 922 votes whereas its rival, Moscow, received only 642 votes. Lewiston had a majority in ten out of the thirteen princincts of the county.

The year 1884 seems to have been a rather quiet one in Nez Perces county, the Coeur d'Alene country being the chief center of attraction in north Idaho at that time. Autumn, however, brought an abundant yield of wheat not alone in Idaho but in the cereal belt of the neighboring territory of Washington also. The crop was sufficiently large to have enabled the farmers to liquidate practically all their debts had the prices been good. The great bane of pioneer communities, lack of adequate transportation facilities, was militat- ing against these, however, and many ranchmen began discussing the advisability of turning their farms into stock ranches.

During this year General Miles testified his faith in the good intentions of the Nez Perces Indians by or- dering that thereafter Fort Lapwai be treated as an outpost of Walla Walla and garrisoned by a lieutenant and only twelve men of the second cavalry. The re- mainder of that company he sent to Fort Boise, mak- ing that a four company post. The faith of General Miles was not shared by the settlers in the vicinity of of the reservation, who remonstrated earnestly, point- ing out that the Nez Perces were still a strong tribe and that there were many among them who could be easily incited to acts of hostility. But the subsequent good conduct of the Nez Perces has justified the faith of Miles.

As illustrating the rapidity with which Nez Perces county was growing at this period of its history we have taken a few figures from the tax roll summaries, according to which the total taxable property, real and personal, in the year 1882 was $1,327,516; in 1883,

$1,817,229; in 1884, $2,050,546; the number of tax- pavers in 1882 was 1,560; in 1883, 1,832; in 1884, 2,080.

The year 1885 was one of uninterrupted tranquil- ity but 1886 brought a movement for the formation of a new county with, no doubt, some of the intense in- terest and bitterness usually attending such efforts. The proposition was to take for the new political division the southern portion of Shoshone county and that part of the Nez Perces lying between the Lolo and the south middle forks of the Clearwater. As an alternative in case this movement did not meet with favor it was suggested that the settlers in southern Shoshone might seek annexation to either Nez Perces or Idaho counties. The reason of their discontent with their existing political affinities was the distance to Murray, their county seat. The proposal seems not to have been carried into a definite effort before the legis- lature, but agitation for redress of grievances has never solely died out and at this writing the erection of a new county to embrace the inhabitants of southern Shoshone is a living issue.

The next few years in Nez Perces county were years of quiet and steady advancement along all lines, very little transpiring which has a sensational flavor when reduced to narrative. The two questions most deeply agitating the public mind during this period, the problem of securing railroad communication with neighboring states and the world and the annexation movement, have been discussed at some length in pre- vious chapters. It is needless to state that citizens of Nez Perces county were equally with other citizens of the territory of Idaho solicitous for the early admis- sion of their commonwealth to statehood, taking their full part in the initiatory steps in that direction. This also has been treated in its proper place. In the general prosperity obtaining throughout Idaho during the few years preceding its admission to statehood Nez Perces county had its full share. Crops were good, the out- look in the spring of 1888 being especially faorable. As the Teller informs us reports of great promise of good and large yields of grain came in from every section of the Clearwater country, from Lapwai, Sweetwater, Tammany, Asotin, Camas Prairie, Weipe, etc.

Aside from the larger questions above mentioned the one political movement to agitate the general pub- lic was a renewed effort to secure the removal of the county seat from Lewiston to Moscow. The course pursued by the friends of Paradise prairie's ambitious business center was the same as that formerly taken, namely the circulation of petitions, agitation through the local press, etc. The friends of Lewiston again took up the gauntlet and so effective was their oppo- sition that a change of tactics by the Moscow people became necessary. Through Delegate Dubois and Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, they secured the intro- duction into both houses of congress of a bill creating Latah county out of the northern portion of Nez Perces county. The measure carried despite the protests and efforts of its opponents in the southern part, becoming a law May 14, 1888.

