An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 40

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 40
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 40
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 40
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 40

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A detailed account of the career of Mr. Warren will be hailed with keen delight by all old timers and with pleasure we append the same. He was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, on July 15, 1852, being the son of Hugh and Esther (Sturgill) Warren. The father was born in North Carolina in 1821 and died in 1880. He was a pioneer of Missouri and a fifty-niner in California, where he remained until 1865, when he returned to the states and came with his family to Walla Walla and bought a farm engaging in stock raising until his death. He was captain of the train of one hundred and thirty-six wagons which he piloted over in safety. The mother of our subject was born in Virginia and died in 1884. Felix was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to this country and he remained with his father until eighteen and then went to packing to the Kootenai country, British

Columbia. He did this on account of his health and as the outdoor exercise was bracing and improving him, he continued until he was twenty-three. Then he began staging from Almota to Colfax and in 1875 took up the business on his own account. He operated from Dayton to Walla Walla and about that time bought the entire holdings of the Northwestern Stage Company, which included many lines in this country, among which were those from Dayton to Colfax, thence to Sprague, Colfax to Lewiston, Lewiston to Spokane Falls, and others. These Mr. Warren operated for fifteen years and also from Dayton to Lewiston for six years. He had as partner, A. A. Newberry, well known in the northwest and they operated from Lewis- ton to Mt. Idaho. It is thus seen that Mr. Warren is the oldest and most extensive stage and mail operator in the entire country. He was special messenger for the government in the Bannock war and at one time he drove from Mt. Idaho to Lewiston in less than ten hours, hauling fourteen passengers, among whom were Sam Silverman (a noted mining man) and Spud Howard, a famous California driver. Mr. Warren drove six horses and had four relays in this trip. Bell Foster, a noted scout and an intimate friend of Mr. Warren, was killed at Cottonwood by the savages dur- ing the Nez Perces war.

On March 3, 1873, Mr. Warren married Miss Janetta Smails, at Walla Walla. She has three broth- ers, John, Harvey and Robert. She was born in Iowa in 1860. Mr. Warren has the following brothers and sisters, Solomon S., a miner at Nome; Joseph F., chief of police in Spokane for years, now in Nome; Robert S., in Nome: Mrs. H. W. Spalding, at Al- mota, whose husband was a son of the noted mission- ary Spalding; Inez Dawson, in Yakima, whose hus- band is a stockman. Mr. Warren is an active Demo- crat and has been honored by his party with a number of nominations for office. Mr. Warren was well acquainted with the noted Joe Meek. He is a member of the Pioneer Association and one of the best known and highly esteemed men of the entire northern part of the state.

JOHN NELLSEN. It is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant space in the history of northern Idaho to the young and enterprising agriculturist whose name is at the head of this article as he has done excellent work here in the development of the resources of the country, has wrought with a hand of industry in improving his homestead and has so con- ducted himself that he has won and retains the good will and esteem of all who know him.

John Nellsen was born in Calumet county, Wiscon- sin, on January 26, 1870, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Hammer) Nellsen, who are mentioned in another portion of this work. Our subject remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty and then went out to encounter the storms of life alone. He came to Walla Walla about that time and went to work hauling hay and straw. This was in the winter and during the summer he wrought

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

in the harvest field. When the reservation opened he came to Craig mountain and took his present place of one hundred and twenty acres of fine pine timber land, which lies about four miles northwest from Morrow. Mr. Nellsen has some extra fine springs on his land and by his own efforts he has cleared sixteen acres. The first two years here, he and his brother worked out most of the time to get a start. but since then they have rented land and have done well, threshing this last year five thousand bushels of grain. They have their own machinery. horses, and are numbered with the prosperous men of this section. Much credit is due this worthy young man in his efforts to build up the country and make a good home ; just such sturdy toil- ers as he are the ones who have made this country prosperous and the richest in the world.

