An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 255

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 255
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 255
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 255
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 255

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Clearly of the highest type and a triumph of mod- ern mechanism is the Postlethwaite, or Risdon, dredge. It is the result of years of thought and experience of the most skilled mechanics in this line of work. For this dredge a lifetime of fifteen years is claimed by the manufacturers, which is long, considering the strain and pressure incident to gold dredging. The dredge is of continuous-bucket type, with a stiff box- girder ladder nearly seventy feet in length. Quite strong are these brackets, with heavy, chilled steel lips, which owing to a peculiarity in shape and action dig into the hardest ground. There are usually thirty-

four buckets, of three and one-fourth feet capacity. They travel at the rate of fourteen a minute, giving a. theoretical capacity of 100 cubic yards an hour, which is delivered in an almost continuous stream into a' perforated revolving screen. The screen is set on a grade, the heavy material traveling through it and discharging overboard at the stern of the dredge by means of an ingenious and perfect stacker. Into the screen extends a perforated water-pipe, five inches in diameter, and about twenty-five feet long, convey- ing water at the rate of several hundred gallons a minute, thus thoroughly washing the gravel, and mak- ing its way with the gold and fine material through the perforations of the screen into a distributing box. Thence the gravel is washed onto the gold saving tables, a set of which is on each side of the screen. Into sections these tables are divided, covered with cocoa matting and expended metal riffles, one of the notable features of the Risdon machines. Should any gold escape from the first or lower table it is caught in the riffles by a long sluice box which carries all the waste. No quicksilver is used on the Risdon machine except where there is flour gold in the ground.

Water is supplied by a centrifugal pump and the whole of the machinery on the dredge is run by a 100- horse-power, surface-condensing, compound marine engine. The winch has six barrels, four of which control the cable lines running from each corner of the dredge. One regulates the headline, and the other raises and lowers the bucket ladders. By means of the five working lines it is possible to make the dredge assume any particular, position within a few moments, the advantage of this over the old method being very decided. A glance at the enormous pile of "tailings" left behind the machine affords eloquent testimony to the immense amount of earth handled by the dredge as compared to the work of the individual miner with pick, shovel and hoist. These "tailings" rear theni- selves to a height of twenty feet above the water, while underneath it they may be lying on ground thirty- five or forty feet lower than the surface.

At the present writing the Golden Chest and Gran- ite Lodes are the only ones being actively worked on Prichard Creek. Much prospecting, however, is being done throughout this gold belt. The Granite is the property of the Granite and Allie Consolidated Min- ing Company, formerly known as the Granite Prop- erty Stock Company. This was organized December 18, 1902, with the following officers: John E. Steen, president ; Louis Prager, vice president ; Dr. George S. Lesher, secretary; B. F. Morgan, treasurer. The capital stock is divided into 1,500,000 shares, at one dollar a share. In 1896 a ten-stamp water-power mill, with concentrating plant, was put into the Gran- ite mill. By this means, however, the company was unable to save values, and a forty-ton cyanide plant was secured. There are in the Granite mine 280 feet of tunnel; 100 feet of shaft and cross-cuts, and ore- tunnel. Values are found in sulphide ore in quartz -. gold ore strictly. The vein runs northwest and south- east, and is almost vertical, lying betwen quartzite and

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granite. A large improved cyanide plant, for the Granite mine, is en route from the east.

In describing individual properties we have, in the majority of cases, availed ourselves of information furnished by owners themselves, together with such other accurate information as could be found, and have leaned toward conservatism in making statements.

EDUCATIONAL.

Interest in the advancemnt of educational privi- leges in Shoshone county is constantly increasing. The general topography of this section renders the crea- tion of country school districts almost impossible, with the natural conesquence that, with but few excep- tions, these districts are confined within the limits of town organizations.

