An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 284

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 284
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 284
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 284
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 284

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JOHN F. VAN ALLEN is proprietor and operator of a fine hardware establishment in Wardner, handling also all kinds of sheet iron, does tin work and plumb- ing, carrying a good stock in each line and being one of the substantial and popular business men of the town.

John F. Van Allen was born in Morrisburg, Dundas county, Ontario, Canada, on August 22, 1862, being the son of Isaac and Mary J. (Morgan) Van Allen. The father was born in the Mohawk valley, New York, was a loyalist and went to Canada with a band of twenty-five thousand loyalists in the time of the Revo- lution. The mother was born in Canada of English and Scotch ancestry and died in 1867. Our subject was raised in Canada and was educated in the excellent schools of Ontario, which are noted widely for their superiority. Finishing his high school course he learned the tinner's trade and in 1885 he came to Pottsdam, New York. A year later he went to Min- neapolis and in 1891 he came to Wardner. He en- gaged with the Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company, then Holley Mason Marks Co. In 1896 this company removed to Wallace, and Mr. Van Allen bought a stock of goods from them and opened a store for him -- self. This has been his place of business since and he has devoted himself to the advancement and building up of his trade and is successful, being now one of the thriving merchants of the town. In 1896 Mr. Van Allen bought a lot and erected the business building that he now occupies. He also has a good dwelling of nine rooms, well appointed and of modern archi- tecture. Mr. Van Allen has three brothers and two sisters, Lemuel H., George I., William H., Mrs. Nellie Garlough, Emma.

In March, 1897, at Wallace, Mr. Van Allen married Mrs. Nellie Poteet, daughter of Thomas and Frances

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Wright, who reside in Wardner. Her father was one of the earliest pioneers in Idaho and is said to be the first white man to enter the Boise basin and followed placer mining. Mr. Van Allen is a member of the K. P., the Eiks, the W. W., and Women of Woodcraft. Mr. Van Allen is a Democrat, but is of liberal and in- dependent ideas.

JOSEPH A. R. CAMPBELL. No man is better known in the Wardner country than the subject of this article and no man is more feared by the lawless and criminal class of people, for Joseph Campbell is a man of keen penetration, quick action, fearless and bold, skillful with weapons, above a bribe, and with a nerve of steel. His determination to do his duty in the posi- tion which he holds of city marshal and the integrity and unswerving adherence to principle which charac- terize him have made him a power for law and order and Wardner is to be congratulated that such a man is handling this department.

Joseph Campbell was born in Davis county, Iowa, on April 22, 1855. being the son of John J. and Alice (Noland) Campbell. The father was born July 12, 1812, and died on April 6, 1890. He crossed the plains in 1858, returned in three years, crossed again in 1862, located the ground where a part of Baker City stands. went into stock near Baker City and there died. He was captain of the train that stopped first at Baker City. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a patriot in the Revolution. The mother of Joseph died when he was four, and he was raised principally in Oregon, being in Baker, Umatilla and Polk counties. In 1866-7 he rode the bell animal of pack trains into the Boise basin, which was a remarkable feat for one so young. Our subject was educated in the public schools and at Monmouth College. He rode the range, did sawmill work and various other work in his early days and in 1876 took charge of three thousand and seven hun- dred cattle to Cheyenne. He returned to Montana. In 1877 he bought an interest in a sawmill, the next year he bought a wood business in Butte and in 1879 he was chosen chief of police of that city, and that office and deputy sheriff he held there for five years. He was the first chief there. In 1883 he went east for an op- eration on his arm, which had received a gunshot wound in an encounter with a criminal. Mr. Campbell took his man, however, on this occasion, as on all others, but sometimes they were carried on a stretcher. and it is well, for the dignity of the law must be obeyed. In 1884 Mr. Campbell came to Eagle City and engaged in several placer deals, but was not successful. He came here ten days after the location of Bunker Hill and located fourteen claims adjoining. In 1885 he went back to Eagle and was deputy sheriff at the Hop- kins boom. The next spring he returned to Wardner and was constable, deputy sheriff, and deputy U. S. marshal, and when the city was incorporated he was chosen city marshal. Mr. Campbell has four brothers and one sister : George, Benjamin, Henry, Frank, all near Baker City, in the stock business; Mrs. Sarah Thompson, at Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

In 1888 Mr. Campbell married Miss Hebe M., daughter of J. J. and Elizabeth Lent, residents of Wardner, where also the wedding occurred. Two chil- dren have been born, Arthur D. and Colvin C. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Junior Order A. M., of the I. O. O. F., of the Encampment, of the Rebekahs, of the Eagles, and in politics is a stanch Republican. He has frequently been to the county conventions and has also attended the state conventions. For three years Mr. Campbell represented his lodge of the I. O. O. F. at the grand lodge for the state of Idaho.

