An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 290

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 290
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 290
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 290
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 290

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The Independent is a politically independent weekly cstablished at Coeur d'Alene in July, 1902, by Smith & Moon. C. A. Smith comes from Duluth, Minnesota, and O. B. Moon from Eagle River, Wisconsin. Both these gentlemen are experienced journalists, and the Independent is ably edited. Although, comparative strangers in Kootenai county, Messrs. Smith and Moon have made many friends since founding their paper, and it is receiving the generous support to which the earnest and well directed efforts of its editors en- title it.

John F. Yost of Sandpoint began newspaper work in Kootenai county, at Hope- in September, 1891. Previously for three years he was a teacher in the Rathdrum schools. He was first editor of the Hope Prespector in 1891 and 1892. He founded the Rath- drum Silver Blade in 1895, continuing its publication until April, 1897. In May, 1899, he established the Kootenai County Republican at Rathdrum. In July 1901, he moved with his paper to Sandpoint, where he is now located as its editor and publisher. Mr. Yost is a native of Ohio, where he received his edu- cation and learned the printer's trade. He has always taken a lively interest in Kootenai county politics and is a hard working Republican. He was postmaster at Rathdrum during President Mckinley's first adminis- tration. In 1902 he was Republican candidate for state senator and was elected. Mr. Yost is an able man, a capable editor, a good public speaker and the Koote- nai County Republican is one of the leading papers of the county. .

The oldest editor in Kootenai conuty in point of time served, is S. D. Taylor, of the Kootenai Herald at Bonner's Ferry. Mr. Taylor has been continuously in the editorial chair since July 4, 1891, when he established the Herald at Kootenai Station. After the completion of the Great Northern railroad in 1892, the town of Kootenai was practically abandoned and Mr. Taylor removed to Bonner's Ferry. The Kootenai Herald is one of the most successful and widely circulated papers published in the county, and its editor is highly esteemed as a man of intellectual

worth, principle and honor. The Herald is Republi- can in politics. Its editor, while taking an active in- terest in politics, devotes much space to a plea for the reclamation of the swamp lands of the Kootenai valley, which must eventually become the richest agricultural section in the county. Mr. Taylor is also after a much needed bridge over the Kootenai river at Bon- mer's Ferry. He is a strong advocate of local and general progress, is energetic and persevering, and to his paper the people of Bonner's Ferry are greatly - indebted for its continual efforts in furthering the city's advancement.

The Harrison Searchlight is owned and edited by S. M. Logan, who assumed charge in April, 1902. The paper was first known as the Signal, but we have been unable to obtain the name of the first editor. It com- menced publication in 1894. In 1896 S. W. Crane, the pioneer of Harrison, took charge of the paper and conducted it until 1898, under the name of the Mountain Messenger. In May, 1898, the plant became the property of Hubbard and Co. Since that date it has had several editors, viz: H. O. Thompson, W. S. Biggs, Thomas Lawson and S. M. Logan. The name was changed to the Searchlight in 1900. Mr. Logan is publishing a Republican paper and is keeping before the public the advantage of Harrison and Kootenai counties as a field for investment and the location of homes. The Searchlight is a credit to Har- rison and Mr. Logan is a successful manager and editor.

The Priest River Enterprise is a Republican pa- per, whose first issue appeared July 4, 1902. Its editor, A. B. Hoag, before coming to Priest River, con- ducted papers at Mt. Idaho, this state, and at Leba- non, Oregon. Mr. Hoag is a native of Minnesota and a graduate of Bates College at Lewiston, Maine .. After graduation he spent several years teaching in Maine and Massachusetts, and the Albion (Idaho) Normal and in Albany College at Albany, Oregon, where he occupied the chair of English literature and elocution. Being a man of extensive and diversified information, Mr. Hoag is well equipped for the field in which he has located and the Enterprise is well started on a career that cannot but prove successful.

The St. Maries Courier is a semi-weekly publi- cation established February 19. 1901 by E. Deuerslie. This enterprise was launched about the time St. Marie began to boom and has kept pace with the rapid pro- gress made by the town. It is neutral in politics, is well edited and would be a decided credit to a much iarger place than St. Maries. Mr. Denerslie is devoted to the best interests of St. Maries and is doing all in his power through the columns of the Courier to bring home builders and capital to the growing town. In this effort he is meeting with success and the Courier is fast progressing toward a position in the front ranks of the country newspapers.

