An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 285

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 285
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 285
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 285
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 285

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In January, 1895, while in southern California, Mr. Bearns married Miss Mattie, daughter of Samuel and Mary Cole. who dwell in southern California. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bearns, three of whom are deceased. Mr. Bearns is a Demo-

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crat, but not pressing for personal preferment. He and his wife put their whole attention to making their business a fine success and they have done so and are being favored with the patronage that is deserved by honest and skilled effort to please and provide comfort for the traveling public.

JOSIAH J. ROBIRTS. In the list of those who have labored to open this country for settlement and the ingress of civilization should appear the name of the subject of this article.

Josiah J. Robirts was born in Macon, Missouri, on October 22, 1847, being the son of William and Nancy (Brannon) Robirts, who went, when this son was an infant, to Atchison county. When he was seven the family removed to Otoe county, Nebraska, and when he was fifteen he started for himself. He went to Ft. Leavenworth and engaged to Moses Paine to drive team for forty dollars per month. He was in a train of thirty-six wagons on the way to Ft. Union, New Mexico, and all the way the Indians fought them. At one time they were hemmed in for a month and again three hundred redskins attacked them. They found one train of Mexicans who had lost their cattle by the Indians and one other train which had lost its mules, and Mr. Paine hauled their wagons back to Ft. Lyons. Our subject loaded with corn to return. On one oc- casion they were snowed in and for five days they did not taste food, being lost. He had three companions in this tramp and one of them, Neal Gunn, recently died in Oakesdale. He freighted one year more and then went to farming in Nebraska. For six years Mr. Robirts served as constable, then went to Johnson county, Kansas, whence he journeyed to Jackson coun- ty, Missouri, where he was married to Barbara Lindsy. They went to Nebraska and then to Council Bluffs, Iowa, later to Omaha. In 1889 Mrs. Robirts died, leaving these children : Nancy A., wife of E. L. String- er, of the Postal Telegraph Company, of Chattanooga, Tennessee : Edward A., also with the same company in Birmingham, Alabama.

On April 10, 1896, Mr. Robirts started from Ne- braska with teams and traveled westward to the var- ious places and finally settled on his present place, near Clarkia. He has a good quarter section of land, mostly hay, and he is making first-class improvements, being one of the substantial men of this section. Mr. Robirts packed supplies for the first log drive on the upper St. Marys and had a hard job to cut a trail along the river and through the tangled brush. He has shown himself to be a true pioneer and is one of the highly estecmed men of this section.

ROBERT S. KELLEY, at present the popular and excellent police judge of Wardner, is one of the sub- stantial men of the town and has made a record of dispensing justice without partiality and show of favor and is therefore, as well as on account of his

excellent worth, integrity and sound principles, held in high esteem by all and it is his happy lot to have the confidence of the people in full measure and his friends are numbered as legion.

Robert S. Kelley was born in Marietta, Ohio, on March 3, 1858, being the son of Daniel and Mary ( Nichols) Kelley. The father was born in the Emer- ald Isle, went thence to Canada and from that place made his way to the United States. He served through the entire Civil war and demonstrated his patriotism and loyalty to freedom's institutions by two enlist- ments and a faithful service. He was in the One Hundred and Seventeenth New York Volunteers. He (lied in 1888. The mother of Judge Kelley was born in Brooklyn and her grandfather was in the Revolu- tion, where he did efficient service for the cause of the colonies. Our subject was reared in New York City and in other portions of the state, and received a good common schooling and then launched out in life's battles for himself. He engaged in various pursuits and in 1879 came to Montana. He secured a wood contract, and for eight years he did well in this busi- ness. Then he came to De Lamar and mined, and in 1892 he first landed in the Coeur d'Alene country. He operated in the mines until April, and at the first city election he was chosen as police judge. He is holding this office at the present time, and his faith- fulness in administering justice, his uprightness, his efficiency, have given entire satisfaction to a discrimin- ating constituency.

Judge Kelley has one brother, a miner in Utah. He has as yet never embarked on the matrimonial sea, but is still in possession of the quiet joys of the celibatarian. Judge Kelley is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and is a trustee of the Daughters of America, and he also belongs to the Industrial Union. Judge Kelley is a man of reserve, without ostentation, and manifests that quiet, kind, stanch character that wins and retains friends and lias a substantiality that inspires confidence.