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

In June. 1889, Miss Alice C. Fletcher arrived at the Lapwai agency to take charge of the work of allotment of lands to the Indians in accordance with the provisions of the Severalty act of February 8, 1887, which provided that each head of a family on the reservation should receive a quarter section of land; each single person over eighteen, one-eighth section : each single person under eighteen then living or who might be born before the president's order directing the allotment, one-sixteenth of a section. Her arrival and the inception of this work was a favora- ble sign as it proved the animus of the government to open the reserve as soon as possible. The people of the surrounding country looked upon the movement with much favor, hoping that the incubus upon prog- ress arising out of the ownership of large tracts of valuable agricultural land by an unprogressive and comparatively degenerate people would soon be re- moved, but it was full half a decade before the work of opening the reserve was accomplished.

With the opening of the prosperous year 1890 began a determined effort to secure transportation facilities for the Clearwater country. In February the citizens of Lewiston held a mass meeting in the Vollmer block at which the railroad question was thor- oughly discussed and a committee appointed to formu- late a plan of action. A meeting was also held at Nelson's schoolhouse, at which the citizens manifested their willingness to raise a bonus of $25,000 in their neighborhood to help bring a railroad to the country. By April a bonus of $50,000 had been subscribed, which, with the right of way from Lewiston to the reservation line, a distance of seven miles, was offered the Northern Pacific Company to extend their Spokane and Palouse branch to Lewiston. Later the subsidy was increased to $65,000 and still later to over $100,- 000. The railroad officials promised to build the ex- tension during 1890, and gave earnest of their bona fide intentions by investing quite heavily in Lewiston real estate. but for some reason the road was not built as agreed, so the company lost this magnificent sub- sidy and the people the benefit of the road for several years more.

The good year 1892 was darkened in Nez Perces county during its final month by the enactment of a tragedy which led to another, leaving a still darker stain upon the county's annals. The facts as we have been able to glean them from the rather meager rec- ords at hand are as follows: Albert B. Roberts, the author of the first homicide and the victim of the sec- ond, had been working for several months in the employ of one John Sutherland and his brother, residence in the vicinity of Leland. When the Sutherlands discharged Roberts they held back five dollars of his pay, alleging that he had stolen twenty dollars from them. A quarrel ensued, of course. Roberts went to Leland and when John Sutherland visited that town a few days later the trouble was renewed. Roberts demanded the five dollars he claimed was due him; his late employer refused ; angry words followed which soon led to blows. During the melee Roberts threw his

right arm about Sutherland's neck and while he had his adversary thus held in a comparatively helpless position, drew a revolver and discharged it three times into Sutherland's abdomen, killing him almost in- stantly. Roberts was arrested and brought to Lewis- ton.

The sequel proves that the Clearwater country had not yet progressed so far in its development of civil institutions and orderly society but that there was dan- ger of a temporary lapse, when the occasion seemed to warrant it, into the well known practices of the vigilantes of its early history. On the 2d of January, 1893, a masked mob visited the jail in which Roberts was confined and compelled Deputy Sheriff W. W. Wright to open the doors. Proceeding to the cell of their intended victim, they gagged him so that he could make no outcry, then took him into the office and bound him securely hands and feet, meanwhile keeping strict guard over the deputy sheriff and one Timothy Ryan, who happened to be his bedfellow on this particular night. After giving their companions time to get a safe distance away, the guard thrust Wright and Ryan into a room, closed the door and hastily retreated into the open. The deputy and his companion ran to their rooms, secured their revolvers and fired several shots in succession to alarm the sheriff. That officer, together with Sheriff-elect Mounce soon joined in the chase. The mob, however, made good their escape and the identity of none of them was ever discovered. In due time the body of their victim was found in Mulkey's mill, still warm but lifeless.