The St. Joe Budget is the latest birth into the newspaper world of Kootenai county. Its first issue appeared December 12, 1902. The Budget is Repub- lican in politics and is owned by the Budget Publisli- ing Co., Wil E. Dockeray, editor. The St. Joe country

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is just beginning the progress of development and Mr. Dockeray is assisting in a very material way through the columns of the Budget. The editorials and the news columns show him to be well fitted for the work he has undertaken and the publication will no doubt meet with success to which earnest and conscientious endeavor is entitled.

LATAH COUNTY PRESS

MOSCOW MIRROR.

From the date of its establishment, July 4. 1882. the Moscow Mirror has never missed an issue. Hon. Willis Sweet, now attorney general for Porto Rico, was the first editor of the paper, and C. B. Hopkins, now United States marshal for the district of Wash- ington, was the first publisher. Mr. Hopkins was then publishing the Colfax Gazette at Colfax, Washing- ton, and for some time the presswork on the Mirror was done at the Gazette office. It was at first a small six-column sheet with patent inside. The subscription price was $3 per annum and it had a circulation of about 1440. In November, 1882, the paper was pur- chased by C. B. Reynolds, who paid but $400 for the entire plant. Mr. Reynolds continued the publication of the paper until June 7, 1889, when it was purchased by Jolly Bros. Elmer E. Jolly was editor and mana- ger. His brothers, James D., a printer, and Thomas H., an attorney, were interested with him in the prop- erty. The paper is now owned and edited by W. D. Smith. Mr. Smith has made a number of changes and improvements in the property. When he first took charge the paper was a five-column quarto. To accommodate increasing business the plan of an in- sert supplement was used for a time. April 16, 1903, Mr. Smith installed an up-to-date type setting ma- chine, a Simplex typesetter. This was followed by a change in the makeup of the paper, which is now issued as a large eight column folio, all set at home. The paper not only covers all the news of Moscow thoroughly and well, but in addition has cor- respondents in the tributary districts from whom these localities is secured and published. . Typo- graphically the paper is most attractive, the adver- tisements being displayed in a manner which would do credit to a metropolitan publication. The adver- tising patronage is so immense as to already crowd the limits of the enlarged publication. The paper is housed in a commodious brick structure and the plant is equipped with new and complete machinery and type. It is issued every Thursday and is Republican in politics. As an indication of the growth of the paper it is interesting to note that from a valuation of $400 and a circulation of 140 in 1882, the paper in 1898 was valued at $15,000 and its circulation had grown to 1.500. In later years two almost complete plants were sold from the material in the office. Interest in the paper's progress lessened and when Mr. Smith took charge in 1902 the circulation had dropped to less than 500. During the past seven months the circulation has been increased to 1,100 and is rapidly 77

growing. The plant is now valued at $6,600. Mr. Smith is a native of Princeton, Illinois. In 1887 he went to Lamberton, Minnesota, where he founded the Lamberton Leader. He conducted this paper until June 15. 1893, when he founded the Winnebago ( Minn.) Enterprise. Under Mr. Smith's management this became one of the leading Republican papers in Minnesota and of the middle west, and also one of the most valuable papers from a financial standpoint. While conducting the Enterprise. during the years 1893 and 1902 inclusive, Mr. Smith was assistant secretary of the Minnessota senate. He was a most active and influential worker in state and national campaigns and had a promising future before him had he remained in Minnesota. Mr. Smith took charge of the Mirror, December 29, 1002, and at once began improvements in the plant and in the general tone and makeup of the paper that will give it un- disputed right to first rank among the weekly publi- cations of the State of Idaho.

NORTHI IDAHO STAR.

The pioneer Republican newspaper of Moscow is the North Idaho Star, which was established October I, 1887, by J. L. Brown. Mr. Brown conducted the paper successfully for three years when it passed to a corporation known as the Star Publishing Company. The company conducted the paper until October 9, 1893, when it was purchased by Henry C. Shaver, the present owner. Under the present ownership the pa- per has grown immensely in business, circulation and influence.

Mr. Shaver is of the class of newspaper men who are, alas ! too few in these modern days. He is not only an all-around printer, a disciple of the case, but has had ripe experience in all branches of the editorial de- partment of the profession. having been connected in important capacities with some of the leading papers of the east, and having had many years of experience as editor and publisher.