HARRY L. DAY was born December 12, 1865, at Dayton, Lyon county, Nevada, the son of Henry L. and Ellen ( Powers) Day, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Our subject was raised principally in Cali- fornia, whither his parents removed when he was young. He was educated in the schools of Nevada and Sacramento counties and then took a degree from St. Marys College of San Francisco. Previous to this course he had labored assiduously at various employ- ments, beginning with selling papers on the streets of Sacramento. Mr. Day graduated in 1885. then re- turned to Truckee and worked at bookkeeping and other employment until he removed to Wardner in April, 1886. He then prospected and held various positions in leading mines of this district and also he and his father operated the first dairy in Wardner, which their skill and business enterprise made success- ful. In 1889 Mr. Day and his partner, Fred Harper, discovered the now famous Hercules. This magnifi- cent property is mentioned fully elsewhere in this work, but we will say that Mr. Day had faith in it from the beginning and steadily pursued his labors, having charge of the books of the company and pressing on its development constantly. He was employed in vari- ous sections of the Coeur d'Alene country in prospect- ing and in the leading mines and mills, and is at pres- ent manager of the Hercules Milling Company. He has two brothers, Eugene R., Jerome J., both mining men of Wallace and both interested in the Hercules. He also has two sisters. Mrs. E. B. Royce, who resides with her husband in Denver: Blanche, single and dwelling with her parents in Wallace. Mr. Day is a Democrat and takes a keen interest in the welfare of the community.

On August 13, 1900, Mr. Day married Miss Nellie B., daughter of P. M. and Ellen Dwyer, who dwell at Newman Lake, Washington. The wedding oc- curred at the historical old church, Old Mission, in Kootenai county. One child has been born to this union, Lawrence \'.

MILES RENNICK is operating winch-man on the Delta Gold Mining Company's dredger at Delta, and is a highly respected citizen. He was born in De- catur, Illinois, on November 22, 1868, the son of George M. and Rachel (Davis) Rennick. The father

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was born in St. Francis county, Missouri, in 1849, and now dwells in Sedgwick county, a respected farmer. His father was one of the oldest pioneers of Missouri, who married Polly Anne Wilborn, a native of that state and daughter of early pioneers. She died in 1895. The mother of our subject was the second daughter of Joseph Davis, who was precluded from joining the Union army by physical disability. Joseph Davis married Mary Davidson, a native of New Jersey, who died ten years since at Doe Run, Mis- souri. Our subject was reared on a farm, received a common schooling and at the age of twenty-one went to do for himself. His first venture was to Gunnison county, Colorado, where he mined and in 1890 he went thence to the Chickasaw country in In- dian Territory. In 1896 we see him in Cripple Creek and there he witnessed the great fire of that place in June of the same year. After this Mr. Rennick prospected in the Colorado and San Juan rivers and later in various sections of the state. In 1900 he made his way to Washington and also visited British Colum- bia. Next we see him in Harrison, Idaho, where he located a homestead. In 1903 he sold the property and came to his present position. He is a skilled man in his line and has the confidence of the people. Mr. Rennick has the following named brothers and sisters : George, a farmer of Mulvere, Kansas; Clinton, at Ouray, Colorado; Ferdinand, of Mulvere, Kansas ; Mrs. Minnie D. Canady, of Oklahoma ; Ruby, at home ; Bessie Howard; Mamie, at home.

JOSIAH HILL. When the town of Wardner consisted of one tent, Mr. Hill was here and has remained here since that time, thus preeminently en- titling him to the position of the earliest pioneer and one of the real builders of Wardner. At the present time he is handling a livery barn in connection with his son, Roy, who is a partner in the business, and is also operating a stage line from Kellogg to Wardner and does a general transfer business of passengers, express, mail, freight and so forth. We are pleased to recount some of the details of Mr. Hill's life, es- pecially so since he has been an active pioneer since he was twenty and also since he has been a potent influence in the advancement of this section for years. Josiah Hill was born in New Brunswick, on January 18, 1844, being the son of David and Anna (Brown) Hill. The father was born in Calais, Maine, on July 6, 1806, and died in 1884. His father took from the government the land on which Calais is built and the grandfather of our subject was in the Revolution. The mother of Josiah was born in New Brunswick, on July 6, 1812, and died in August, 1870, being of Scotch descent. Our subject was educated and re- mained in his native place until he was twenty and then took the long journey to San Francisco, whence he came to Seattle, arriving in Port Gamble on the old bark Ranier. He deserted the ship and went in an Indian canoe to find his brother at Seattle, whom he had not seen for years. A storm overtook him and