Edward Hammond, a resident of Weippe prairie, and a graduate of St. Xavier's College, Cincinnati, Ohio, was the first school superintendent of Shoshone county. The first school established in the county was at Pierce City, in a small log cabin on West Main street, taught by Mr. Hammond. It was a subscription school, and the total attendance did not exceed half a dozen pupils. The second term was taught by Edward Scott, an Englishman, formerly of Lewiston, and he was suc- ceeded by Emory Watkins. This was in 1879. In 1883 a school district was created, and in 1895 the present school house was erected in Pierce City. On the authority of Frank Gaffney, a resident of the lat- ter town, it may be stated that the first school taught at Weippe, a private institution, was in charge of Ed- ward Hammond, in a small log building beween the

Gaffney and Anderson places, about 1883-84. The term was three months in length, and Mr. Hammond was paid by subscription. There were six or seven pu- pils. M. L. Butler was the second teacher. Of the Pierce City district, No. 1, in 1879, Patrick Gaffney and C. D. Jones were trustees.

The growth of the educational interests of Sho- shone county may be satisfactorily shown by the two contrasting reports of school superintendents. That of Superintendent Hammond, from September 1, 1882, to August 31, 1883, the original report of the county shows, as follows: Total number of children of school age in the county, 12; girls, 4, boys, 8. School months during the year, 71/2. Number of scholars, 10: schools, 1; districts, I; buildings, I; teachers' salaries, $501.25; incidental expenses, $46.45. During the succeeding year the school term dropped to three and one-half months, ten scholars, and teachers' salaries of only $273.

The report of Mrs. Helen L. Young, Shoshone county school superintendent for 1902, is as follows :

Report for the year ending August 31, 1902. The report for 1903 will show a slight increase all along the line, but the following figures are for the year 1902: Number of dis- tricts, regular, 29; independent, 2, 31. School houses, 29; independent, 2, 31. Graded schools, 5; independent, 2, 7. Ungraded schools, 24; teachers employed-male, 12; female, 41; average monthly wages-males, $85.01; females, $72. Number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one years (white), males 1,252; females, 1,196; colored, males, 2; females, 8. Number of children enrolled for the year- males, 1,112; females, 1,021; average daily attendance for the year, 1,297; per cent enrolled, 85.1 ; per cent of attendance, 66. Average number of months of school for all districts, 201; average number of months of school per district, 6.5.

JUDGE ISRAEL B. COWEN.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES SHOSHONE COUNTY

JUDGE ISRAEL B. COWEN. No man in the entire mining regions of northern Idaho is better known than Judge Cowen, and surely no man is more popular and more highly esteemed than is he. Since the earliest days of discoveries in the Pierce country until the present he has been more or less identified with the district and has been in constant public service, holding the highest offices the people were empowered to grant. In all this career, both of public service and private enterprise, Judge Cowen has been characterized with those moral virtues and the intrinsic worth which is the part and parcel of the true man and loyal citizen.

Israel B. Cowen was born in Buncombe, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, on August 22, 1828, the son of Israel B. and Mary K. (Kinney) Cowen. The father was of Scotch ancestrage and was born in Vermont in 1789. The family has been in the United States for eight generations and noble representatives fought in the war of independence and the struggle of 1812. The mother was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1800. When this son was five the family removed to where Warren, Illinois, now stands, and there he was educated and reared. On April 13, 1849, our subject left Galena, Illinois, with a train of immigrants for the west, and via Council Bluffs, Salt Lake and so forth they made their way to Webberville, Eldorado county, California, and young Cowen at once went to mining for himself. He continued for thirteen years, also teaching school for three months in 1853. Then he went via steamer to Portland and Lewiston, landing at the latter place May 27, 1862. He went over the trail on foot to Pierce and mined until 1863, when he carried express for a year to Lewiston, making weekly trips. Then he mined until January 1, 1866, and the following June was elected sheriff of Shoshone county. He served with acceptability for two years and was then elected his own successor, serving until 1871: During his administration the foreigners were all taxed five dol- lars per month to mine in this district. After this incumbency Mr. Cowen mined until August, 1872, when he visited his old home in Wisconsin and Illinois and also went to Indian Territory, Texas and on to California, then returned to Los Angeles and Prescott,

Arizona, and then made his way to Pierce again. He went to mining again and soon bought ground and built a ditch twelve miles long. He continued operating this property until 1893, when he sold it, and since that time has devoted himself to quartz mining. In 1875 Judge Cowen was selected county commissioner of Shoshone county. In 1880 he was elected to the legis- lature and again in 1884. In 1900 he was elected county commissioner again, and in 1902 he was re- elected. He has been probate judge for a number of years, and also justice of the peace. From 1866 to 1872 Judge Cowen was postmaster at Pierce. It is significant that Judge Cowen was a Republican in prin- ciple long before the party was organized. He owns considerable property in Pierce and other places. Thus it is seen that he has been one of the foremost and prominent men of this district for many years and in various capacities, some of them grave with responsi- bility, he has served his constituency in faithfulness and with efficiency, and now, in the years of the golden period of his life, he is surrounded with many friends and far and near everyone has a good word for the venerable judge and wise and patriotic citizen.

