An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 32

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 32
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 32
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 32
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 32

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

During the winter of 1865-6 the Lewiston school was taught by William Ferrell, and under his tutelage fifteen or twenty pupils were instructed in the rudi- ments of education. The school prospered. Next year it was placed in charge of Professor Eckels, a very popular and erudite Irishman, and the first teacher to really give the Lewiston school his serious attention. At this time Lewiston was incorporated and granted the privilege of maintaining an inde- pendent school district, such as only Boise had en- joyed theretofore. In accordance with the provisions of this law, the Lewiston independent school district was organized and a special tax levied. The school was removed to a small frame building on the corner of what are now Third and C streets, just south of the old territorial capitol and across the street from the Florence saloon. This building, erected in 1862, had been occupied for some time by Dr. Macinteney as a drug store. and later the first territorial council had met within its walls. Under Professor Eckels' super- vision seats and blackboards were placed in the room and books and inany other necessities procured for the children. This energetic teacher remained only one term, however. He was succeeded by Miss Ellen Kelly, a daughter of Milton Kelly, the first judge of the first judicial district of Idaho and later the founder of the Boise Statesman. Miss Kelly taught two terms and was succeeded by W. A. Goulder.

By 1871 the increased demands made upon the school showed the urgent necessity for additional room, and an agitation was commenced in favor of erecting a new school house instead of renting a

116

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

larger building. The times, however, were stringent, and the problem of securing the money wherewith to buy land and put up this new building was not an easy one to solve ; nevertheless, at a meeting called to consider the matter it was definitely decided to proceed with the work. Some time previously a game of poker had been played in Lewiston, the outcome of which, as it happened, had an important bearing on the school question. A certain man had squatted on a large tract of land on Main street and as the town- site still belonged to the government, his right to the property when the land became patented was as gen- erally acknowledged as would have been a deed on record. Unfortunately for this property holder, however, cards possessed a fatal fascination for him, and on the night in question he was reduced to the ex- tremity of placing his title to the lot against its value in money, wagered by his opponents. Fortune failed him and the result was that right to the land became vested in three persons, James W. Hays, Albert Rip- son and L. W. Bacon. Later C. P. Coburn, as presi- dent of the school board, approached these men for the purpose of securing the land for a school site. Mr. Coburn's efforts were not in vain. Albert Rip- son, who claimed the major share of the land, finally agreed to donate his interest to the city, which he did, quit-claiming. also, by consent, the interests of his partners. Subsequently title was perfected through the courts.

On this property the trustees decided to erect a small frame schoolhouse and a special tax was levied to raise part of the funds. To further aid the enter- prise the trustees of the school, Charles G. Kress, R. J. Monroe and J. B. Rowley, also certain ladies of the city, especially prominent among whom were Mrs. John P. Vollmer, Miss Olive Martin (now Mrs. W. P. Hunt), Mrs. Robert Grostein and Mrs. T. S. Billings, gave a ball in the old Florence saloon build- ing, which had been converted into a public hall. The ball was a most gratifying success, financially as well as socially, adding several hundred dollars to the school fund. By such means the friends of education secured a considerable portion of the money required for the construction of the new school.

As soon as title to the land above mentioned had been secured, the board of trustees let the contract for building the school to a builder named Mann, the amount agreed upon being $1,450. Mann's bid was very low. The building erected really cost in the vicinity of $2,000, the bondsmen furnishing the re- mainder of the money. The building was completed for occupancy in the fall of 1872 and to Miss Nancy Simons belongs the distinction of first teaching within its walls. She taught two terms. So rapidly did the attendance increase that two years later the town was compelled to add an annex to the building. Thus enlarged, it sufficed for several years.

December 30, 1880, in response to the request of the people of Lewiston, the territorial legislature passed an act providing for the establishment and maintenance of a system of graded schools in the Lewiston independent district, a bill rendered neces-

sary by the rapid growth of the city after the Nez Perces war.

A special election was called soon after this act went into effect, at which the tax payers of the district voted to issue $10,000 bonds for the construction of a new and much larger building than was then in use. Under this authority the school board entered into a contract with Hale & Cooper, July 6, 1882, for the construction of the present frame school bouse on the site of the old building. Subsequently the bond issue was increased to $11,000, bearing eight per cent. interest. The building was erected and at the time was considered one of the finest schoolhouses in this section of the west. But the steady increase of population eventually made even this too small and again the district had to provide larger quarters and a larger corps of teachers. The last building was erected in 1897-8 at a cost of approximately $16,000, to raise which $15,000 worth of bonds had to be is- sued. The building is a handsome two-story, brick and stone structure, provided with all the usual con- veniences and school equipment, the pride of the city. In anticipation of the removal of the frame building at no distant day, the brick school house was erected just back of the wooden one.

