An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 26

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 26
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 26
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 26
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 26

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).

"Ward sank upon the floor upon reaching the house, and in falling discharged his pistol, the bullet from which grazed the limbs of Mrs. Boyer, who was standing in the doorway. Forty-eight hours later he died in excruiating agony. Mrs. Goddard was wound- ed, a pistol ball lacerating her right arm.

"Hundreds of neighbors and Lewiston people con- gregated at the scene of the terrible tragedy during the day, and excitement over the affair overshadowed all other interests. Coroner Strong impaneled a jury and on Monday a verdict was rendered, holding Ward, Mrs. Goddard and Fred Goddard responsible for Siers' death. Later Shorthill was arrested for murder and then for assault with intent to kill. At a fair trial he was completely exonerated and acquitted."

When the Goddard case came on for trial in the superior court there was begun one of the most mem- orable legal contests in the history of the county. At- torneys McNamee and Clagget conducted the case for the state, while Reid and Griffits appeared for the defense. Forty days were consumed in the taking of testimony and the making of arguments, etc., entail- ing upon the taxpayers an expense of many thousands of dollars. The defendants were acquitted, to the in- dignant surprise of hundreds who followed the testi- mony carefully.

On Monday, August 26, 1895, the first payment to Indians of moneys due them in accordance with the treaty began at the agency. The Lewiston banks es- tablished temporary quarters on the reservation for the purpose of cashing the checks, and it is stated that the Indians deposited with these institutions about one- third of their newly-acquired wealth, also that they acted honestly in liquidating their outstanding debts.

Speaking editorially of the events on this mem- orable time, the Teller in its issue of August 29th said :

"The past week has been one of active life in a com- mercial sense. Every channel of trade has been swelled to its flood tide. The impulse derived from the disbursement of Indian money has not yet subsided. Coming, as the revival did, at the beginnig of a sea- son of general prosperity, Lewiston may reason- ably expect a rapid development of neglected resources. One thing noticeable is the fact that the Indians use good judgment in making their purchases. Indian goods have always been shoddy goods in trade circles, but the Nez Perces have been selecting the best of everything this week. ) They have purchased largely of spring wagons, but they have avoided the cheaper goods, preferring to pay good prices for substantial family carriages. The payment of the Indian money proceeded very quietly all week at the agency. The

red men were more indifferent than white men would have been had such a prize been ready for the latter for the simple asking. The sum of two hundred thou- sand dollars awaited the Kamiahs for a week while they deliberated over the preliminaries. At first they seemed nonplused by the final awakening to the fact that they would soon be surrounded by the whites and have to shoulder the responsibilities of the white men, and sent word that they had deeded no land and would therefore receipt for no money. They finally took a philosophic view of the matter, however, and decided to acquiesce.

"The Indians as a class have contemplated, secured and utilized this money with better judgment and more in accordance with true business principles than a chance selection of an equal number of white men would have done. This speaks well for their future. The foundation of civilization is true business thrift of the individuals of any community, and commercial prosperity is a natural trait of first importance in political economy."

When the news of the opening of the reservation spread abroad scores of prospective homesteaders flocked into the country, camping where they might and doing what they could to earn a subsistence. Only the better class came, as the fact that the land was ex- pected to cost $3.75 per acre deterred the rougher and less thrifty element.

On November 18th, at 12 o'clock noon, the firing of a cannon at the local land office gave warning of the official opening of the reserve. As usual in such cases there was a great rush for choice locations, but the ruffianism so generally characteristic of these races for hommes was conspicuous for its absence. The first claims were filed by Stephen Haaser for Colonel Ham- mel, Captin Tamblin and W. O. Human, old soldiers. A noteworthy event of the first day was the race for the quartz ledges on Eckert's butte, which for many years was supposed to be a veritable bonanza. J. L. Eckert and C. E. Holt were the winners, the latter se- curing first choice. Nezperce City, the new govern- ment townsite, was likewise the center of considerable interest. Great confusion obtained there for a while in the matter of selecting lots, but the friends of order finally effected an organization, and, on the suggestion of Dr. Morris, adopted a species of lot drawing to de- termine the distribution of prizes. .