ANTON HEITFELD. It is gratifying to us that we are enabled to chronicle the outline of the interesting career of the estimable gentleman whose name is at the head of this article, since he has done much for the building up of Nez Perces county, is one of its well-to-do and substantial citizens to-day and is a man of sterling qualities of worth and princi- ple, always being allied on the side of right and wis- dom. Mr. Heitfeld was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 24, 1864, being the son of Henry and Theresa ( Winkelman ) Heitfeld, natives of Germany. but immigrants to America in the 'fifties. They lo- cated in St. Louis and engaged in a shoe store, where the father continued until his death in 1868. In 1870, the mother with her children went to Kansas, where for thirteen years they farmed. In 1882, they removed to Nez Perces county where she died in 1892, being buried in the Catholic cemetery in Genesee. At Seneca, Kansas, our subject received his first school- ing and always remained with his mother until the time of her death. He formed a partnership with his brother Henry and together they own one entire sec- tion of land, all under cultivation and producing as high as twelve thousand bushels of grain in one season. They have also an orchard of ten acres, about the largest and finest in the entire locality. Mr. Heitfeld is one of the most enterprising agriculturists of Nez Perces county, is a man of broad experience and ex- ceptional talent, and has always been dominated by keen foresight, acute discrimination and good wisdom, which account for the brilliant success that he has had in the realm of agriculture and fruit raising.

The marriage of Mr. Heitfeld and Miss Frances A., daughter of Edward and Barbara (Henzel) Kempf, occurred in 1897. and they have been blessed with the advent of two children, Edward H. and Jose- phine J. Mr. Heitfeld is a member of the W. of W., Uniontown Camp, No. 207. He and his wife are de- vout members of the Roman Catholic church. It is of note that the subject of this sketch is a brother of Henry Heitfeld, his partner in the estate, who is also United States senator from the state of Idaho. Henry Heitfeld, now United States senator, was

prominent in the political realm for his sagacity, sound principles, who in 1894 was nominated by the Peoples party, endorsed by the Democrats and elected to the position of state senator at Boise, by a handsome majority. In 1896, he was nominated again, and again promptly elected by an appreciative people and during that term he was proposed for the United States senate against F. Duboise, silver Republican, and Heit- feld was elected, and in the capacity of senator from the state of Idaho he is doing faithful and capable work in Washington, D. C. More specific mention of him will be made in another portion of the work.

JAMES D. BOWMAN, a farmer and stockman of excellent standing and blessed with good success in his labors, and one of the builders of the reser- vation country where he has wisely bestowed his labors since it opened for settlement, was born in Salem, Oregon, on August 19, 1852, being a son of Joshua and Emmeline (Loveland) Bowman, natives respectively of Ohio and New York. The father was born in 1808 and died in 1877. He came to Salem in 1851, and then moved to Clackamas county, where he took a half section of land. Our subject was brought up and educated in Oregon City and remained there until he was twenty-one. At that time he came to eastern Oregon and engaged in the cattle business. He made several trips back and forth across the mountains, and in 1877 came to the Palouse country near Genesee. There he farmed and freighted until 1895, when he came to the opening reservation and took his present place, a little southeast from Dublin, where he does general farming and raises hogs and cattle.

On February 28, 1883, Mr. Bowman married Miss Nettie, daughter of John A. and Harriet ( Mosier ) Stanton. The father was born January 17, 1823, farmed in Missouri and came as a pioneer to Oregon in the early 'fifties. He settled to farming on a do- nation claim near Silverton, Oregon, and was promi- nent in political matters, holding the county offices frequently. Mrs. Bowman was born in Marion county, Oregon, on May 23, 1866, and has the follow- ing brothers and sisters: Isabella Murray, Josephine Thomas. Jennie, deceased, Frank, Jasper N., Benjamin. John, Willard, Amanda Woodcock, Blufford, Mary Allen, deceased. Mr. Bowman has brothers and sis- ters named as follows: Joseph, Charles, Mary Smith, Ann Markham, Margaret Jones. Seven children have been born to this household, Pearl. Clyde. Herman, Charles W., John E., Mamie E., Nellie M.

DAVID E. JOHN. About one mile north from Nezperce is the home place of the enterprising young man whose name appears above and he is to be classed as one of the most thrifty, industrious and wise agri- culturists of this section, as everything about his premises testifies.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