The year 1893 was an important one in the history of Nez Perces county, and notwithstanding the fact that the sun of financial prosperity throughout the United States began to be eclipsed during the twelve- month, several events transpired looking toward the general progress of this section. Not the least among these was the passage in the Idaho legislature of a bill establishing a state normal school at Lewiston and appropriating for its use fifty thousand acres of the one hundred thousand given to the state by the United States government for the purpose of aiding in the establishment of such institutions.

A matter of even greater moment to the industrial development of the county was the successful negotia- tion of a treaty with the Nez Perces Indians whereby their reservation was to be opened for settlement. In December, 1892, a commission appointed by the presi- dent, which commission consisted of Robert Schleicli- er of Lewiston, chairman, Cyrus Beede, of Iowa, and James Allen, of Washington, D. C., convened at Lewiston with authority to offer to the Indians for their lands as liberal prices as ever were offered to any tribe by the United States. For more than two months the commission labored strenuously to secure the open- ing of the reserve, but they were opposed in their efforts by certain outsiders who hoped to gain per- sonal benefits through maintaining the existing con- ditions of things and by wealthy Indians who wished the ranges for the pasturing of their herds of ponies. On February 19th, the commission adjourned sine

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

die. They had succeeded in securing the signatures to the treaty of only 118 adult males, out of a total of 407. Negotiations were resumed shortly, however, and in April the commission authorized the statement that enough signatures had been secured to confirm the treaty.

But the work of the commissioners was of no prac- tical avail until the treaty negotiated by them should be ratified by congress. A bill for that purpose was introduced into the house by Representative Sweet in June, 1894. The measure was referred to the com- mittee on Indian affairs and though it was reported back favorably by the majority, a minority report was also submitted by Representative Holman, the "Great Objector," making it uncertain whether the bill could be reached that session. Senator Shoup saved the day by a shrewd parliamentary move. He succeeded in tacking onto the general Indian appropriation measure an amendment providing for the ratification of the treaty and the appropriation of the necessary funds. Objector Holman waged aggressive warfare against the amendment but was unsuccessful in defeating it, and it was enacted:

"That the said agreement (referring to the treaty) be and the same is accepted, ratified and confirmed. "That for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this act into effect there is hereby appropriated the sum of $1,668,622, of which amount the sum of $1,000,000 shall be placed to the credit of the Nez Perces Indians of Idaho in the territory of the United States and shall bear interest at the rate of five per centum per annum. Said sum of $1,668,622, to- gether with the interest on said sum of one million dollars shall be paid to the Indians or expended for their benefit, as provided in articles two, three, four and eight of said agreement, out of which sum the secretary of the interior shall pay to the heirs, ad- ministrators or legal representatives of William C. Langford, deceased, the sum of $20,000, upon a re- lease and relinquishment to the United States by said heirs, administrators or legal representatives of all right, titles and interest in or claim either legal or equitable, in and to the tract of land described in arti- cle two of said agreement as therein provided. Pro- vided that none of the money paid said Indians, nor any of the interest thereon, shall be or become liable to the payment of any judgment or claim for depre- dations committed by said tribe or any member thereof before the date of said agreement.

"That immediately after the issuance and receipt by the Indians of trust patents for the allotted lands, as provided for in said agreement, the lands so ceded, sold, relinquished and conveyed to the United States shall be opened to settlement by proclamation of the president and shall be subject to disposal only under the homestead, townsite, stone and timber and min- ing laws of the United States, excepting the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections in each congressional town- ship, which shall be reserved for common school pur- poses and be subject to the laws of Idaho: Pro- vided, That each settler on said lands, shall before making proof and receiving a certificate of entry, pay

to the United States for the lands so taken by him, in addition to the fees provided by law, the sum of $3.75 per acre for agriculture lands, half of which shall be paid within three years from the date of the original entry ; and the sum of $5.00 per acre for stone, tim- ber and mineral lands, subject to the regulations pre- scribed by existing laws; but the rights of honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors, as defined and described in sections 2304 and 2305 of the revised statutes of the United States, shall not be abridged except as to the sum to be paid as aforesaid.