The rapid growth of the town during the past few years has rendered the school facilities again inade- quate, and to meet the exigencies of the situation the board of trustees has decided to begin, this spring, the construction of a twelve-room school house on Nor- mal hill, it being the intention to have the building ready for occupancy by the opening of the fall term in September. It will be two stories high and will cost about $25,000.

But Lewiston is not dependent upon its public school alone for the maintenance of an educational esprit de corps among its people and the education of its juvenile inhabitants. By dint of much effort on the part of its citizens and friends it secured in 1898. the establishment of a state normal school within its limits. The school occupies a beautiful brick build- ing on a sightly campus on Normal hill, overlooking the business part of Lewiston and the scenic poem presented by the two rivers just beyond and their rugged farther banks. The school has enjoyed a ca- reer of uninterrupted harmony since its inception, its only drawback being insufficient funds to procure all needed equipment and enable it to rapidly expand. It offers a flexible course of study, giving the student wide latitude for selection, but requiring all to do a stated amount of professional study and to take part in the work of the literary societies. Diplomas are granted to those only who complete a four years' course, and the holders of these have all the rights and privileges attaching to state certificates for life.

Another important institution having for its ob- ject the educational advancement of the youth of Lewiston and vicinity is St. Joseph's Academy, erect- ed in 1898 and conducted by the Sisters of the Visitation, a cloistered order. The school is ex- clusively for girls, but is open to all who are respect- ful, obedient and docile, without reference to religious.

II7

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

belief. All the common and many of the higher branches of learning are taught, including music, languages and the arts. The present enrollment numbers sixty. Thirty pupils board at the school and those whose names are enrolled in the musical de- partment number thirty. The academy building oc- cupies a pleasant site on Normal hill. There is also a Catholic school for boys under the immediate di- rection of Father Post, the head of the church in Nez Perces county. It occupies the quarters of the old Sisters' academy, abandoned upon the establishment of the school of the Sisters of Visitation in 1898. At present twenty-four boys are receiving instruction there from Father Post and his two associate in- structors.

Such is, in a brief and no doubt incomplete out- line, the past and present of the city of Lewiston. One acquainted with the many advantages of cli- mate, location and resources enjoyed by the town may be inclined to wonder why its growth has not been more rapid. The reasons are not far to seek. Until a very few years ago it was on the edge of an Indian reservation. the immense wealth of which was lying aimost wholly undeveloped on account of the shiftless character of the aboriginal population. Until a still more recent date it was without railroad facilities, while its rival towns in Washington and Idaho had been enjoying these for years. Its tributary country was also without railroads and is still insufficiently supplied, but notwithstanding the immense amount of work yet to be accomplished before the great wealth tributary to Lewiston shall have been fully appropriated, the town has been forging ahead with wonderful rapidity in the past half decade, and no doubt it will continue indefinitely its rapid advance. Recently the legislature has passed an act appropriat- ing eighteen thousand dollars of the state's money to construct a supreme court library building in the town. A great effort is being made to secure the pass- age by the same assembly of a bill having for its direct object the upbuilding of a large lumber manufactur- ing industry in Lewiston. It may be unsafe to at- tempt to forecast, but the conviction is almost forced upon one that a city situated at the point where it will be most benefited when the agitation in congress for an open river to the sea shall have crystalized into accom- plished results, at a point that must be touched by any railroad from the east seeking to reach the ocean by a water grade and at the very gateway to incalcula- ble riches of agriculture, of timber and of minerals, the county seat of a great and rapidly developing county, the center of a wonderful fruit growing re- gion, must some day take rank with the largest and wealthiest cities of the Inland Empire.

NEZPERCE.