his cockle shell craft was about to be swamped when a passing steamer picked him up and by a remarka- ble coincidence, his brother was captain of this steamer. In 1867 Mr. Hill made a trip to San Francisco on a lumber schooner, thence to Eureka, where he remained until 1870. He did lumbering, stage driving and various other labors during these years and in 1870 he started east. He visited Cheyenne, Denver, Kan- sas City, and also a brother at Atchison, Kansas, af- ter a while went on back to New Brunswick. Two years there, in which time he was married, and then came a journey to Truckee, California, and after some time in lumbering, Mr. Hill took charge of the freight- ing stock of Mackey, Fair, Flood and O'Brien, the men of Bonanza fame. He handled their stock for three years and then with a partner bought it, three hundred head, and did freighting from Carson to Bodie. This was during the excitement of 1876 and in addition to freighting, Mr. Hill also operated a sawmill and furnished lumber to Bodie camps. He was well prospered and in 1881 he sold out and came again to Seattle. He went later to Portland and hought one-half interest in the old American Exchange hotel, but sold again in a year. Next we see Mr. Hill in Spokane and as the Northern Pacific was then building. he was soon handling a contract and in this and logging, he continued until 1886. In that year he came to the present site of Wardner, did lum- ber work at Kellogg, erected a sawmill and was one of the progressive men in opening up this section, be- ing well acquainted with the pioneer work needed to accomplish it in a proper manner. He soon com- menced to handle freight and his business naturally went into the transfer line which he is and has been continually operating since that time. As said above, Mr. Hill is also operating a livery stable in Wardner and his son Roy, is his partner. He is one of the sub- stantial young men of the town and is possessed of the stirring energy and executive force of his father and holds the esteem and confidence of all, being a man of integrity and reliability. Our subject has one brother, Captain John S. Hill, who is living on a ranch adjoining Kellogg, which was taken by himself and our subject. They have one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Hannah, of New Brunswick.

On August 17, 1875, Mr. Hill married Miss Mari- etta, daughter of James and Salome Polk. This wed- ding occurred in St. Stephens, New Brunswick. Mrs. Hill has two brothers, Sidney and Josiah, both sea- faring men. Mr. Hill is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Bodie Lodge No. 252. Mr. Hill is a Republican and has attended the convention and takes the inter- cst of the substantial citizen. He is possessed of some mining interests and is one of the prominent business men and of excellent standing and has hosts of friends.

JOSEPH F. STEVENS, one of the earliest pio- neers of the Coeur d'Alene country, dwells at Mur- ray, and in addition to handling mining property is a contracting millwright. He is one of the leading

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

men in both of these lines, and also we desire to men- tion that Mr. Stevens has always been a promoter of beneficial athletics, and while not wishing to press himself forward it is but right to say that he holds the championship for single drilling in the Coeur d'Alene, and with Cash Patterson, the team honors. He also held several field records in recent days.

Joseph F. Stevens was born in Madison, Wiscon- sin, on February 13, 1864, the son of Joseph and Eliza E. (Cross) Stevens. The father was born in London, England, on February 22, 1836, and his parents were natives of the same place. He came to America when eighteen, wrought for W. K. Vanderbilt, later went to Joliet, where he took up building and contracting. He married there, and after various mioves went to Jasper county, Iowa, where he is now retired. The mother was born in London, the daughter of Robert and Mary Cross, who came with their children to the United States and settled in Joliet, Illinois, where the father took up his business of shoe manufacturing. He died in 1878. Mrs. Stevens is still living. Our subject, the fourth child of the family, remained in the parental home until he was seventeen, gaining good educational training and learning the principles of his valuable trade, mill-wrighting. At the age mentioned he came to Eagle Rock, now Idaho Falls. He wrought for the Utah & Northern and later had charge of a division on the Oregon Shortline. In the winter of 1883-84 he came to the Coeur d' Alene country over the trail from Thompson Falls, packing in two hundred and forty pounds, using a toboggan and snow shoes. He landed April 27, 1884, and at once began operations as a quartz miner. He took out and milled the first pound of quartz of the district, and has been a leader in these lines ever since. This inception of mining was on the Occidental claim. He contracted later for mills and erected the first four mills on Prichard creek, the Yo- semite, Daddy, Mother Lode and Golden Chest. He also built mills in the Silver City district and in north- ern California. The Cumberland at Silver City, his workmanship, is said to be the first in the northwest. Mr. Stevens is now going into the Buffalo Hump country to build several stamp mills there. In addi- tion to the industries mentioned Mr. Stevens during the last year bought and sold over seventy-two thou- sand acres of land in the Big Bend country.