The settlement of the reservation enabled Nez Perces county to advance by a single leap to a place among the wealthiest and most populous counties of the state. Of the reservation lands, 533.500 acres were in Nez Perces, much of this domain being exceedingly rich agricultural land, and its settlement by a thrifty, homebuilding population was fraught with momentous consequences for the future greatness of the county.

No new movements characterized the year 1896, but it was nevertheless a busy one. It witnessed an in- crease of over 4,000 in the population of Nez Perces county and the settlement of practically all the reserva- tion not taken in the first grand rush. Thousands of acres of virgin soil were broken, hundreds of homes were built, several towns were started and signs of

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

healthy development were apparent on every hand. During the year the Clearwater was opened to naviga- tion as far as Kamiah by the utilization of twenty-five thousand dollars provided for the purpose by appro- priation, and thus the final year of the financial strin- gency, the year in which so little was accomplished in many other parts of the west, was made fruitful of much progress in Nez Perces county.

In February, 1897, Representative Fuller, of Sho- Shone county, introduced into the legislature a bill to create Clearwater county out of the southern portion of Shoshone, the northern portion of Idaho and the east- ern portion of Nez Perces county, the seat of govern- ment of the new political division to be Pierce City. Some of the boundaries were unnatural, and most of the section embraced was unpatented homestead land, not taxable. The number of votes cast at the previous election by residents in the section seeking segregation numbered barely three hundred. Opponents of the measure within and without the proposed new subdi- vision of the state called attention to these facts ; the hopelessness of the task they had undertaken soon be- came apparent to its friends and the bill was allowed to drop.

It will be remembered that in 1897 there was a re- vival of business throughout the entire northwest. Naturally Nez Perces county, which had not suffered by the hard times as did other parts of the country, was prepared to keep step in this renewed forward march, and the year was fruitful of many improve- ments and some departures in industrial circles. Thousands of dollars were invested in reviving some of the old mining camps of north Idaho, erecting stamp mills, opening roads, etc. The reorganization of the Northern Pacific Company after its lines had been in the receiver's hands for five years was an event of no little promise to a region which must look to that corporation for the transportation facilities it so much needed and so ardently desired. Lastly, and in time to give the homebuilders on the newly-opened Nez Perces reservation the encouragement so necessary and so helpful under those circumstances, came the abun- dant harvests and excellent prices which have made 1897 a memorable year in the history of the inland empire generally. Prosperity among the farmers meant prosperity among the merchants, laborers me- chanics and all other classes, and every one felt that the night of financial distress had given place to a more glorious day than had ever before broken upon the hills and valleys of the Clearwater country.

It was no doubt their perception of this golden future that impelled the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to commence in December, 1897, the exten- sion of their Spokane and Palouse branch to Lewis- ton, taking up in good earnest a project which it had long been contemplating but for various reasons had never carried into effect. At any rate, the company notified the people, through its agent, J. P. Vollmer, that it would commence work immediately provided the right of way and depot grounds in Lewiston were donated. The proposal drew forth an immediate re- sponse ; the bonus asked for was speedily granted, also

the necessary franchise. The company proved true to its promise. Work was pushed speedily and steadily and on September 8, 1898, the first passenger train entered Lewiston. That it received a hearty welcome need not be stated when it is remembered that the town had begun agitation for a railroad as early as 1872-perhaps earlier-and had wrought assiduously during all the intervening years to the end that its in- dustrial development might receive the impetus which nothing but speedy transportation could give, at times offering enormous bonuses and ever standing ready to offer the company which should build to them all the encouragement in their power.

The activity of the Northern Pacific seemed to stimulate other transpartation companies, and in March, 1898, articles of incorporation of the Snake River Valley Railroad Company were filed in the county clerk's office. The object of this company was to build a line from Umatilla, Oregon, to a point in the state of Washington contiguous to the mouth of Snake river, thence along the valley of that stream via Riparia, Washington, and Lewiston, Idaho, to the vicinity of Huntington. The proposed road would be of great benefit to the Clearwater section, and the people thereof are ever alert for the good of their part of the state, so considerable attention was paid to this new project. However, the people were too well used to the ways of railway projectors to be greatly disappointed when the road did not materialize.