"That the commissioner of Indian affairs be, and is hereby, authorized to employ a competent surveyor for a period not exceeding two years, at a compensa- tion not exceeding $1,200 per annum for the pur- poses stipulated in article four of said agreement, and he is also authorized to purchase two portable saw mills, as provided in article four.

"That the secretary of the interior is hereby authorized to examine the claim of those Indians who served the United States under General O. O. Howard in the late war with Joseph's band of said tribe, as scouts, couriers and messengers, referred to in article ten of said agreement, and also as to the claim of Abraham Brooks, mentioned in said article, and re- port his findings and recommendations to congress."

In 1900 an act was passed amendatory to the bill just quoted repealing the proviso that homesteaders should be required to pay for their lands the sum of $3.75 per acre and allowing all bona fide entrymen under the homestead laws to obtain title upon pay- ment of only such fees as were required of all home- steaders.

It is needless to state that the opening of the reservation was hailed with delight and enthusiasm by the citizens of Lewiston and Nez Perces county. Coming, as it did, at a time when financial darkness overshadowed the land, the distribution of over six hundred thousand dollars in cash among the Indians, much of which speedily made its way into the hands of the merchants, was an important factor in keep- ing the wheels of industry oiled. But of vastly great- er moment to the present and prospective develop- ment of the county was the fact that the power of a lethargic, nonproducing and conservative people to hinder progressive movements was broken forever, and in the room of the shiftless, nomadic red man must soon come the thrifty homebuilder to garner the rich treasurers of the fertile reservation soil. The land passed rapidly into hands of men whose interests led them to favor instead of retard the construction of railroads and the inauguration of commercial enter- prises. The wealth of agriculture, of pasturage, of timber and of minerals, in which the reservation acres were known to abound, would be developed to the full- est and brought forth to assist in the upbuilding of commerce, educational establishments, the arts and refinements of civilization and in the working out of the Clearwater country's highest destiny.

The effect of the opening upon the Indians probably received little attention from settlers in their vicinity. The price paid them for the lands was sufficient to

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

keep them all in luxury for the rest of their days, and if carefully conserved and bequeathed to their pos- terity to provide against want during at least the next generation of time. That the money will be so hus- banded is doubtful and the destiny of the tribe when their resources are gone and they are no longer the wards of the government is for the anthropologist to foresee if he can and for the philanthropist to help determine as far as he may be able. Certain it is that the red man cannot always live on the bounty of the government or the funds arising from the sale of his possessory rights in the soil of his forefathers. The day must come when he must live by his own unaided efforts or perish and perhaps the present is as good a time as any in which to throw him upon his own resources, teaching him by bitter experiences, if need be, what he will not learn in any other way, that if he would enjoy the fruits of industry he must endure its pains and sacrifices.

But we must return to our current review of events in Nez Perces county taking up the thread where we left it in 1893. The county did not fail to provide for its proper representation at the Columbian exposition in Chicago, but while enroute the car containing the soil, grass and grain exhibits of this and several other counties of Idaho was burned and its contents destroyed. The fruits, however, arrived safely.

One event causing a great shock to the residents of the county transpired during the fall of this year, namely, the explosion in the steamer Annie Faxon, of which Harry Baughman was captain, causing the death of eight persons and the wounding of nearly every member of the crew. The vessel at the time of the accident was making a landing at a point below Almota and fifty miles down the river from Lewiston. So violent was the explosion that the vessel was practically blown to pieces, nothing being left above the hull but splinters. The cause of the accident probably was that the boiler was allowed to become dry.