In political matters Mr. Stevens is a strenuous Re- publican and while always active for the election of friends and good men he has ever refused nomina- tion for himself. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the K. P. In religious persuasion he and his wife belong to the Episcopalian church.

On December 20, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Stevens and Miss Laura E., daughter of John and Julia (Johnson) Clark. The wedding occurred in Murray. Mr. Clark crossed the plains from Indiana to Oregon in 1863 and landed in the Coeur d'Alene country in November, 1883, and was a locator of the famous Widow's Mite placer. He is now a mining man at Applegate, Oregon. Mrs. Clark was born in LaFayette and is still living. Mrs. Stevens was born in Carlton, Oregon, on July 10, 1868, and she has the

following brothers and sisters: James, Pearl, Mrs. Calantha Winters, Mrs. Etta Olds. Mr. Stevens has brothers and sisters as follows: Robert, killed acci- dentally in Murray, July 16, 1892; William A., a min- ing man in New York; Mrs. Carrie Kennedy; Mrs. Nellie Clar ; Mrs. Madge Bergman.

HIRAM BRYANT. How like the patriarchs of old are the worthy pioneers of today! The esteemed gentleman of whom we are now privileged to speak is one deserving especial mention in this history for many reasons, and the interesting details of his life will amply bear out this fact.

Hiram Bryant was born in Breathitt county, Ken- tucky, on January 29, 1847, being the son of Hiram and Saralı (Mullons) Bryant. When twelve he went with huis parents to Morgan county and attended school in the log cabins. But not until after he was of age did he succeed in getting the education he desired, and then he spent sonie time in teaching, part of which was after his marriage. Our subject's father was born in Missouri but was a pioneer in Breathitt county, Ken- tucky. He was wealthy but suffered the loss of most of his property from the raids of bushwhackers and soldiers in turn during the awful Civil war. He had enlisted for the Mexican war but peace was declared while he was en route to the front. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, her father being a prominent pioneer of that state and noted as a hunter. One day when our subject was grinding sorghum he turned to see the soldiers who were firing on their turkeys, and the mill crushed his hand, which crippled him for life. The marriage of Mr. Bryant and Miss Ellen, daughter of Reson and Martha A. (Murphy) Oldfield, was celebrated on March 3, 1869. Sixteen children have been born to this happy marriage . George R., married to Mary Nichols, in Linn county, Kansas: William C., on Central ridge; Sarah Ellen, wife of William J. Ingram, of Central ridge: James M., married to Helda Ritchell, of Anderson county, Kansas: Andrew H. and John M., of Central ridge; Reson, Ellsberry, Grover C., Lydia A., Lillie J., Ivory, Denny H., Elsie, Edgar, and Charles F., all near Oro- fino except Lillie J. and Edgar, who are deceased. Mrs. Bryant's parents were both born and raised in Kentucky, and in August, 1900, the father died there in his seventy-first year. The mother is still living on the home place. Soon after his marriage Mr. Bryant settled to farming near his parents, and also near his wife's parents. Later they went to Menifee county, Kentucky, in 1874, and that was the home until 1885, when he sold his large estate and went to Linn county, Kansas. He farmed and worked at the carpenter trade, helping to build the railroad shops in Ossawatomie. In 1900 Mr. Bryant sold out and came to Central ridge. where some of his children had preceded him, and in March, 1901, he took his present homestead in Shoshone county. It is situated six miles northeast from Orofino, and is a splendid piece of timber land. Doubtless it contains a number of

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million feet of fine lumber, and Mr. Bryant is im- proving it in a becoming manner. During the school seasons he removes his family to his residence in Orofino, where they attend school. In 1869 Mr. Bry- ant and his wife joined the Christian church, and since that time they have journeyed on happy in the faith that makes faithful and in the spread of the gospel, they have been zealous workers and hearty supporters of the faith. It is a coincidence that the birthday of Mr. Bryant and that of his wife fall on the same day (1 the same month, but he is five years her senior.