The winter of 1897-8 was a mild one, and, as is usual under those circumstances, the fall of snow was correspondingly heavy. The precipitation during Jan- uary was very great, and conditions were right for an era of floods as soon as a warm wind should begin blowing. On the 14th of February the balmy "Chi- nook" came with its furnace breath, the snow was speedily converted into torrents of water, the streams were swelled to their utmost, the former high-water records of the Potlatch, especially, being badly broken. Much damage resulted to the railroad bed; the new construction work was injured and its progress de- layed; travel was rendered impossible for three days and the entire Potlatch country was cut off from mail communication with the outside world. The Clear- water at Lewiston rose six feet in one day and the cur- rent in it became so swift as to stop the ferries: but inconvenience from high water was of short dura- tion.

As the year advanced it brought with it blessings and a substantial increase of wealth to the citizens of Nez Perces county and vicinity. Copious rains in June insured excellent crops. Much of the land of the region was new, so that the enormous crop of 1897 did not render another large crop in 1898 a practical impossibility, and it is stated that the wheat yield of that year was the greatest known up to the time. The acreage devoted to the different cereal products during the year, as compiled by Assessor Cantril, were as follows . Wheat, 44,507 acres; barley, 4,131 acres ; flax, 2,924 acres : oats, 1,572 acres ; corn, 275 acres. The number of acres devoted to hay was 2,344.

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

The outbreak of the Spanish-American war was in Nez Perces county, as in other parts of Idaho and the west, the occasion of a great outburst of patriotic ferver. This ebullition of the martial spirit found ex- pression at a public meeting held at the court house Saturday, April 23d, 1898, at which the militia, mem- bers of the Grand Army of the Republic, several Confederate veterans, many students and a representa- tion of the citizenship of Lewiston-far beyond the capacity of the audience room to accommodate-were present. Judge J. W. Poe presided. Speeches were made by Supreme Judges Sullivan and Quarles, Colonels Lane and Danford, J. N. Stacy and James W. Reid, and these, with the martial music, stirred all hearts to their profoundest depths.

Shortly after the issuance of the call of President Mckinley for one hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteers, Company B received orders to hold itself in readiness to furnish thirty-five of its best men to fill up the state quota, and the boys had been drilling as- sidnously in anticipation of the opportunity to partici- pate for the first time in active warfare. On Monday, May 2d, they received the anticipated marching or- ders, commanding them to repair at once to the ren- dezvous at Boise, but on account of some difficulty about transportation they were delayed in their com- pliance until Thursday. At noon on Monday Com- pany C, of Grangeville, Captain Murphy commanding, arrived in Lewiston. They and the home boys were tendered a reception by the ladies of the Women's Relief Corps on Tuesday evening, at which they en- joyed not only the usual bounties of good things, but heart-felt words of welcome and farewell expressed in glowing language by eloquent speakers. A flag was presented to the soldiers by C. P. Coburn, accom- panied by words well-calculated to inspire in the breasts of its recipients a determination to carry it on to victory and to never disgrace it by any act of cowardice or dishonor.

The interest of the residents of Lewiston in their chosen sons was further manifested on the morning of their departure, when a concourse of between 2,500 and 3,000 people assembled at the boat landing to give them a parting hand-shake. The public schools were closed, also the Normal ; stores and public offices were deserted, and men, women and children gathered to see the start for war. More speeches were indulged in ; another flag was given the company by the Grand Army of the Republic, much hand-shaking, some caressing, no doubt, a little of that overflow of feeling which the soldier dreads worse than the battle's front, and the boys were off to meet the uncertainties which beset the soldier in fighting the battles of the repub- lic. Two weeks were spent in camp at Boise; then the Idaho volunteers were ordered to join General Mer- ritt at the Presidio, San Francisco.

From the records of Company B, First Regiment, Idaho Volunteer Infantry, the same being the Nez Perces county company, we learn that the officers were Lieutenant Colonel Daniel M. Figgins, commanding ; Captain Edward O. Martinson, First Lieutenant Rob- ert D. Stainton, Second Lieutenant Chipear Wilcut ;