Henry C. Shaver was born in Kendall county, Illi- nois, August 5, 1858. He was educated in the common schools of Towa and there learned the printing trade in the office of the Republican at Waverly, Iowa. La- ter he engaged in the publishing business as owner and editor of the Record, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, his first business venture of importance. He published the Cedar Falls Record for four years, when he became identified with the Daily Leader of Des Moines. For six years he was editor in chief of that paper. when he resigned to devote his attention to the Iowa interests of the Chicago Herald, with headquarters at Des Moines. From this latter position he resigned in June, 1893, to become the Washington, D. C., correspondent of the Des Moines Daily Leader. He also served as correspondent at the national capital at the same time for the Omaha World Herald and the Indianapolis Sentinel. In the fall of 1893 he came to Latah county and took hold of the Star. The Star is typographically an evidence of the thorough knowledge of the art pre- servative on the part of the owner. It is a neatly

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

printed, well edited eight page folio, six column paper, a credit to the state and owner and a prosperous busi- ness property, the value of which is constantly increas- ing.

Shortly after Mr. Shaver purchased the Star he set about to improve the office equipment. Being a thorough printer, as well as an experienced editor, he fully appreciated the importance of a mechanical equip- ment that would enable him to do all the work re- quired in a city of 5,000 people, and to print a hand- some paper as well. All the fashionable and attractive faces of type were added as they appeared from the foundry, as well as the labor-saving appliances known to the printing craft. The latest additions to the office are a Babcock cylinder press and a gasoline engine, both new from the. factory. These considerable addi- tions make his facilities as complete as any in the state, enabling him to do a wide range of work, and to pub- lish as handsome a paper as is turned out in Idaho. The Star will doubtless continue to maintain its posi- tion as one of the leading newspapers of Latah county, a position which has been readily conceded to it up to the present time.

TIMES DEMOCR.\T.

The accepted organ of the Democratic party in north Idaho was, for a number of years, the Times Democrat. published at Moscow. The paper was first established March 1, 1891, by William Taylor. He ran it for four months, when it was turned over to Samuel T. Owings, who conducted it until October I. 1891, when the plant was sold to J. L. Brown. April 1, 1892, Mr. Owings again became editor and pub- lisher and continued in charge until June 1, 1899, when the property was leased by Hon. Samuel C. Herren. Mr. Owings resumed charge January 1, 1900, and continued as editor and publisher.

Samuel T. Owings is a native of Baltimore, Mary- land, born September 1, 1868. He was educated in his native state and came to Moscow in September, 1888. He from the day of his arrival has been active in busi- ness enterprises, public spirited and devoted to the interests of Moscow, Latah county and the state of Idaho. He first engaged in the grocery business and later acquired valuable mining interests in British Co- lumbia. He has erected several residences in Moscow and in many other ways has contributed to the devel- opment of that town. He is a successful and repre- sentative business man.

The Times Democrat has an excellent plant, valued at about $3.500. The paper, which is a five column folio, is issued every Thursday. It is strictly a home paper, no plate matter being used. In each issue the local items of interest are interestingly presented and the news of the state and of the world is given in con- densed form. An attractive feature to many readers is the absence of an editorial page, the editorial ex- pressions being presented in paragraphic comment with the new items. It January, 1903, Mr. Owings changed the policy of the Times Democrat and it is now issued as a Republican paper.

KENDRICK GAZETTE.

The Kendrick Gazette. a Democratic weekly news- paper, published at Kendrick, has a rather interesting history. Its forerunner was the Kendrick Advocate, the first copy of which was issued July 4, 1890. In the absence of a building the printing office was set up under the shade of a tree and there the first copy of the paper was printed. H. L. Frost was the pio- neer editor and he conducted the paper until January, 1891, when he leased the plant to James F. Vincent, son of Judge Vincent, of Mount Idaho, Idaho. Mr. Vincent continued the publication of the Advocate for some time after he had, in January, 1892, established the Kendrick Gazette, when the Advocate ceased to ex- ist. Mr. Frost, an attorney, was editor of the Advo- cate, Tuesday, August 16, 1892. Shortly before two o'clock that morning flames were seen issuing from the second story of the building in which the Advocate office and Frost's law office were located. Within half an hour afterward two blocks had been burned over and $80,000 of property had gone up in smoke. There was a rumor that the fire was of incendiary origin and suspicion rested upon Editor Frost and he was com- pelled to leave for Moscow for safety. The Gazette building was destroyed in the fire, but the forms were saved and the paper did not miss publication. March 16, 1894, the Gazette building was again burned the night before publication, but enough of the matter was saved to issite a paper next day.