LOUIS F. BECHTEL. To Louis Bechtel, more than to any other one man, is due the credit of open- ing the country known as the Big Meadows at the forks of the St. Marys river and above that place. In 1886, at Hoodoo mining camps, Mr. Bechtel heard of the meadows through some old prospectors and he im- mediately set out to hunt for them. He came in a buckboard to the head of Santa creek and as that was the end of the road. he packed his animals and made his way to the forks of the St. Marys and upon inves- tigation, he found it as had been represented and he immediately took a squatter's right. It is the old camp- ing ground for the Indians for many generations back. They pastured their animals here when they fished. hunted and dug camas. Mr. Bechtel went to Palouse and in company with his mother and brother-in-law. Mr. Teats, he returned, bringing a mower and hay rake. They had to cross the river eighteen times and it required three weeks to get from the head of Santa creek to their place. It was thirty miles to the near- est neighbor, where our subject and his companions settled. His mother took a claim and in 1895 sold it and went to Farmington, where she died on July 27. 1001. Mr. Bechtel took a homestead as soon as the land was surveyed, and there he resides at the pres- ent time, about one and one-half miles down from Clarkia postoffice. He has devoted his energies to rais- ing stock and has prospered in the endeavor, being now one of the leading men of this section, both in standing and in property holdings.

Louis F. Bechtel was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on February 6, 1858, being the son of Abra- ham and Rosana (Burk) Bechtel. In 1869 the family came to Virginia City, Montana, and in 1872 they came to Colfax. In 1875 our subject started for himself and he at once returned to Virginia City and there mined and also in the vicinity of Sharidon for eight vears. Then he returned to Colfax and later to the Hoodoo region he journeyed, where he received the information that led to his finding his present home. After Mr. Bechtel had opened the region, settlers be- gan to ilock in and he has seen the country grow from a wilderness to a settled and prosperous place. He has always manifested an enterprising spirit in laboring for schools and all improvements.

On August 25. 1901, Mr. Bechtel married Miss Christie Layton, who was born in Marion county, Ore- gon, on December 25, 1882. She lived near Farming-

ton most of her life until marriage. Mr. Bechtel is a leading and prominent man in this section and has been registrar for this precinct for some time and his faithful labors have done much for its advancement.

EUGENE P. BEARNS is proprietor of the Mint Hotel, which is well known among the traveling peo- ple as one of the first-class places to secure entertain- ment in the Coeur d'Alene country. It is an up-to- date hostelry and when Mr. Bearns finishes the new structure that he is now erecting he will have one of the finest modern hotels in the northern part of the state. Being skilled in the hotel business and having a thorough knowledge of every department, he is in shape to provide for the public the best entertainment to be had. Mrs. Bearns is skilled in this business as well as her husband, and together they are making a very gratifying success and the patronage that is in- creasing daily demonstrates the opinion of an appre- ciative public regarding their efforts to please and se- cure comfort for their guests.

Eugene P. Bearns was born in Newfoundland, on December 4, 1860. His parents were Thomas T. and Alice (Thomas) Bearns, and they live in St. Johns, Newfoundland. The father is a native of England and is a wealthy merchant. The mother was born in New- foundland. Our subject was raised and educated in his native place, then came to Omaha, engaged with the Union Pacific, later came on to Salt Lake, op- erated as agent for the Rio Grande and later traveled on to California. Two years after this he was in Ari- zona and thence went to San Diego. He operated a second-hand store, sold goods through the country of old Mexico and in the spring of 1897 he came to Ward- ner. He opened the New York Kitchen and his tact, skill and energy soon brought to him a fine trade. He sold out and went to Spokane and sold dry goods through the country. Finally he came to Kellogg, then went to Butte, bought a lodging house and operated it two years. Selling this, he came to Wardner and bought his present place. He purchased the lot and erected the building and opened the Mint Hotel and Restaurant. It has been operated both on the Euro- pean and the American plan and has been favored with a first-class patronage, which his untiring care de- mands. In all his endeavors since coming to Wardner first, when he had but little capital, Mr. Bearns has been favored with continuous success and he has now purchased the lot adjoining his present place and is erecting a building which for comfort and conven- ience as a hotel will be second to none in the entire Coeur d'Alene country. He is handling a free bus to trains and caters to the best trade that comes to the Coeur d'Alenes. Mr. Bearns has three brothers and six sisters: George E., William, Thomas.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 284

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