JESSE FREEMAN, who is now one of the pro- prietors of the Senate saloon at Mace, is one of the skilled and leading miners of the district and has had ample experience in the science of uncarthing the pre- cious metals from their resting places to give him the skill and success he has attained in the art. He was born in Indiana, on September 1I, 1869, the son of John and Harriet (Raper) Freeman, natives of In- diana also. The father's parents came of English and French stock and were native to Virginia. The moth- er's parents were natives of Maine. Our subject's per- ents live in Illinois. He was raised and educated in Illinois principally, receiving a high school training. When nineteen he started out in the world for himself and for a time worked in the Springfield roller mills. Then he turned his attention to mining and for twelve years he followed it assiduously. He has held var-

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ious positions in the work, as shift boss, foreman and so forth. He was shift boss of the Ibex mine in Colo- rado two years, superintended the Morning Star mine in Webb City, Missouri, and also the New England mine in Galena, Kansas. He has also been engaged in various mining ventures of his own. Mr. Freeman came to Coeur d'Alene country from Webb City in 1901 and accepted a position in the Standard until April, 1902, when he entered the saloon business. Later he sold an interest to Harmon Carlyle and to- gether they handle the business today. Mr. Freeman has one sister, Mary E. Houston.

On September 2, 1895, at Webb City, Missouri, Mr. Freeman married Jennie B., daughter of James and Sarah J. (Hoops) Gunning, natives of Ohio. The father served three years in an Ohio regiment during the Rebellion and died in 1899. The mother still lives in Jasper county, Missouri. Mrs. Freeman has three brothers and one sister, Clarence E., Seymour, Will- iam, Annie Jones. Mr. Freeman is a member of the I. O. O. F. and in political matters he is untrammelled by the tenets of any party and is an independent thinker.

HON. WILLIAM H. CLAGETT. Perhaps no one of the early stalwart and worthy pioneers was bet- ter known and respected than the subject of this arti- cle. In every line of life, Judge Clagett stood for true principles and high ideals both in private .and political life; at all times, and on all questions he ranked the purity and integrity of the home and national life as one, and honesty and justice as their mighty bulwarks.

William Horace Clagett was born in Prince Georges county, Maryland, September 21, 1838. His ancestors dating back to the time of William of Normandy were of ancient English stock. They came to the new world with Lord Baltimore and received from him a land grant which included nearly all of what is now Marlboro and Prince Georges county, Maryland. His father, Thomas William Clagett, an abolitionist in advance of his generation, removed to Keokuk, Iowa, in 1850, and became district judge. Later, as editor of the Constitution, hie dealt forceful brows against the monster, slavery, and during the Civil war was sub- jected to mob violence at the hands of southern sym- pathizers.

The subject of this sketch was educated in Keokuk and at the Albany Law School of New York, and ad- mitted to the bar in 1858. In 1861 he crossed the plains to Carson City, Nevada, and later, in Humbolt, rose to distinction in his chosen profession. He was a mem- ber of the Nevada territorial house of representatives in 1862 and reelected in 1864 upon the admission of the state.

In 1864 he stumped Nevada on the Republican ticket which elected William M. Steward as United States senator and in this campaign made the reputation as a political speaker which won for him the title of "the silver tongued orator of the west," which soubriquet he justly held throughout the whole northwest for nearly forty years.