The present owners of the paper are Mackintosh & Weber. D. T. A. Mackintosh is the editor and H. W. Weber is business manager. For many years the paper was issued as a five column quarto, but this year the business had increased to such an extent that the owners doubled the size. It is a clean, newsy paper, "devoted to the interests of the Potlatch country, and is enjoying a deserved measure of prosperity."

CANYON ECHO.

The Canyon Echo, a weekly Republican paper, is- sued at Kendrick, every Tuesday, originally started out as a Democratic paper under the name of the Ken- drick Times. The paper was started in 1893 by the Times Publishing Company, of which Frish Brothers were the chief stockholders. They had charge of the paper for two years, when E. H. Thompson was in- stalled as editor. Mr. Thompson was succeeded as editor by Jessc Collins. In June, 1897, E. E. Alder- man became editor and publisher. In March, 1898, the name of the paper was changed to Canyon Echo. Under Mr. Alderman the paper has become Republi- can in politics. He is the present editor and proprietor of the paper. Mr. Alderman is a native of Ohio and was educated in the public schools of that state and at Hiram College. He is a lumber manufacturer and one of the leading citizens of Kendrick. The paper is a bright and newsy five column quarto and has an excel- lent circulation and large advertising patronage.

GENESEE NEWS.

Three different names have been given to the pa-

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

per now known as the Genesee News, the weekly pa- per published at Genesee, and while now a stanch Re- publican organ it was originally started as a Demo- cratic paper. In August, 1898, J. L. C. Mays started the paper as the Genesee Advertiser, Democratic in politics. The early career of the publication was checkered and October and part of November of that vear no issues were published. In November, 1898, E. R. Wiswell took hold of the plant and rejuvenated the Advertiser, but made it a Republican organ. La- ter Ed Barton became associated in the ownership. In 1889 the paper was sold to C. M. Poor, who changed the name to Recorder and made it an inde- pendent paper, with strong Democratic leanings. In 1891 the paper was purchased by J. W. Hopp and Charles Power, who changed the name to the Genesee News and made it a Republican paper. This firm was more successful than its predecessors in the ownership of the plant. When they first purchased the paper it was a five column folio, but they soon enlarged it to a six column quarto, its present size. Since February, 1892, when he purchased the interests of Mr. Hopp, Mr. Power has been editor and proprietor. He has been very successful in his conduct of the paper and has built ir up to one of the best and most influential newspapers in north Idaho. The paper is issued every Friday.

TROY NEWS.

The Troy News, originally called the Vollmer News, was established in 1894 by Charles Moody. The pioneer paper in Troy was the Vollmer Vedette, which was established in 1891 by T. E. Edmondson, but which only ran a few months. Mr. Moody ran the News for some time. Later editors were J. C. Peter- son and A. G. Greer. Mr. Peterson, with John E. Hoffman, were for a time the owners of the publica- tion. The present editor and owner is B. S. Nelson. The paper is issued weekly and is a well printed, four column quarto. It carries proportionately an immense amount of advertising, of which government land of- fice notices form no inconsiderable part. The paper is in a most prosperous condition and will probably soon be compelled to enlarge to meet the growing patron- age.

JULIAETTA ENTERPRISE.

The newspaper gravevard at Juliaetta is a large 'one, but, at last, in the Enterprise that town has a newspaper which will live and prosper. The first newspaper in Juliaetta was the Gem, which was es- tablished May 18, 1889, by W. L. Taylor. He was a talented young editor and managed to keep the Gem alive for eighteen months, when the enterprise was

abandoned. The paper was practically resurrected in the Potlatch, which first came out in June, 1891, with J. M. Bledsoe as editor and Collins Perryman as busi- ness manager. They conducted the paper until 1892, when it was sold to William R. McCracken, who changed the name to the Juliaetta Advance. After two years the Advance was discontinued, owing to the panic and general depression. Later the Potlatch Press was started there by Alford Bros., later publishers of the Lewiston Tribune. They sold out after one year to F. J. Bratton, who published the paper for two years and then shut down the office, shipping the press to Spalding. May 1, 1899, M. P. Stevens, an able at- torney and clever writer, established the Register, which later passed the way of the earlier papers. This year The Juliaetta Enterprise was established by D. T. A. Mackintosh and H. W. Weber, also owners and publishers of the Kendrick Gazette. W. A. Turner is local editor and manager of the Enterprise and he is making a decided success of the property. The paper is a seven column folio and is issued every Thursday. It is given a very liberal advertising patronage by the Juliaetta merchants and has an excellent circulation.