B. FLAIG. A genial and pleasant man, a good citizen, a capable and substantial business man, an old pioneer and one who has known Wardner for years, being now owner and operator of a fine jewelry business and having been identified with the interests of the city for all the time since his advent, it is fitting to grant to Mr. Flaig consideration in this volume.

B. Flaig was born in Germany, on January 25. 1852. being the son of Andrew and Christena ( Staig- er) Flaig, also natives of Germany, where also they remained until the time of their death, the father pass- ing away in 1866. The father was in the war with Denmark in 1848. Two brothers of our subject's mother are in the United States. John is a wealthy citizen of Syracuse, New York, and Daniel lives in Seneca Falis, in the same state. Our subject was ed- ucated in Germany and there learned the watchmak- er's trade. He came to the United States in 1879 and from New York city he went to Fredonia, New York,

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where he worked in the watch factory. He went to Springfield, Illinois, inside of two years and there wrought about one year. After this we see him in St. Paul, where he was in business for himself for several years. His next move was to Butte, Montana, and in 1889 Mr. Flaig came to Wardner. He bought out the only jewelry shop here and at once opened a first- class place and since that time he has continued in the prosecution of his present business with gratifying success. Mr. Flaig has won the esteem and the respect of all by his geniality, kind ways and strict uprightness and skill in his business relations. Mr. Flaig has one brother, Andrew, in western Africa, and one sister, Mrs. Barbara Nitz, in Minnesota.

In 1885 Mr. Flaig married Miss Mary Sneider, whose parents were natives of Switzerland .and now live in West Virginia. Mrs. Flaig has one brother and one sister, Carl, a watchmaker in Spokane; Mrs. Emma Doyle. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flaig, Carl and Emma. Mr. Flaig is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W., Spokane No. 16. He and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Flaig is treasurer and cashier of the Government Gulch Mining Company and also owns several claims in the Pine creek district. Politically our subject is a Democrat and has served as delegate to the county convention. In 1891 Mr. Flaig erected a wooden busi- ness structure and in 1893 it was destroyed by fire. He has a good residence and is prosperous in his busi- ness.

GEORGE W. HARRIS. Among the professional men of Wardner, who have won first-class success by their efforts of close attention to business, by their skill, by their wisdom and by real worth in professional lines, we are glad to mention the subject of this article, who is now handling a large dental practice in Ward- ner, while his wife, also a skillful dentist, is doing a good business in Kellogg.

George W. Harris was born in Charleston, Coles county, Illinois, on December 10, 1863, being the son of DeLamar L. and Hannah (Lajara) Harris. The father was a native of London and a practicing physi- cian. He was a physician on a man of war for ten years and is now one of the leading physicians in Charleston, Illinois. He has been sheriff of his county twice and treasurer once. The mother of our subject was born in Madrid, Spain, came to the United States in 1854 and married at New Orleans. She met Dr. Harris while he was in the naval service. She died in 1864, George W. being six years old. Our subject graduated from the high school in his native town and then went to the Northwest Dental College of Chicago, where he spent four years in close study and demon- stration. Having graduated with honors, he com- menced practice in Durango, Colorado, and four years later he went to southern Utah, thence to Arizona, where he spent five years. Then came the beginning of a long foreign trip, which was inaugurated with a journey to the Argentine Republic, and two years were spent in active practice in Buenos Ayres, after which

Dr. Harris went to Valparaiso and practiced one year. Then came a journey from Chile to old Mexico, where he practiced a time and finally landed in the borders of the United States and came through Arizona and Utah, practicing in various places until 1898, when he came to Burke and opened an office. Two years later he located in Wardner and since that time he has done a fine practice and is favored with the esteem and good will of all. Dr. Harris has one brother and two sis- ters: Layton, a physician in Cedar Grove, Indiana ; Mrs. Della Woodfall ; Mrs. Maggie Cochran.

In Castlegate, Utah, in November, 1894, Dr. Har- ris married Miss Mabel L. Thompson, whose father is a prominent dentist in Salt Lake City. One child, Layton, aged seven, has been born to this union. Dr. Harris is an active Democrat, was delegate to the last county convention. was sheriff one term in Gila county, Arizona, also probate judge. He is a member of K. of P., the A. O. U. W., the Eagles, and is popular in these circles.

