An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 286

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 286
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 286
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 286
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 286

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GEORGE W. HARRIS is the managing member of the firm of Harris Brothers, druggists in Wardner. He is a man of affability, uprightness and possessed of agreeable social qualities, while in business circles he is one of the substantial and competent men of the city. The firm does a first-class business, handle their trade with skill and are very popular with a large patronage.

George W. Harris was born in Pittsfield, Illinois, on February 18, 1858, being the son of George C. and Mary J. (Fimcal) Harris. The father was a prom- inent physician, born in Emmettsburg, Maryland, and practiced actively for fifty years. He died in Portland, Oregon, in the spring of 1885, aged seventy-five. He had practiced in Oregon for fifteen years and served for three years as surgeon of an Iowa regiment in the Civil war. He resigned that position in 1864 and crossed the plains to California with ox teams. He had crossed in 1849 and mined in the Golden state for three years, making a fair fortune, upon which he re- turned to Illinois and took up his practice until the war broke out. His father was in the war of 1812 and a native of England, but fought for the American cause. The mother of our subject was a native of Minnesota and died at Pendleton in the spring of 1892, aged sixty-five. Her father was of Pennsylvania German stock and her mother was a native of Maine. Our subject came with the family to Oregon in 1868, studied in the public schools, at the colleges in Cor- vallis and Eugene and then took a course in Arm- strong's Business College in Portland. He graduated from this institution in 1884 and then studied phar- macy, which he has followed since. In 1885 he opened a drug store in Lexington, Oregon, and sold out three years later. Then he traveled for Frank Brothers, an implement house of Portland, three years, after which he was salesman in a Spokane drug store

for six months ; in 1890, came to Wallace, and one year later he came to Wardner. He worked in the branch. store of McNab & Livers and in 1897 bought the es- tablishment and has since operated it with his brother. It is the first drug store in Wardner and in 1901 Har- ris Brothers opened a branch store in Kellogg. Mr. Harris has one brother, Dr. Fred L., his partner, and a popular physician of Wardner. He also has two sisters, Mrs. Fanny Butler, whose husband, Jay Butler,. is one of the faculty of the State Normal at Monmouth, Oregon; Mrs. Hattie Hinkle, at Independence, Or- egon.

On April 17, 1887, Mr. Harris married, at Lexing- ton, Oregon, Miss Hattie Towers, whose parents are deceased. Five children have come to bless this mar- riage: George, Grover, Shirley, Gordon, Earl, aged fourteen, twelve, nine, six and three, respectively. Mrs. Harris has one brother, George, and one sister, Mrs. Kate Steffis, in Kellogg. Mr. Harris is a member- of the A. F. & A. M., Wardner Lodge No. 34; of the B. P. O. E., Coeur d'Alene No. 331, Wallace ; of the I. O. O. F., Wardner No. 12, being past noble grand ; of the F. O. E .. Wardner Aerie; of the K. P., at Hepp- ner, Oregon ; of the A. O. U. W., No. 12, Wardner. Mr. Harris is a stanch Democrat and for five years he- was postmaster of Wardner.

WILLIAM F. GODDARD, a courteous and pop- ular resident of Wardner and head owner of the large gents' clothing and furnishing establishment in that city, which he is operating with excellent success, hav- ing achieved the same by reason of excellent business methods and his deferential and uniformly kind treat- ment of patrons, is one of the prominent men and sub- stantial and public minded citizens of Wardner and quite deserving of representation in the history of northern Idaho.

William F. Goddard was born in Ontario, Canada,: on July 4, 1863, being the son of Frederick and Mary (Lamb) Goddard. The father is a native of Brighton, England, and now is a merchant in Simcoe, Ontario. The mother of William F. was born in Ontario and now is at Simcoe. Our subject was raised in Simcoe and there received a high school education from the excellent schools of Ontario, graduating at the age of sixteen. He clerked in a gents' furnishing establish- ment there for two years, then wrought in other Ca- nadian towns until 1884, when he came to Portland, Oregon, where he wrought as salesman as also in The Dalles and several coast towns. In the spring of 1886 he went to Lewiston and in the fall of 1887 Mr. Goddard came to Wardner. He was salesman for a large concern for a time and in 1889 he opened a store for himself. He has made a brilliant success of his business and is at the present time carrying a stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. He has carried nearly twice this amount while conducting branch establish- ments at Kellogg and Silver King, but recently Mr. Goddard sold these and now confines himself to the. Wardner house. He owns the one-story brick and

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stone structure which he erected in Kellogg, also owns the brick building where he does business in Wardner, a fine modern residence in Wardner, also several res- idence and business structures which he rents. Mr. Goddard has two brothers and two sisters: Andrew, J. Wesley, Mrs. David Gable, Mrs. William McFar- Ťand.