and that the privates were Charles W. Alkire, Robert L. Baldwin, Herbert M. Caswell, James Cleary, David D. Crites, John O. Derr, Frank C. Duncan, Fred Fol- som, Harry B. Ford, William H. Frederick, Frank B. Gorman, George H. Hammersly, Herbert Hennes, Isaac Hutcheson, Hyrum Jenson, James Jenson, Oli- ver B. Jones, Richard B. Jones (wounded February 5, 1899), Adam Kobel, Stanley C. Lebrook, John Lucey, Dennis Likens, John H. Little, Donald O. Merritt, Joseph Oswald, Richard D. Pelkey, Louis Peterson, William M. Pipkin, Walter W. Rhoades, Alfred E. Riter, William N. Robinson, Robert Ross, Guy Simpson, Frank Stark, Bert Weeks, James Wes- ton and William C. Woodside. Privates discharged from the company before the register was made were: John W. Frederick, James C. Henderson, Theodore Link, William A. Bicknell, Darius P. Gray, William Hall, Caleb P. Hahn, Charles F. Krise, John N. Luit- jens (wounded February 5, 1899), Harry McConville, J. C. McFadden, Frederick B. McKee, Charles C. Miles, G. E. Overstreet, Lewis A. Powless, William B. Rea, Joseph Rustmeyer, Frederick W. Soule, Martin Starling, William B. Strong, Horace D. Van Alstine. Officers resigned: Captain L. D. Schattner, April 25,

1899: Second Lieu- tenant John O. Barbour, March 17, 1899. Discharged to accept commisions : First Sergeant, Robert D. Stainton, Private Frank A, McCall (wounded Feb- ruary 5, 1899), Chipear Wilcut. Those who served as sergeants were: Joseph Strobel, Ernest Scott (wounded February 5, 1899), John Wiggins, William M. Keller (wounded February 5, 1899), Charles Gor- don, Fred S. Beckwith. As corporals: Samuel W. Bine, Alois Kalous, Charles W. Bvers, Frank Cer- veny, Frank B. Flora, Len Koen, Thomas Martin. As musicians : William H. Ritzheimer and William E. Merriam. As artificer, Thomas Nance. As wag- oner, Herman Wilde. Those transferred were: Mack K. Cunningham, Fred Farr, Joseph A. Gill, Elmore A. McKenna and Amos A. Smith, all privates. Those killed in action were: Corporal Frank R. Caldwell, Privates James R. Fraser and George W. Hall.

The company's record of events reads as follows : "Left Boise, May 19, 1898; arrived at San Francisco, California, May 22d and went into Camp Merritt. Embarked on Steamship 'Morgan City' June 26th ; left San Francisco bay en route for Manila June 27th. Arrived at Honolulu July 6th, leaving July 9th ; ar- rived at Manila bay July 31. Landed August 6th at Paranaque and went into camp at Camp Dewey. In trenches August 8th and 9th. In barracks at Malate August 13th to October 11th. In barracks, Exposi- tion building, Manila, to January 2d. In barracks at Aco, Manila, to February 4th. On guard and outpost duty until February 4, 1899. In trenches and on fir- ing line from February 4th to July 12th. Embarked on United States Army Transport Grant, en route for San Francisco via Magaski, Island Sea and Yoko- hama July 3Ist ; arrived August 29th. Went into camp at Presidio August 31st."

The company took part in one engagement with Spanish forces-the assault and capture of Manila,

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

August 13th, 1898, and battled against Philippino in- surgents at Santa Ana on February 4th and 5th at Calcoocan, February Ioth and IIth, 1899. Detach- ments of the company were in the Laguna bay expedi- tion, April 7th to 17th; at Santa Cruz, April 9th and Iotlı; at Pagsanjan, April IIth: at Lumban, April IIth, and at Paete, April 13th.

Besides the volunteers above mentioned, Harry Matheson, Ed Sutherland, James Jacks, Ed Sears, John Neal, Harry Lee, Bob Winger and Moxie Alex- ander, all Lewiston boys, took part in the war, having enlisted in Company C, First Battalion, Second Regi- ment, Washington Volunteers.

The Second Battalion, Idaho Volunteers, including all the north Idaho companies, was commanded by Major Ed McConville (the Colonel McConville of Nez Perces Indian war fame), a man of splendid military ability. Brave, determined, heroic, possessing the gift of inspiring others with the enthusiasm and ardor which fired his own patriotic heart, he kept adding laurels to his wreath of fame until he met at last a soldier's fate. Brigadier General Charles King, who was in command of the brigade in the battle of Santa Ana, in which the Idaho regiment covered itself with glory, refers to the Idaho volunteers and to Major McConville in this language :

"Just as the center of the Idahos reached a little clump of trees and shrubbery half way across the plain they were greeted by a sudden and furious vol- ley, which staggered them. In an instant McConville leaped to the front, shouting to his men: 'Come on! Come on, Idaho" and then, as he turned and led the rush into the shrubbery a shot struck him square in the breast and down he went. Even then, they told me, he strove to crawl forward, but the wound was mortal, and presently the brave old fellow realized that he had but an hour or two to live. I never saw him again. The order he received from my lips on the Santa Ana road was his last, and to the letter had he striven to obey it.