FRANKLIN P. MATCHETTE, M. D., has been an active practititioner in the Coeur d'Alene country for many years and is doubtless the oldest established physician in Wardner. He devotes his attention exclu- sively to his private practice, not allowing that to be interfered with by hospital or outside work, althoughi formerly he did a large amount of the hospital prac- tice.

Franklin P. Matchette was born in Anderson, In- diana, on July 4, 1864, being the son of James and Sophia ( Hilligoss) Matchette, natives of Ohio and In- diana, respectively, of French extraction, and now liv- ing at Wallowa, Oregon. Our subject was raised principally in Butler. Bates county, Missouri, whither his parents went when he was eight years old. He attended the high school and in 1881 the family came across the plains with a colony of forty families. They settled near Spokane and three years later went to Eugene, Oregon. Franklin P. graduated from the university there in 1886 and then at once went to the American Medical College at St. Louis, from which institution he graduated with honors in 1890. He came at once to the Coeur d'Alene country and for one year practiced with Dr. Herrington in Wallace. They had all the mining work to do then, being in charge of Providence Hospital. Following that year Dr. Match- ette came to Wardner and bought out Dr. Warren N. Davis and since that time he has been steadily in prac- tice here. He has a good patronage and is a physician of experience.

Dr. Matchette has two brothers and three sisters: George H., a prominent physician in McPherson, Kan- sas, being retained by two railroads ; Lee, a stockman in Wallowa; Mrs. Minnie Storer ; Mrs. Emma Betty ; Mrs. Sarah Daniel.

Dr. Matchette has been twice married, the first time being in Missouri and the lady America Borum, from whom he has since been divorced. The second marriage was with Miss Willetta Zimmerlee, whose father is in Phoenix, Oregon, but her mother is de-

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ceased. Mrs. Matchette was burned to death on May 2, 1902, at her home here in Wardner. One child, Goldie, was the fruit of the first union, and one child, James M., the issue of the second, both being with the Doctor at present. Dr. Matchette has long been an Odd Fellow and is past noble grand of the Wardner lodge. He also is a member of the A. O. U. W .; of the Eagles ; of the M. W. A. ; while in political matters he is a Democrat and is frequently at the county and state conventions.

DREW W. PEEPLES, a man of sterling worth and excellent principles, whose integrity has been dem- onstrated in this district for more than a decade, is now foreman for the Empire State mine. In this ca- pacity Mr. Peeples has· manifested the excellent prac- tical knowledge of mining, of which he has a large fund, has shown fine executive ability and by his wise methods has placed the property in a first-class condi- tion. Politically Mr. Peeples is a Republican, and an active one, being central committeeman and was a del- egate to the last county convention. He is also a mem- ber of the city council and chairman of the school board. He has won the confidence and esteem of all .by uprightness, good business ability, geniality, strict- ly conserving the interests entrusted to his care, and by a manly open walk at all times.

Referring to his early history we note that Drew W. Peeples was born in Murray county, Georgia, on August 1, 1859, being the son of Mortimore and Mar- garet (Hossler) Peeples, natives of Georgia. The fa- ther went to California in 1849 and was successful in a two-years' placer mining experience so that he en- tered the commercial life on his return to Georgia. At the time of the war he enlisted in the Confederate army as first lieutenant, under General Lee, and was killed in the battle of Missionary Ridge. He came from English ancestors. The mother of our subject died in 1883 and was descended from Pennsylvania Dutch. Our subject was educated in the academy and remained in his native place until 1877, then went to Texas, where after the first year he rode the range in that state and in New Mexico. Then Mr. Peeples took up mining in New Mexico until 1890, when he came to the Coeur d'Alene country and prospected. He next accepted a position in the Stemwinder for a few months, then in the Bunker Hill and Last Chance until 1895. Since 1895 he has been with the Clark Sweeney syndicate. For a time he was shift boss and in 1900, July, he was appointed foreman of the Empire State, where he has shown excellent skill since and is now operating. Mr. Peeples has three brothers and one sister: Frank, Heristel, Mortimore, Mrs. Flor- ence Holland. He also has four half-brothers and one half-sister: Edward, Richard, John, James Hopkins and Jennie Hopkins.

On June 23, 1897, at Rossland, British Columbia, Mr. Peeples married Miss Goldie M., daughter of Joseph and Harriet Davenport, who are now residing in Wardner. Mr. Davenport is yard master in the Empire State and Mrs. Peeples' brother, Archie, is

shift boss in the same mine. To Mr. and Mrs. Pee- ples one child, Edna G., has been born. She is now four years old. Mr. Peeples is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Peeples is a mem- ber of the Christian church and with her husband be- longs to the Rebekahs.