On January 7, 1883, at Tilsonburg, Ontario, Mr. Goddard married Miss Maggie, daughter of James and Helen Fumerton, now residing in Wardner, the father being a mill man in the Bunker Hill and Sullivan. One child has been born to this happy marriage, Mabel A., aged nineteen. Mrs. Goddard and her daughter are among the leading ladies of society in Wardner and they have a beautiful home, conducted with charming grace and made a center of refined hospitality. Mr. Goddard is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Wardner Lodge No. 34. He is a strong Republican and is chairman of the city council.

MERREL R. ROBIRTS. This enterprising gen- tleman is proprietor of the Big Meadow Hotel at the forks of the Saint Marys river, and in addition to the business this brings him he is engaged in lumber and farm labors.

Merrel R. Robirts was born in Sydney, Iowa, on December 31, 1872, being the son of John J. and Cai- bela Robirts. The father crossed the plains to Wy- oming in 1863 and the following year he went to Ft. Minor, New Mexico, and the next year, 1865, he was in Denver, making the trip with ox teams. When our subject was a child his parents settled in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and soon after went to Peru, Nebras- ka, where they remained thirteen years, where Merrel received a good common schooling and acquired skill on the farm. Then he returned to Nebraska City and learned the broommaker's trade, which he followed in different portions of Nebraska. In February, 1901, Mr. Robirts came to Tekoa and in the following June he was in the St. Marys region in the lumber woods. He assisted to bring the first drive of logs down the river from the upper tributaries. Then he drove team for the Phoenix Mill Company of Spokane and in the spring of 1902 he bought eighty acres of meadow, where his hotel now stands. He has a valuable place and the hotel is a good sized building, with eleven sleeping apartments, in addition to the living rooms. He has also a large feed stable and other improvements and manifests excellent thrift and industry. Mr. Rob- irts is a member of the M. W. A. of Cornwall, Idaho.

On July 3, 1897, he was married to Miss Amanda J., daughter of Peter and Mary Oleson. Mr. and Mrs. Oleson were pioneers of the St. Marys country in 1889, from the vicinity of St. Paul, Minnesota. The father was accidentally shot by a man who was en- deavoring to shoot a dog. To our subject and his faithful wife there has been born one child, Adrain.

By way of reminiscence and to illustrate the trying times of the pioneers and their skill in meeting adver- sity, a note in reference to the father of our subject is

quite in place. He went to the Palouse country from the St. Marys region to work for provisions and he had a couple of cayuses. He worked for the provisions, traded his cayuse for a cow, packed two hundred pounds on the cow's back and so made his way back home, and the cow was none the worse for the wear.

PHILIP P. WEBER, banker, merchant, mining man and property owner, is one of the leading and prominent men of the Coeur d'Alene country. He is cashier and manager of the Weber Bank and conducts the large business of the Weber Brothers, leading financial concern of Wardner.

Philip Weber was born in Ohio, on July 27, 1858, being the son of John and Mary E. (Wagner) Weber, natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in the forties, settled in Ohio, where he farmed until August 3, 1898, the time of his death, being then aged eighty-four. The mother was married in New York state and died in 1872, aged fifty-three. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, educated in the public and private schools and at the age of eight- een went to teaching school. Three years in that call- ing and then came three in the grocery business in Canal Dover, Ohio. Next he went to Bodie, Cali- fornia, where he worked in the quartz mills for a time and in March, 1884, he was one of the newcomers in Eagle City. July saw him in Murray, where he erected several buildings and then went to Butte, Montana. In 1885 he burned the first kiln of brick in the Coeur d'Alene ,country, handling about one half million. When the Wardner excitement was on in December he came hither, this being in 1885. He conducted a real estate office for two years, also erected many buildings and rented them. He is an expert in building and owns many residence and business structures all through the Coeur d'Alene country. In 1887 Mr. We- ber embarked in a general mercantile store in Burke and sold the same in 1889. Removing then to Spokane he suffered from pneumonia and went thence to San Diego, California, and eleven months later came to Wardner, where he has remained since. In 1893, in partnership with his brother, Mr. Weber started his present bank, being now cashier of the institution. His brother is president and his nephew, C. H. Wentz, is assistant cashier. The firm also owns a wholesale cigar and stationery store and do a good trade. Mr. Weber has three brothers and three sisters: Charles WV., a hatter in Spokane; Peter, liveryman and stock- man in Hailey, Idaho; John H., in the bank ; Mrs. C. F. Rudolph, in Kellogg; Mrs. Valentine Wentz, in Canal Dover, Ohio; Barbara, single, living in Spokane. On December 18, 1888, at Spokane, Mr. Weber mar- ried Miss Lucy, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Too- ney, of Canal Dover, where the father is a large man- ufacturer, but the mother is deceased. Mrs. Weber was born there. Mr. Weber is a member of the Junior American Mechanics, of the Eagles, of the. Industrial Union, and he and his wife belongs to the Daughters of America. Mr. Weber is prominent in politics,