The government townsite of Nezperce, on the reservation, was thrown open to settlement Novem- ber 18, 1805. George W. Tamblin was the surveyor in charge, and he selected the townsite, Probate Judge P. E. Stookey filed on the quarter section of

land in behalf of the people, and the lots were dis- tributed by lot, each applicant being allowed two tick- ets. Tamblin's office, a box building, was the first edifice in Nezperce. Ex-County Commissioner E. L. Parker erected a building for use for general store purposes, which he subsequently disposed of to Mr. Orbison. The first goods sold on the ground of the new town were those of Paul Johnson, and he built the second business house in the place, now owned by Steven Badger. Originally the postoffice was in the Wayland hotel, Mrs. L. A. Wayland, postmistress. The first house on the reservation was erected by Col. W. W. Hammell, and the first restaurant was started by E. C. Cassens. Mr. Orbison possessed the first home residence on the townsite, although a few years previous to this there had been a shack erected. As with all new western locations, the people who first came to the town of Nezperce lived mainly in tents. Col. Hammell was the first one to prove up under the free homestead law, and his ranch adjoins the town of Nezperce. He was closely followed by W. B. Ramsey. Along about this time A. Coles started a store in a tent, a racket store, and the first church, Presbyterian, held its initial services under canvas, A1. G. Mann officiating. S. Markwell opened a store in a new building, and the first drug store was erected by A. Eitzen and a man named Towell, in the summer of 1896. This building and business passed into the hands of Wilson and Bert Bowlby, and Wilson Bowlby was the first dentist, and Drs. Howard, father and son, the first practicing physicians. Judge J. R. Crawford was elected justice of the peace, al- though T. O. Hanlon had been appointed to try a case previous to that time.

During the summer of 1898 a man named Orr opened a bank, and the first hotel of any consequence was built and conducted by A. McLeod, and the sec- ond by J. D. Graham. The same year a butcher shop was built by R. C. Bywaters. The town of Nezperce has never suffered from a general fire, but in 1902 a $3,500 residence owned hy Z. A. Johnson was burned. The original printing establishment, the Nezperce News, was established in 1896, by Harper & Ander- son. The second newspaper was the Record, by G. S. Martin. Among the pioneers of Nezperce may he mentioned Col. W. W. Hammell, G. W. Wilshire, J. T. Orbison, E. L. Parker, John D. Graham, Paul Johnson, E. G. Cassens, George W. Tamblin, A. Mc- Leod, L. A. Wayland, Captain Human, W. D. Hard- wick. An addition of twenty acres was made to Nezperce by Jacob Mowry.

The present business houses of Nezperce com- prise . General merchandise, J. A. Schultz & Co .; Felt Mercantile Co .; Bargain store, Graman & Schultz, proprietors: Nezperce Cash Store, J. R. Crawford, manager ; Old Store, J. T. Orbison ; Badg- er Store, Steven Badger, proprietor : Idaho Store, Coffin Bros. Hotels-Nezperce Hotel, Charles Holm, Hotel Scofield. Williams Bros. Restaurants-Home, Kimerv & Mead: Mrs. Bob Warnacut's : and L. P. Jacobson's. Livery stables-Boss. J. W. Gains ; Nez- perce, Miller & Miller. Grain dealers-Vollmer-

II8

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Clearwater Company, D. W. Eaves, manager; Farm- ers' Grain Company : Kerr, Giftord & Company ; Ka- miah Trading Company. Drug stores-Bowlby's City Drug Store; DeMonde's; The Kimball Drug Company, Taylor & Moraseck, proprietors. Black- smith shops-S. J. Doggett ; E. B. Wilson and Thom- as Barth. Soft drinks and Confectionery-The Der- by, Black & Allison ; R. W. Adams and Thomas Mar- tin. Gents' Furnishing Goods-T. J. Hardwick & Company. Furniture-Mockler, Miller & Mockler ; S. N. Berry. Hardware-Mockler, Miller & Mock- ler ; Kamiah Trading Company (Spiker & Salladay). Millinery-Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. St. Helms and Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Hunt ; Mrs. S. Badger. Banks -First National, T. M. Mockler, president, J. A. Schultz, cashier ; Farmers and Merchants Bank, T. J. Dyer, of Spokane, president : Kettenbach & Company, limited, C. W. Nelson, cashier. Newspapers-Nez- perce Herald, W. C. Foresman, editor and proprietor. Nezperce Roller Mill, Z. A. Johnson: Chop Mill, Lauby Bros., proprietors. Jewelry-B. F. Richard- son. Harness shops-M. R. Bowman, J. F. Strick- fadess. Meat markets-Warrell Bros., John M. Medved. Nezperce Brick & Lime Company, W. R. Crim. president ; Heitzen & Mitchell. Draying- City Dray, C. J. Hancock, proprietor ; Nezperce De- livery, A. Fuller, proprietor. Barber-A. A. Bard- well. United States Commissioner and Notary Pub- lic-W. W. Hammell. Contractor-P. Fairweather. Real Estate-B. J. McRae; Stearns & Thomas; W. E. Larson. Attorneys-Stearns & Thomas; R. H. Wallace. Physicians-John Coburn; E. Taylor; A. J. Cooper ; E. L. Powell. Dentists-Dr. J. W. Lewis. Photography-Fink Bros. Contractor and Builder- E. L. Tupper & Company ; Thomas Devine, Roach & Johnson.