"Five insurgents lay dead about the Krupps in the middle of the redoubt, where, side by side, California and Idaho leaped in to the capture, and a dozen lay strewn over the field in front of where the honored old major fell. The big redoubt on the mound to his left was littered with the bodies of insurgents. Hemmed in between McConville, Fortson and the river and un- able to beat back the dashing charge of the 'Ameri- canos,' they raised the white flag and then shot dead the first soldier to reach the work. The roar of mus- ketry was resumed for three minutes and was followed by scattering shots as the fugitives ran for the stream, but there was a smile on McConville's grizzled face as they bore him off the field."

The remains of the heroic McConville were brought home for interment. On April 12th the steamer Spokane. with its flag at half-mast, steamed into port bearing the body, and during the afternoon of the next day all that was mortal of the courageous patriot was laid to rest. The funeral was attended by hun- dreds of people, among them the state officials, led by Governor Steunberg, the University of Idaho Cadets

and members of the faculty and delegations from other cities of Idaho and Washington.

The members of Company B arrived at Lewiston on the afternoon of October 2, 1899, and were greeted in a manner which proved that the people fully appre- ciated their gallant services and the honor they reflect- ed upon the city and county that sent them forth. The boat was met by members of fraternal orders, by fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and sweethearts, by young and old and middle aged, all in gala attire and striving to outdo one another in the warmth of their welcome and the heartiness of their tributes of honor.

But we must take up again the current of events in Nez Perces county. The year 1899 was a very lively one. The railroad activity of which we have spoken in a previous chapter contributed not a little to this prosperity and there were other causes also operative in the same direction. True the winter had been a severe one occasioning heavy losses of cattle and horses, the heaviest, however, being outside of Nez Perces county, but the effect was scarcely felt, being so completely neutralized by the operation of other forces. By May, according to the Teller's state- ment, the entire country was on the boom. New towns and new additions to old towns were coming to the front and the price of real estate was leaping forward. "Every house of every description," says the paper referred to, "is occupied to its fullest ca- pacity and large numbers of new ones are under con- struction, while many vacant lots serve as tenting ground for people who cannot otherwise get housed. The transient traveler who gets a room to himself is fortunate and still more so is he if he is not compelled to sleep at some barracks of a lodging house utilized in connection with the hotel where he may have reg- istered." The Buffalo Hump excitement, caused by the discovery of rich gold deposits in the vicinity of that old landmark, was responsible for much of the travel through the country and the general boom con- ditions, but there was also a mining excitement in Nez Perces county itself. A number of locations were made near Greer's ferry on the Clearwater river, a region blest with traditions of a lost mine. "During the Nez Perces war." so the story goes, "a party of prospectors were run to cover in the canyon of the Lo- lo and while in hiding they found a very rich ledge. The prospectors were badly scared, did not expect to save even their scalps, but they chipped off chunks of gold bearing quartz and carried them to their nomes. The confused state of their minds at the time left them with only vague recollections of the location of the ledge which they concealed with brush and dirt. Years later members of that party secretly returned to the vicinity of Greer's ferry and tramped all summer up and down the country in search of this rich ledge, which they have never found. All of these old prospectors have died. The last to visit the scene of this exciting experience came in 1896."

Whether the gold find of 1877, if such was in truth made, would, if discovered, prove as rich as the old prospectors believed is of course unknown but Greer's

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

ferry is known to be in a promising mineral belt and it is possible that a ledge of great richness may have been discovered and lost again as alleged. At any rate it is not unlikely that some of the prospects in the vicinity will develop into paying properties.

During the year the value of property in the county according to the assessor's appraisement nearly doub- led, giving it fifth place among the political divisions of the state. As the valuation of railroad property in the county was only one-sixteenth of the whole, leav- ing such property out of the calculation, Nez Per- ces would rank third.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 26

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