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being an influential Republican, always at the county conventions and lately at the state conventions, where he is a potent factor, but always refusing nomination for himself. The firm own many buildings, are the heaviest holders of Wyoming stock and the largest taxpayers of this district. Mr. Weber is popular and has host of friends and is of the highest standing.

C. W. MAYS is one of the leading and well known mining men in the Pierce district and it is with pleas- ure that we incorporate an epitome of his career in this history of northern Idaho. He was born in Starke county, Ohio, on December 28, 1852, the son of Captain James and Josephine (Grifton) Mays, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Marseilles, France, re- spectively. The father was a veteran of both the Mex- ican and the Civil wars and is now living in Harrison, Ohio. Our subject went with his parents to San- dusky, Ohio, in 1865 and later to Chicago and in these places and in his native place he received his educa- tional training. In 1876 Mr. Mays went to Brazil, South America, as a traveling salesman and was ab- sent for two years. When he returned to Chicago he followed railroading there until 1890. Next we see him railroading in Minnesota and in 1894 he started west. He arrived in Pierce on the fourth day of March, 1894, and since that time he has identified him- self with this district. He went to prospecting at once and soon had located the Dollar Mark and the Last Strike, promising quartz claims which he sold to the Ohio and Idaho company. He now owns the Outlaw, the Pirate, and Maud M. quartz claims which he has discovered and developed since that time. He also owns a half interest in the Ohio and Elkhorn and has two placer claims, the Sweetheart and Sister Bell, both good producers. Mr. Mays has one sister, Belle, widow of L. Streator, now residing in Jeffer- sonville, Indiana. Mr. Mays is a member of the K. P. and is a Republican in politics. He is active in the interests of the county and state and is a man of excellent qualifications, and has manifested both in- tegrity and enterprise in his labors here.

JOHN J. TONER. A jocose and genial per- son, a good business man and the senior member of the firm of Toner Brothers, general merchants of Wardner, one of the earliest business men to estab- lish himself in this camp, and now a leading and sub- stantial citizen, it is with pleasure that we incorporate a resume of the career of Mr. Toner. He was born in Illinois, on December 29, 1849, being the son of Richard D. and Catherine (Welsh) Toner, natives of the Emerald Isle. Our subject was educated in Minnesota in the common schools and then taught school. After this he completed the high school course in Fairbault and followed teaching more. He then turned his attention to other callings and also rail- roaded in St. Paul for a year and in 1886, he came to

Wardner and joined his brother, David L., and these two, with Richard, who came a few weeks later, opened a general merchandise store and in the management of this our subject has remained since. Mr. Toner also has considerable mining interest with his brother. Politically, he is a Democrat but never takes nomina- tion or seeks preferment. Mr. Toner is a member of the Roman Catholic church and it is his pleasure to still enjoy the quiet comforts of the celibatarian. Mr. Toner is happily possessed of that wealth of sparkling wit and humor, the legacy of his people, and he is the center of a large circle of admiring friends.

HENRY A. JONES, a prominent mining man of Wardner, is one of the earliest pioneers to the Coeur d'Alene country and has operated in a leading way in various properties throughout the district. He came to Murray in the spring of 1883, abandoning a re- cently taken ranch on the Mullan road to join the rush. A hundred or more men camped on Prichard's ranch, drawn thither by Prichard's glowing reports and as the snow was deep, nearly as high as a tele- graph pole, it was difficult locating claims. Mr. Prichard's piloted the company to the vicinity of where Murray now stands and our subject secured a claim close by. After working that out and also one at Delta, in 1885, Mr. Jones came to Wardner and since that time he has constantly wrought here with the ex- ception of three years in Alaska. He erected the first lumber building in Wardner, and has been active in building since, owning much property here, among which are residences and the American hotel. He has also been active in mining matters and has interests in many properties and has promoted many. He was one of the original owners of the Silver King. Fraternally, Mr. Jones is affiliated with the K. P., being past C. C. of Galena Lodge No. 12; with the Lincoln Lodge of Orangemen; with the Junior Me- chanics; with the Washington Council No. I, the first of Idaho; with the Daughters of America. Mr. Jones has never yet taken to himself a wife and thus is still enjoying the quiet charms of celibacy.