The churches of Nezperce comprise the Presby- terians, Methodist, Christian, German Baptist, Cath- olic and Baptist. The graded public schools are housed in two buildings, one of four rooms and one of two, the former steam heated. The fraternal soci- eties are the I. O. O. F., M. W. A., A. F. & A. M., Yeomen, Maccabees, L. O. T. M., Royal Neighbors, Women of Woodcraft, Rebekahs.

Nezperce is incorporated. The councilmen are W. C. Foresman. C. W. Felt, C. H. Thomas, Dr. J. H. Lewis and W. J. Ramsey. The town was bonded April 21, 1903, for $6,750, to furnish water for fire protection. There are two wells and a gasoline en- gine for this purpose. The water right of Lolo Creek belongs to Z. A. Johnson, who is now putting in a plant to cost $35,000 which will provide electricity for his mill and lights, water, etc., for the town. The present population of Nezperce is between 400 and 500.

MORROW.

This town is situated just on the west side of the boundary line between Nez Perces and Idaho coun- ties. The township was laid out in 1896, a pre-emp- tion claim of M. B. Morrow, a sheep raiser. The town was first exploited by W. L. Thompson, trustee for

Nr. Morrow. In 1896 he opened a general store, the first one in the village, and this was followed by the Hotel Morrow, by D. I. Slavens. About the same period W. S. Green established a feed barn, and Harry Steel started a blacksmith shop. During the winter of 1896-7, Gibbs & Lemmons put up a butcher shop. A saw mill was built in 1896 by J. G. Downs. The post- office is on Willow Creek, at the home of W. R. Dixon, established about 1888. The elevation of Morrow is 3,250 feet. The present business enterprises are rep- resented by the general store of Mons Hansen, black- smith shop and chop mill, T. M. Davis, postoffice, confectionery, etc., W. R. Dixon; hotel and saloon, Babcock & Horseman; feed stable. owned by George Wayne, leased by Ed. Ausburg. There is a four months' term of school taught by M. M. Belknap. The attendance is an average of fifty-four. The Methodist and Christian denominations hold services occasionally, presided over by visiting clergymen, in the Union building. There is a lodge of 1. O. O. F.

LENORE.

Sixteen miles below Orofino and the first impor- tant station after leaving Potlatch junction is Lenore, still another small trading and shipping center along the Clearwater Short Line railway. There is already one tramway terminus here and another tramway is about to be constructed. The Lenore Trading Com- pany has here a general store, J. B. McGuire conducts the only hotel and Charles Green is the postmaster. The Kettenbach Grain Company has a warehouse at this point. Basalt and Agatha are two other unim- portant stations along the railroad, established princi- pally to accommodate grain shipping.

FLETCHER.

The townsite of Fletcher was surveyed by the government in May, 1896, and opened for filing so soon as the survey was completed. The ground was donated by Simon L. Finney, who had homesteaded the same on the opening of the reservation. The first house, a store building, was opened for business in November, and this was followed by a blacksmith shop and saw mill. The following spring a hotel was crected by John Bielby, and that summer Naffziger & Honeyman opened a general merchandise store (1897). A grist mill was started by Wright & Ellis in 1898, and Robinson & Haynes established a drug store in 1899. The grist mill business was incorpor- ated as a stock company March 4, 1899, and subse- quently the property was destroyed by fire. Wright removed to Dublin and Ellis to Summit. The present business houses comprise the drug store of Robinson & Eckersley, general merchandise by L. E. Marchand, hardware, by Peter Klaus, and hotel by the same. The present population of the town is 200. Dublin, situ- ated three and a quarter miles south of Fletcher, dates from the summer of 1901. The pioneer spirit in the enterprise was David Lowry. There are a few resi- dences, a blacksmith shop and other business houses.

119

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

MOHLER.