In 1895 occurred what was perhaps the most ter- rible tragedy that has shadowed the fair name of Nez Perces county since the days of Plummer's gang. Waha lake was the scene and Sunday, May 19th, the date. One of the central figures in the tragedy was John Siers, a pioneer of that section and a successful stockman. In the early sixties he had entered into partnership with Joseph Shissler ; fortune had smiled benignly on the partners and by industry and econo- my they became the owners of a large tract of land, one of the finest farms in the Clearwater country, also of extensive herds of cattle. As time passed other settlers were attracted to the favored region, among them Mrs. Mary E. Goddard, who settled on land ad- joining Siers and Shissler's place, in 1884. Naturally the large stock interests of these pioneer cattlemen in- volved them in numerous neighborhood disputes, among them one of great bitterness with Mrs. God- dard.

The accidental death of Mr. Shissler in 1886 neces- sitated division of the estate, and Mr. Siers took the stock interests of the firm, leaving the realty to the

Shissler heirs. He then leased the land, associating with him in this venture his former foreman, Frank Ward, who later became a son-in-law of Mrs. God- dard. Siers went east and remained until 1894, on which date he returned, dispossessed Ward and took possession of the property himself. He took up his abode in the old house, allowing Mrs. Goddard, who had resided with her daughter and son-in-law in a new house erected by the latter, to remain in posses- sion of the same. About the middle of April Ward brought suit against Siers to recover $1,000 claimed to be due him, and the Shissler heirs also went into court to compel Siers to comply with the terms of the lease. While the suit was pending the property was placed in the hands of a receiver, who leased the place to Mrs. Goddard. Siers acquiesced, only asking for sufficient time to collect his personal effects, but when he attempted to do this he found that many of them were held by Mrs. Goddard as part of the estate. He appealed to the receiver, who sent Mrs. Goddard an order to turn over the property, which order was dis- obeyed by her. Siers again went to the receiver, and it was agreed that the difficulty should be adjusted the following Sunday in the presence of that officer, at the residence of Mrs. Goddard. On that Sunday the fatal affray took place. The tragedy and events leading up to it are described by one of the Lewiston news- papers of the time :

"Sunday morning about six o'clock, Siers, in com- pany with his employes, Elmer Shorthill, Frank Kin- caid, J. Manee and William Fay, departed from their temporary quarters at the Monroe farm for Lambert's place, about four miles distant, to secure some horses which were pastured there. Upon reaching the Shissler ranch the party stopped in front of the old house and Siers entered, returning shortly. At the barn yard the party again stopped to allow Mr. Siers to visit a man named Mott, who was sick and quartered in the granary. Siers said he wished to see about removing Mott to the Monroe place, and as he would probably need their assistance he asked his men to wait. Mott was a brother of Mrs. Goddard. He then passed through the gateway opening into the barn yard, leav- ing a rifle leaning against the fence, and proceeded onward. Siers had nearly reached the door when he was confronted by Ward, who held a pistol. A few words passed between them, and almost immediately Mrs. Goddard appeared, and, after engaging in a heat- ed conversation with Siers, passed on toward the gate where the men were. She stopped about forty feet from Siers, who was between her and Ward, and ad- dressed Siers. The latter turned toward her, and as he did so Ward fired two shots at him. Siers reached for his revolver and succeeded in returning the fire. Mrs. Goddard now rushed up, and, taking a revolver from her waist, placed the muzzle near Siers' back and fired several times in rapid succession. Siers fell for- ward, and as he did so Ward struck him over the head with his revolver. Siers expired instantly.

"At the commencement of the fight Fred Goddard, the thirteen-year-old son, appeared in the doorway and ordered the men at the gate to remain where they were,

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

emphasizing this command with a rifle shot over their heads. Shorthill picked up Siers' rifle and, with the intention of assisting his fallen comrade, snapped the hammer at the combatants in the barnyard. The cap refused to explode, however. He then loaded the gun and again pulled the trigger, this time with more suc- cess, though the testimony exonerated him from any blanc attaching to the death of the murderer, as it was proved that the bullet flew wide of the mark.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 25

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