Referring more particularly to his early life and his family, we note that Henry A. Jones was born in Medina county, Ohio, on August 27, 1854, being the son of Russell A. and Catherine (Woolcott) Jones. The father was born in Ohio, and his father in Ver- mont. The family were among the first to invade the wilds of the western reserve and were prominent among Ohio pioneers. The father of our subject died in 1858. The mother of Henry A. was a native of Portage county, Ohio, and had the pleasure of being a schoolmate of the noted and beloved James A. Garfield. The Woolcotts were prominent in govern- ment affairs in early days and Oliver Wolcot, grand- father of Mrs. Jones, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The name is spelled variously. Other members of the family were prominent. Our subject's paternal uncle was a brigadier general in the confederate army and was killed in the battle of Balls

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Bluff. He was a wealthy slave owner. Our subject was reared on a farm in Ohio, received a fine edu- cation from the public schools, the academy, and the normal and gave nine years after his graduation to teaching in Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa and Colorado. Then he went to the Black Hills with a cattle outfit and in 1878 he was in Butte freighting during those flush days. Then he spent one winter in the vigorous ex- ercise of hunting buffalo and later went to placer mining in Quartz creek in Montana. He took a claim, for agricultural purposes near the Mullan road in the fall of 1882 and in the following spring ab- andoned it to join the rush for Murray. Mr. Jones is well known all over the district and is a prominent man, highly esteemed and of unswerving integrity and real worth.

JOHN C. EDDY is proprietor of the American hotel of Wardner, which he has handled with such skill that it has come to be one of the popular resorts of travellers. He purchased the furnishings of the house in 1900, but on January, 1902, he devoted his whole attention to it and is now doing a fine business. He and his wife have wrought with skill and thrift in directing the various departments of the house, which is both American and European, and have been rewarded with a gratifying patronage.

John C. Eddy was born in Wyoming county, New York, on September 12, 1862, being the son of Edwin and Lorinda ( Blood) Eddy, natives of New York state. The Eddy family is an old American family of English ancestrage and prominent in professional and mercantile life in various sections of the country. They were patriotic and brave, as their faithful serv- ice in the Revolution, war of 1812, and the Rebellion testifies. In all these conflicts they were the unfailing and unflinching supporters of the American cause and the government. Judge Eddy, the father's brother, is a prominent man in Los Angeles and a powerful political orator. The mother of our subject came from a leading New England family and her brother, Moses, was in high official circles in governmental affairs. The parents of our subject still live in New York and have recently celebrated their golden wedding. Our subject was reared and educated in his native place and came to Nebraska when twenty-one. He rode the range there and in Wyoming for one concern for many years, then engaged with the government in inspection of surveys, then wrought in the mines in Colorado, was in Butte, later in Buffalo Hump country, at Spokane and in the various districts adjacent thereto, includ- ing British Columbia and finally he halted in the Coeur d'Alene country. He has wrought in the Em- pire State mine and in January, 1902, left that for his hotel. Mrs. Eddy had operated the house from 1900 to the time he quit the mine and since then they llave both given their attention to its oversight and direction. Mr. Eddy has two brothers, Lewis' W., Frank E.

On April 2, 1898, at Idaho Springs, Colorado, Mr. Eddy married Miss Mary, daughter of Frederick and

Minnie Bertram, natives of Germany. Mr. Eddy is- a member of the A. O. U. W., of the Wardner In- dustrial Union, and the F. O. E., all in Wardner. He is a Republican and although not specially active he lias been chosen as delegate to the county conven- tion.