In 1866 he removed to Montana and was elected delegate to congress from that territory in 1870. For some years he has taken an active political part in the Mormon question and while in the National Legisla- ture, thrilled the nation with eloquent speeches against the Mormon church, against its distinctive religious tenet of polygamy and against the atrocities committed in the name of the church upon men, women and chil- dren. Years after when the Edmunds bill was passed which abolished polygamy these speeches were re- called and Mr. Clagett was frequently alluded to as the originator of the movement which culminated in the Edmunds law. He was one of the original drafters of the bill and procured its passage, which established the present National Park at the head waters of the Yellowstone. The preservation of this park, 110W famous as a land of wonder the world over, should alone entitle Mr. Clagett to high rank in the history of the northwest. He also secured the passage of the mineral land act of 1872 and assisted in other impor- tant mining laws; introduced the bill establishing the United States assay office at Helena and later was as- sociated with James A. Garfield (afterwards president) as especial United States counsel in several prosecu- tions for frauds in the Indian service and in appor- tionments of Indian reservations throughout Montana.

In 1872 he was a candidate for reelection but was defeated largely through the hospitality and instrumen- tality of the Mormons. He removed to Deadwood, Black Hills in 1877, where for five years he won dis- tinction as a prominent and most successful lawyer, winning some of the most noted cases in mining liti - gation which have ever been appealed to the United States Supreme Court. After the discovery of gold in the Coeur d'Alene country in the winter of 1883-4 Judge Clagett, then a resident of Portland, stampeded into the new bonanza field, locating at Eagle City. When the rich strikes were made on Prichard creek, Mr. Clagett's cabin was the first one put up in Mur- ray. Here ample opportunity was afforded for him to show forth the rich kindness and generosity of his nature and many a sick frontiersman owes his life to the tender nursing and hospitable care received at his hands. It became a veritable hospital to those suffer- ing from exposure and deprivation. Possessing some practical knowledge of medicine, Mr. Clagett was the first to extend a helping hand to sufferers of that win- ter, and in their hearts tender memories will ever dwell.

He was president of the Constitutional Convention of Idaho in 1889 and to his advice is largely due many of the wisest features of the Idaho constitution. In 1891 he made the fight for United States senator against Senator Dubois but the latter was declared elected. He contested Dubois' election, had the privilege of the United States senate chambers and in his own behalf, made a speech and argument that astonished the vener- able senators. Dubois however retained his seat. He was again candidate for the senate from Idaho in 1895 but was defeated by Heitfeldt. Friends and foes alike 11nite in believing he was too uncompromising to suc- cced in politics. His motto was "win honestly or die game;" political intrigue, policy or expediency were

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unused weapons in his campaigns, and state and na- tional questions were ever handled by him from the ethical standpoint instead of along party lines. A nat- ural reformer wherever he was, he advocated and fought for changes and measures to make things bet- ter. His earnestness and sincerity won for him the ad- miration and devotion of many friends and even his enemies had for him a genuine respect.

From 1895 to 1901 he traveled much for his health and practiced law in Spokane, Washington, in which place he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mabel C. Lucas, on August 4, 190I.

In 1861 Mr. Clagett married Mrs. Mary E. Hart of Keokuk, a niece of Oliver P. Morton, the famous war governor of Indiana. She survives her husband and resides in Portland, Oregon. Of the nine chil- dren born to this union, eight are living and are named as follows: Dr. Mary Clagett of Chicago; Ida B .; Emma G .; Mabel C. Lucas of Spokane, Washington ; Thomas W. of Sunset, Washington; George D. of Nome, Alaska ; William H. of Wallace, Idaho; Grace Clagett of Portland, Oregon.

In a tribute to his memory, a friend of forty years says of him: "He will always be remembered as an historic character in the upbuilding of the great north- west and when in future years, the west shall build a Hall of Fame for her immortals, in a niche where the sunlight falls softest there should be placed a statue of William H. Clagett."

LEWIS L. SWEET, in company with O. M. Grant, handles the Wallace hotel, the leading hostelry of the city. His past experience, genial manner, and untir- ing care for the comfort of guests, enable him to man- age a popular and first class house, which is appre- ciated by a traveling public.