THE PALOUSE EMPIRE.

The Palouse Empire is a weekly recently estab- lished at Moscow by Will H. Stewart and Oscar F. De Partee. Mr. Stewart is editor and Mr. De Partee manager. This paper was started as the "Citizen," March Ist of the present year. After running for ten weeks as a Democratic publication the publishers left the political field and entered that of the agriculturist, horticulturist and stock raiser. They also changed the name of the paper to the Palouse Empire. The field they have entered is practically unoccupied by a publi- cation of this kind and as the editor is displaying marked ability in the discussion of topics on which the Palouse farmer is always seeking information, there is good reason to believe the paper will become one of the substantial institutions of the county. The publishers contemplate changing the form of the paper to an eight column quarto. The office and publishing rooms are in the Business College building.

FIRST PAPER IN THE COUNTY.

A history of the press of Latah county would be incomplete without mention of the Moscow Argus. This was the pioneer newspaper of the county. It was published in the winter of 1878-9 by the Moscow Lit- erary Society and its editors were R. H. Barton, George P. Richardson and Dr. William Taylor. They had no printing press, so the paper was written ont by hand and was read at the regular weekly meetings of the society.

CHAPTER II.

REMINISCENT.

Throughout the following pages are gathered a few of the current legends, stories and rhymes concern- ing the pioneer days of northern Idaho. While no one can vouch for the accuracy of the descriptions, or the reliability of the relators, the sketches are interesting, and the local color strongly suggestive of earlier scenes in the settlement of the territory and state.

A NORTH IDAHO INDIAN MASSACRE. -

The following is substantially as related by Martin Fry, of Bonners Ferry :

"I came to Bonners Ferry in 1876. The story of the massacre, which I am about to relate, I got from the whites wen I first came here. But I have also learned it many times from the Indians, who wit- nessed all the transactions after the massacre and who were familiar with the massacre itself. I understand and can speak the Kootenai Indian language and the account of the massacre as told to me by several of these Indians and repeated time after time, has never varied in any particular.

"In the summer of 1866 a party of five Indians went, with their families, from this place up the Koote- nai river to a point near the mouth of Libby creek, on a hunting expedition. Previous to their going, earlier in the season, a party of prospectors made a discovery of placers up Libby creek. About the time of the arival of the Indians at their camping grounds, a party from the prospector's camp started out with pack horses to obtain provisions. A few days later they returned, reaching the Kootenai river at a point opposite the mouth of Libby creek, where the Iidians were encamped. Some of the Indians appearing on the banks of the stream, the prospectors called to them and asked that they bring over the canoes and assist them in getting themselves and their provisions across the river. This was done. After reaching the shore, the provisions were unloaded from the boats to the backs of the pack animals, and, it being late in the afternoon, the party proceeded up Libby creek, go- ing into camp for the night about one-fourth of a mile from the Indian camp.

"After nightfall the squaws proposed to the bucks that the latter steal up to the camp of the whites,

frighten them away by some means and get their stock of provisions. They would later lay the blame for the theft upon the Blackfeet, who at this time made frequent raids over the Kootenai country, pilfer- ing not only from the occasional white settlers, but from the Kootenai Indians, and not infrequently kill- ing Indians with whom they came in contact. The proposal of the squaws met the approval of the bucks and accordingly, late in the evening, they proceeded to the camp of the prospectors and told them they had discovered signs of Blackfeet Indians in the vicinity and that there was danger of an attack from them at any moment. A man named Allen was in charge of the party, which consisted of himself, Joe Herron and another, whose name I have forgotten. These men had spent many years in the mining camps and were accustomed to facing dangers; they knew the Indian character well and at once suspected that this was a ruse to frighten them from their camp and get their provisions. They consequently paid no attention to the warnings of the Kootenais, although one of the party suggested to Allen that it might be well to go on up the creek to the main camp which was only a few miles away. But Allen said 'No.' The Indians went away and the prospectors turned in for the night.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 290

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