RICHARD T. TONER, of the well known firm of Toner Brothers, general merchants of Wardner, is a man of sterling worth and excellent business quali- fications and is one of the popular and leading men of the town. Mentioning the details of his career, we note that he was born in Winona, Minnesota, on April 15, 1858. His parents, Richard D. and Catherine (Welsh) Toner, were natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States in the forties and died in Minnesota in 1878, aged sixty-five. The mother was married in the United States and died in Minnesota in 1886, aged sixty-eight. Our subject was reared on- his father's farm in Minnesota and educated in the public schools. When nineteen he went to Montana where he engaged variously for ten years. In 1886 he came to Wardner, whither his brothers, John and David L., had preceded him a few weeks and had opened a general merchandise establishment, our sub- ject being one of the partners. When this store was started there were two others, but they removed later so this is the oldest general merchandise establishment in the town. They were pioneers and very little of the present town of Wardner was then existing. In 1888 on account of the failing health of David, the other two- brothers bought his interest and they continue in the management of the establishment until this date. Our subject has three brothers and two sisters, David, a merchant and mining man in Chewelah, Washington ; Charles, a contractor in the east; John, his present partner, and the eldest ; Mercy A. Davidson, in Clo- quett, Minnesota ; Kate, living with our subject.

At Spokane, in 1892, Mr. Toner married Miss Isabel, daughter of James and Sarah Keenan, who reside in Ireland. Two children have been born to- this union, Catherine, aged seven; Richard J., aged five. Mrs. Toner is a native of Ireland and has one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Devlin, at Silver King, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Toner are faithful members of the Cath- olic church. He is a Democrat and is frequently a delegate to the county convention but always refuses nomination for office. Mr. Toner was chairman of the school trustees and rendered excellent service. In addition to his mercantile interests, Mr. Toner owns an interest in the Blackhawk and Wyoming mines and also in numerous undeveloped properties.

HEENEN J. ROGERS. The popular O. K. bar- ber shop needs no introduction to the people of Wal- lace nor does the subject of this sketch, who is the pro- prietor in partnership with Edward O. Herring, since he is well known and of good standing. The shop is the finest in Wallace, has the best baths with

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excellent porcelain tubs and is granted a first-class patronage which its excellent management deserves. Heenen J. Rogers was born in McGregor, Iowa, on September 9, 1861, being the son of Jabez S. and Sarah (Reeves) Rogers, natives of Ohio and Wis- consin, respectively, and now deceased. They both came from old American families and the father served in the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry for three years and three months. Our subject was reared and educated in his native place and when fifteen went to work in a shingle mill. He went to contracting in this busi- ness later and remained until 1884, when he went to South Chippewa, Wisconsin, and opened a barber shop. His skill had been gained in shaving the mill men and from the first he did well in the shop. On December 23, 1885, he arrived in Minneapolis and worked in a barber shop for two years. Then he took a position with the Minnesota harvester works and later operated as trainman on the Chicago & Milwau- kee. In 1890 we see him in his art in Butte, Montana, and on January 12, 1891, he landed in Wallace. He wrought at his trade for two years and in 1893 he bought an interest in the O. K. shop, which he and his partner are now conducting in a successful manner. Mr. Rogers has one brother and two sisters, Charles F., Edith M. Ford, Eva M. Dressel.

On August 15, 1885, at Hudson, Wisconsin, Mr. Rogers married Miss Sarah J. King, whose parents dwell in Mauston, Wisconsin. Mrs. Rogers has three brothers and three sisters, Peter J., William, Patrick, Mary Galagher, Eliza and Martha. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, James F. and Verna R. Mr. Rogers is a member of the B. P. O. E., and the K. O. T. M. He is an active Repub- lican and wields a good influence in the campaigns.

RICHARD DAXON is heavily interested in min- ing properties both in the Coeur d'Alene country and elsewhere and is prominent in mining circles. He is president of the Tarbox Mining Company of Saltese, Montana ; is treasurer of the Little Chief Mining Com- pany, at Mullan ; and is also interested in many others.

Richard Daxon was born in Rock Island, Illinois, on July 7, 1859, being the son of Pierce and Margaret (Hyncs) Daxon, natives of Ireland, now living in Girard, Kansas. The father was a soldier in the Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry and for many years was justice of the peace and assessor in Kansas. Our subject went with the family to Kansas when he was eleven and he obtained his education from the public schools. In 1879 he went to Colorado and mined and in 1883 we see him at Thompson Falls, Montana, where, with his brother, he operated a saloon. He came to Murray in the time of the excitement and opened the Palace hotel. He sold that in the spring of 1886 and prospected and in the fall of 1888 he and his brother opened a saloon in Mullan. In 1894 he sold to his brother and Mr. Daxon went into business in Wardner. In the spring of 1895 he came to Wallace and opened the Coliseum, which he sold seven years 76

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 286

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