Lewis L. Sweet was born in Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1857, being the son of Ambrose M. and Maria (Buckbee) Sweet, natives of New York. The father was engaged by the government to construct railroads during the Civil war and he was wounded by guerrilla bands. He died in 1896, aged seventy-five. Thrce of his brothers had sons in the war and one, Horace, died in Andersonville. The Sweet family is one of the oldest and most prominent of colonial days. The mother of our subject was born of English ancestry and died in 1887, aged fifty-eight. Our subject was reared on a Pennsylvania farm until twelve and then went with the family to Michigan. He fin- ished his education in the graded and the Brighton Union schools. When eighteen, he entered the lum- her business and followed it steadily for six years. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Sweet came to the Salmon river mines and did mining, transporting ore and ma- chinery, handled the amalgamating in a large mill for ten years and then went to Portland and took up the meat business for a time. Thence he came to Wallace with a horse and cart and an invoice showed him pos- sessed of two dimes when he landed here. This was in the fall of 1891. Later he opened a saloon in Gem with Wmn. R. Stimson as partner, which they closed

when the strike came on. He prospected awhile and then opened the bimetallic hotel and bar in Wallace and later operated the old Utley house. In August, 1894. Mr. Sweet went to the Clearwater placers and came thence on snow shoes in the dead of winter. He oper- ated a saloon in Kingston, worked for Al Steers, ran an engine for the Frisco mine, operated a confection and cigar store in Gem and in 1898 opened a bar and restaurant in the Jones and Dean block. On April I, 1901, he sold out and took charge of the Wallace hotel, where we find him at present handling a good trade. Mr. Sweet has three brothers, George W., Eugene W., and Melvin M.

On January 8, 1891 Mr. Sweet married Laura E. Jones, whose family all live in Detroit, Michigan, cx- cept her father, who is dead. Mr. Sweet is a member of the I. O. O. F., Custer Lodge No. 21 ; of the Custer Encampment Lodge No. 10; of the Rebekahis : of the Eagles, Wallace Aerie, No. 54, being past president : of the I. O. R. M., being past sachem of Lakota Tribe No. 13 . of the Foresters of America. being past chief ranger of the Coeur d'Alene Lodge No. 9. Mr. Sweet is treasurer of the board of trade and of the fire department. He is popular and stands well, having a host of warm friends.

SAMUEL NORALAN is one of the old pioneers of the Eagle excitement times and has mined all through the Coeur d'Alene country with varying success, while also he has travelled all over the west and wrought in various capacities. He was born in New Jersey on October 31, 1862, the son of Samuel and Emma (Harker) Norman, natives of Norway and New Jer- sey, respectively. The father was a machinist on a Cuban sugar plantation and died just before our sub- ject was born. The mother then married, when subject was four, Edward L. Stratton, whose father was a United States congressman. The mother's en- cestors were American patriots for generations back, served in the Indian troubles, fought in the Revolution and in the war of 1812. Mr. Stratton fought in the Civil war and lost a leg in the battle of Chancellors- ville. They now dwell at Mellica Hill, New Jersey. Our subject was reared in his native state, gained a public school education and when eighteen came west. having promised his mother to write to her once every week and come back when twenty-one. He was in Colorado, rode the range, went to Montana, was en- gaged variously, was quarantined for smallpox, which proved to be chicken pox, then fell in with Hoffman of Spokane and they rode handcar and walked seeking a job, worked on a farm and then our subject went home to redeem his promise and after a two weeks' visit came back to Montana and in 1884 came with a com- pany to Eagle City, hauling freight on a toboggan and when in Murray, on April 1, 1884. they pitched a tent and soon had located a claim in Dream gulch, our sub- ject, Hoffman, J. A. Alger, Beck and another one being partners. They worked on a ditch to get a start and later mined and after a summer's work they cleaned

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up one hundred dollars. Their claim was jumped but afterward was returned to them. Our subject then went to Pendleton, then visited an aunt in Portland and coming back to Pendleton found some of the old part- ners and they decided to try the old claim. They refused to pay a man to show them the pay streak and later found it and took out as high as one hundred and fifty dollars per day to the man. Several thousand dollars rewarded their work that summer and then our subject bought a farm which he sold later 10 a good advantage. Since that time Mr. Norman has given his attention to packing and mining and is now mining entirely. He is a well known and ener- getic miner and skillful in the art. He has one brother, Harry, and one half brother, Edward L. Stratton, also three sisters, Sarah M. Harley, Deborah H., Emma.

On March 21, 1900, at Wallace, Mr. Norman mar- ried Miss Annie B., daughter of Gorge and Annie Johnson, natives of Norway and now deceased. Mrs. Norman has two brothers, George and Bennett. Mr. Norman is a member of the K. P., being past chan- cellor, and of the Red Men and the Miners.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 255

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