Eight miles northwest of Nez Perces, in the south- eastern part of the county, is the town of Mohler. The land on which it stands was homesteaded by T. O. Hanlon and J. B. Davis at the opening of the reserva- tion. The town is platted but not yet incorporated. The first edifice, a store building, was erected by T. (. Hanlon in 1889. The postoffice, first known as Howard, was established four years ago at the old Howard townsite, one and a half miles southeast of Mohler. Three years ago it was removed from How- ard to Mohler. The next building, a hardware store, was put up by Boozer & Giles, and this was succeeded by a creamery built in 1900. During the spring of the same year a butcher shop, erected by H. D. Haines, was established, and the succeeding building, owned by P. E. Dean, was built two years since. This was followed by a hotel by J. B. Davis. The spring of 1902 witnessed the erection of a building occupied by the Mohler Implement Company, the school house and the Methodist Church. Three years ago a black- smith shop was built by John Howard and another in the spring of 1903 by John Collins and John John-' son.

The present business houses are: Drug store, O. DeMonde and John McGee; real estate, James So- renson and J. H. Wann; hotel, John Biggart, proprie- tor ; blacksmith shops, Emery and Collins & Johnson ; general stores, P. E. Dean and G. S. Martin ; hard- ware, F. A. Boozer and Charles Giles; A. G. Gross and N. F. Wright ; furniture, T. O. Hanlon ; barn, in connection with hotel, john Biggart; butcher shop in summer time, J. B. Davis and T. S. Belts ; barber shop, Charles and A. J. Johnson. The business of Mohler is supported by the general farming in the surrounding country. A number of new buildings are projected, including a barber shop, two livery barns, three dwellings, etc.

Church services are conducted every two weeks; Sunday school each Sabbath. The officiating minister is Rev. John Taylor. Fraternal societies include the 1. O. O. F., Rebekahs, Encampment, W. of W., and Women of Woodcraft. The medical practitioner is Dr. J. T. Price.

ILO.

This little town is named in honor of llo Leggett, who has, also, contributed a portion of his name to the Ilo Hardware & Implement Company, of this place.

The first store was erected in the spring of 1898, but was closed out the same fall. W. F. Stinson was the succeeding merchant, who, however, continued in business but six months, and in the spring of 1899 (June), (. W. Leggett opened a general merchandise store. This was, at that period, the only business house in the place. During the succeeding fall or win- ter a blacksmith shop was started by James Breeding, and in the winter of 1900-I there was opposition in the shape of another blacksmith, Andrew Anderson. In the spring of 1901 Charles Larson opened a wagon

repair shop. The same spring a small hotel was built by W. D. Simmons, and during the succeeding sum- mer a general merchandise store was erected by O. W. Leggett. The drug store of Mrs. Cynthia A. Tat- ko was built in the spring of 1902, and Dr. J. G. Lenz dispensed the drugs. He had begun practice in llo in the spring of 1901. A harness shop was opened by E. C. Kness in the spring of 1902, the Kamiah Trading Company having commenced business the previous fall. This enterprise was recently sold to the llo Hardware and Implement Company. The Idaho Supply Company, comprising local capitalists, began business in the spring of 1902, and the Smith hotel building was erected the same period. The Bank of llo is a recent financial enterprise, of which J. J. Woods is cashier.

During the winter of 1901-2 William Blair opened a livery barn, and recently another was started by Simmons & Nichols. Mrs. J. C. Pearsall conducts a millinery store; A. Gardner a butcher shop, and there are two confectionery and "soft drink" stores. An ungraded school is conducted six months of the year with an attendance of fifty pupils. The Presby- terians and Christians have church organizations and buildings, erected during the summer of 1902, Revs. McLain and John McDonald pastors, respectively. The Modern Woodmen of America and the 1. O. O. F. represent the fraternal societies of llo.

CULDESAC.

At the terminus of the Lapwai spur of the North- ern Pacific railroad and snugly nestled against the base of Craig's mountain, lies Culdesac, a prosperous, thriving town of probably four hundred people. This terminal town is one of the newest and one of the most prosperous on the reservation. None has a brighter future and none can boast of a more rapid and at the same time substantial growth. Situated at the geo- graphical center of the county, in the very heart of the grain producing section, Culdesac is fortunate in being the shipping and receiving point for a scope of coun- try fifteen miles square and including a portion of Nez Perces prairie. It has been conservatively estimated that over one-half a million bushels of wheat, flax, barley and oats were shipped from this place last year and during the shipping season in the fall it is not uncommon for 150 four-horse teams to unload at the warehouses in a single day.

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

An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 32

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