MARY E. TEATS. Without doubt the subject of this review has done a noble part in bringing about the development of the St. Marys country and she is deserving of especial mention in this volume.

Mary E. Teats was born in McLean county, Illi- nois, on February 24, 1856, being the daughter of Abraham and Rosana Bechtel. The father enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the war and served four years, participating in many battles and skir- mishes and then received an honorable discharge on account of disability. In about 1870 Mrs. Teats came with her mother and two brothers to Virginia City, Montana. The father had died on August 16, 1866. On June 6, 1871, our subject married Mr. Phillip H. Teats and they soon came to Colfax, Washington, then removed to Farmington and in June, 1889, she came to her present home about three miles above the forks of the St. Marys, on the south branch. Mrs. Teats is postmistress of Clarkia. being appointed on August 21, 1902. In 1887 Mr. Teats and the mother of our subject and one son and one brother of Mrs. Teats came to this section and they had to cut the road from Santa creek to their present home, it requiring three weeks to make the trip. Mrs. Teats has had much hardship to endure and has done a great deal of trying and hard work to open this country and she is to be credited with real pioneer courage and spirit. Her mother was the first white woman in this section and the daughter-in-law of that lady being the only wo- man here when Mrs. Teats came. Mrs. Teats was obliged to cross the St. Marys eighteen times when she came in and there were no roads, simply some trails, in places they had to follow the river bed. Six children have been born to Mrs. Teats: Louis P., of Nez Perces county, and he has three children, Mary Ada, Margaret Ann, Dortha; John S., deceased ; George H., of Shoshone county, who has one child, Cynthia Hazel ; William T .; Mrs. Rosa I. Adams, of Gregg, Idaho, who has one child, Lola; Sylvia E. It is right in this connection to mention that Mrs. Teats had to freight her provisions from Farmington in the early days and this was accomplished with great hard- ship and was indeed a trying ordeal.

JOEL DAVENPORT. The Empire State mine finds a capable and efficient yard master in the person of the subject of this sketch and he is one of the relia- ble, highly esteemed and industrious citizens of Ward- ner.

Joel Davenport was born in Indianapolis, on June 10, 1843. His father, Martin Davenport, was a na-

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tive of North Carolina and raised in Ohio. The pa- ternal grandfather of our subject was a large planter and during the time of the Revolution he furnished supplies for the American cause. At the close of the war he had ten thousand dollars of Continental cur- rency, which he left to his son, Martin. It was kept in the family until our subject was born and as it was considered worthless, he used to play with it, and after it was all destroyed and lost, congress passed a bill redeeming it. The mother of our subject, Annie ( Byrkitt) Davenport, was a native of South Carolina, raised and married in Ohio and died in the fall of 1872, aged seventy-five. Our subject was reared and educated in Indianapolis, finishing the high school and studying in Butler Seminary. When he was sixteen the family went to Kansas and there he participated in the struggles of the early settlers to make Kansas a free state. He enlisted in the Civil war and was with the noted scout, General Jim Lane, in various capaci- ties. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Davenport came to Seat- tle and there engaged in dairying for four years. He was in Portland and also in Clarke county, Washing- ton, where he followed real estate business and general merchandising. Thence he migrated to Rossland, British Columbia, and from that point Mr. Davenport made his way to Wardner in March, 1898. He at once engaged with the Empire State and has since re- mained with that company.

On December 22, 1868, in Wyandotte county, Kan- sas, Mr. Davenport married Miss Harriet, daughter of Daniel and Anna Helin, natives of Pennsylvania and of German extraction, but now deceased. Two children have been born to this marriage: Archie and Mrs. Goldie M. Peeples. Mr. Davenport has three brothers and two sisters: John, Andrew, Noah, Mrs. Sarah Pile, Mrs. Pracilla Milne. Mrs. Davenport has the following named brothers and sisters: Christian, Daniel, Andrew. Samuel, Mrs. Jane Stickney, Mrs. Kate Pence, Mrs. Sarah Kerns. Mr. Davenport and his wife are members of the Christian church and are of excellent standing in the community.