David E. John was born in Greene county, Penn- sylvania, on May 16, 1875, being the son of David and Mary E. ( Edgar) John, natives also of Greene county. When our subject was two years old, the family went to Washington county, where his mother died on January 17, 1894. The father, who is still living there, aged eighty-six, is a prominent and wealthy farmer of that section. The parents, as also our subject and his wife, are all members of the German Baptist Brethren. David E. attended school in his native place and on December 25, 1896, he married Miss Alice C., daughter of Silas and Nannie (Rodabaugh) Johnson. In March, 1897, they came to the reservation country with his father-in-law, the party consisting of thirteen. This was simply for a trip but when they arrived here the country was so favorabe and pleasing that Mr. John secured the relinquishment of the farm where he now resides and he at once went to improv- ing. He has a good six-room house, large barn and outbuildings, with many other good improvements. Mr. John has fenced his entire farm with hog tight fencing and is intending to raise hogs extensively. He is blessed with a goodly holding of property and is one of the substantial men of the section. Two children have been born to them, Volley Clifford, born July 6, 1897, and died at the age of fifteen months; David Bernard, born August 8, 1902.

S. LESLIE THOMPSON, one of the old time business operators in Lewiston, where for fifteen years he was in one establishment, a genial and capable business man, is now one of the firm of Fair & Thomp- son, art dealers in Lewiston. Mr. Thompson is also city treasurer and is one of the substantial and highly esteemed men of the city.

S. Leslie Thompson was born in Proctorsville. Ver- mont, on October 1, 1863, being the son of Samuel L. and Alsada E. (Flint) Thompson. The father was born in New Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1843, en- listed in the Fourth Vermont Infantry, on September 17, 1861, and was discharged on May 1, 1862, on ac- count of disability. Mr. Thompson came west and is now justice of the peace in Lewiston. The mother of our subject was born in Oakham, Massachusetts, and died in 1800. The father's people are Scotch and English and the mother's ancestors were Scotch. Our, subject grew to young manhood in Massachusetts and there received his education. When twenty, he came to Lewiston, and in 1886 engaged with the firm of Vent & Butler, remaining in their drug store for fifteen years. This excellent service demonstrates the stability and good business qualities of Mr. Thompson and he has won a position in the business and social realm of Lewiston that is highly enviable. In 1901. Mr. Thompson formed a partnership with Mr. Fair and opened his present business, where he is having a thriving patronage and is being prospered. He handles all lines of art goods and artists' materials and supplies and is also doing a good trade in Indian curios and selected goods.

On November 16, 1892, Mr. Thompson married Ida Bunnell Walker, daughter of D. L. Bunnell, a well known hardware merchant of Lewiston. Mr. Bunnell was born in New York and died in 1888. He was a pioneer of Oregon. Mrs. Thompson was born in Oregon in 1863 and has one brother, Oscar C. Mr. Thompson has two brothers and two sisters, Moses W., William H., Hattie Mudge, Ella M. Sneli. William H. is a member of the New Hampshire legislature. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Waldo B., aged eight, and Edith, aged six. Mr. Thompson is fraternally allied with the K. P. and the W. W. He is a Republican and active in the campaigns.

J. SMITH MOUNCE, one of the heavy real estate owners in Nez Perces county, has shown him- self to be one of the substantial and capable men of the entire county and is respected and esteemed by all. His estate of nine hundred and sixty acres lies four miles southeast of Lewiston, and is well improved and handled to the best advantage to bring fine re- turns to its proprietor. The nucleus of this fine do- main was a pre-emption that Mr. Mounce took in 1886. He now devotes the large tracts to wheat, barley and other crops and raises fine Jersey cattle, having also operated a dairy for many years. He has made a praiseworthy success of his endeavors in the line of the business world and is deserving of credit not only in this particular field but also for the manly way in which he has conducted himself, and the integrity he has shown, always having the courage of his con- victions and not being afraid to show his principles.

Reverting to the details of his life, we note that Mr. Mounce was born in Linn county, Iowa, on April 22, 1854, being the son of Isaac and Priscilla Mounce, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. The father was born on April 23, 1824, and was a stockman and farmer. His parents, Smith and Elizabeth Mounce, were early pioneers of Iowa. The mother of our subject was born on February 27, 1831, and died in April, 1899. J. Smith remained at home and received his education from the country schools ; when he became of age took charge of the farm until he was twenty-five. Then he married and started for him- self. Rented a farm for a time and in the fall of 1879, he came to Clark county. Washington, where he bought land and tilled it for two years or more, then sold it and worked in a shingle mill and then came to Nez Perces county. It was March, 1882, that he landed here and with his brother, Eben, he farmed for three years. He took itp a preemption in the second year, which is a part of the home place now, as mentioned above. It was in 1886 that he removed to this place to remain and he has been here ever since.