WARREN N. DAVIS, M. D., one of the earliest professional men in the Coeur d'Alene country, has, by excellent wisdom displayed in his practice, by faith- ful devotion to his patients, by an upright walk and unswerving integrity, placed himself high in the es- teem of all and won an enviable position among both the people and his confreres. It is with pleasure that we are privileged to recount some of the details of his active and useful life.

Warren N. Davis was born in Quakertown, Penn- sylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, on September 25, 1849, being the son of George W. and Sarah (Mc- Comb) Davis, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a miller and operated a plant which his father es- tablished over one hundred years ago. The ancestors of our subject came to Pennsylvania with William Penn. The mother's parents were of Scotch extraction and her father served in the war of 1812. Warren N.

had two brothers in the Civil war, Cyrus C. and David, both deceased now. Cyrus C. enlisted in Company B, Tenth Pennsylvania, was wounded at Gaines Mill, on account of which he was discharged. Recovering, he organized a company and went as lieutenant of it. Our subject was raised in his native town until ten, then went with the family to Philadelphia. After graduating from the high school, he entered the med- ical department of the Pennsylvania University, where he completed a thorough medical course and on March 12, 1872, graduated with honors. He immediately took up practice in western Pennsylvania and three years later he went to Portland, Oregon, where he was active in his profession for ten years. In 1886 he came to Wardner and was physician for the Bunker Hill and the Chance mines and his practice took him all over the entire Coeur d'Alene country. In 1892 Dr. Davis went to Portland and remained until 1900, when he again came to Wardner and is now devoting himself to his private practice, being favored with a good patronage. Dr. Davis has two brothers and one sister living: Thomas H., James C., Mrs. Martha A. Finsthwait, all in Pennsylvania.

On December 5, 1878, at Oregon City, Dr. Davis married Miss Lillie M., daughter of John and Louisa Barrett. The father was a prominent architect and contractor but is now deceased. He left a large prop- erty. The mother is still living in Portland. Mrs. Davis has two sisters, Minnie, wife of Henry Lov- eridge, owner of the Portland electric works; Mrs. Wissie Caffee, whose husband is a prominent politi- cian and contractor. To Dr. and Mrs. Davis one daughter has been born, Luzelle C., secretary and treasurer of the Inter-Ocean Mining Company, whose property is at Sumpter and their offices in Portland. Dr. Davis is a Democrat, but never accepts nomination for office.

JOSEPH E. FORTIN, one of the old pioneers in this section, is also the pioneer shoemaker in Ward- ner, since his advent here has steadily pursued his vo- cation with excellent success, that which honest indus- try and thrift deserve, while his standing in the com- munity is first class and he is among the popular and progressive citizens, public minded and generous.

Joseph E. Fortin was born in Quebec, Canada, on January 15, 1864, being the son of August and Le- onore (Morroi) Fortin, natives also of Quebec. The father was killed in an accident in 1874, aged fifty. The paternal grandfather of our subject lived to be ninety-four, had eight children and at the time of his death had three hundred and thirty-three descendants. The Fortins first settled in Canada in 1608, coming from France, and they were a long-lived family, one living to be one hundred and twenty years old and two others lived to the age of one hundred and six. Our subject's brother now resides on the old homestead that has been in the family for nearly three hundred years ; the first Fortin took it in 1608. Some of the ancestors fought under Montcalm in the French-Eng- lish wars of the eighteenth century. The mother

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of our subject is still living on the old homestead with her son. She comes from an old Canadian family, prominent in early days. Our subject was reared in his native place and there educated, also learning the shoemaker's trade. In 1885 he went to Montreal and wrought at his trade, thence to Ottawa, where he worked at it for three years and then he came on to St. Paul and six months later to Butte, whence three months later he went to Phillipsburg, Montana. Short- ly after that he was in Wallace and soon in Wardner, where he has remained since. He does a fine business, is popular and capable and highly esteemed by all. Mr. Fortin has five brothers and two sisters: August, Stanislas, Damace. Severe Wilfred, Almina Teberg, Leda, all in Quebec.

On June 20, 1889, at Ottawa, Mr. Fortin married Miss Agnes, daughter of John and Delphine ( Berner) McAvoy. Two children have been born to this union, Ina, aged three. and Yronne, aged eight. Mr. and Mrs. Fortin are members of the Roman Catholic church. Politically he is allied with the Socialists and this fall ran for county commissioner on that platform.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 285

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