On March 20, 1879, Mr. Mounce married Miss Mollie, daughter of George O., born on January 28, 1810. and Harriet (Wyckoff) Smith, born February I, 1825, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. Mrs. Mounce was born in Benton county, Iowa, in

J. SMITH MOUNCE.

MRS. J. SMITH MOUNCE.

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1861 and has the following brothers and sisters, Sam- tel S. and Hugh M., Nancy, Ellen Harris, Lida Ward. Mr. Mounce has brothers and sisters as follows: Isora, Eben, Ida, Clara Goodnight, Lafay- ette, Harriett Ruddell, Edith Ruddell, Effie May and Eva Gay, twins, who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Mounce there have been born the following children : Guy C., Beatrice, Carl R., and Virna Mil- dred. The two older children are attending the state normal at Lewiston. Mr. Mounce is a member of the M. W. A. and the R. N. of A. Mrs. Mounce also belongs to the last named order. He and his estim- able wife are members of the Christian church and they are devout supporters of the faith. In 1900 and 1902 Mr. Mounce was nominated for county commis- sioner by the Prohibition party. He is an advocate of good schools and always takes an active part in the advancement of the interests of his county. Mr. Mounce had three uncles on his mother's side and two on his father's who fought for the Union in the Civil war.

Mrs. Mounce's mother, who died on May 1, 1895, and her father, whose death occurred in 1897, came to Clark county, Washington, in 1879.

ROSS S. BABCOCK. This well known young business man has formed a partnership with George Horseman and they handle the Morrow hotel and bar, where they do a prosperous business and operate a house that furnishes good accommodations for the public.

Ross S. Babcock was born in Broadhead, Wiscon- sin, on September 27, 1876, being the son of George S. B. and Elmina (Mattock) Babcock. The father, a farmer and cooper, resides near Forest. He was born in Courtland county, New York, on August 20, 1834. He was a pioneer in Green county, Wisconsin, and his father, Reuben Babcock, a farmer in New York, was a captain and drill master in the war of 1812. Our subject's father was a soldier in the Civil war for four years and received an honorable dis- charge. The mother of our subject was born in Penn- sylvania ; her parents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Hayes) Mattock, natives all of Pennsylvania. Our subject grew to the age of twelve in Wisconsin and then the father sold out and came to Walla Walla, whence he came by team to Nez Perces county and on April 7, 1889, settled on his present place near Forest. Ross S., was reared and attended the com- mon schools here, after which he took a three years' course in the Adventist college of Walla Walla. In 1892, he came from the college and went to riding the range with stock. He also prospected and mined in the Deer creek camp and other places and still has properties here. Mr. Babcock also farmed and later formed the partnership mentioned above and is now operating the hotel and bar. He has two sisters and two brothers, George I., Charles R., Esther V. Olson, Florence Rice. Mr. Babcock is allied with the Re- publican party but is an independent thinker and

selects the man rather than the party. He is a warm advocate of good schools and all public enterprises that are calculated to bring prosperity and advance- ment.

EDSON D. BRIGGS, the big hearted, sociable and popular county surveyor of Nez Perces county and city engineer of Lewiston, is kept constantly in office on account of his excellent work, his fine ability, his com- prehensive and thorough knowledge and his efficiency and faithfulness in discharging any duty that is incum- bent upon him. These combined qualities, together with his integrity, sound principles, and clean walk have made him one of the leading men of the county and on account of his extensive work in the northwest, he is well known and prominent over a large field.

Edson D. Briggs was born in Franklin, Vermont, on March 8, 1851, being the son of Erasmus D. and Paulina (Truex) Briggs. The father was born in Franklin. Vermont. in 1812 and died in 1882, being from an old and prominent Vermont family. The mother was born in lower Canada in 1828 and died in 1861. Our subject was educated in the Vermont Uni- versity, paying especial attention to surveying and civil engineering. When twenty, his stirring spirit led him to the west and he was soon in government work in Washington. He surveyed all of Whitman, Asotin, and Adams counties, also much other lands. In 1882 he went to Garfield county and was promptly elected county surveyor on the Republican ticket, and he re- mained there in office until 1889. In that year he came to Lewiston and took a position on the govern- ment survey of the reservation, where he was engaged for four years. He also surveyed the battle grounds of the Nez Perces war on the Whitebird and other places. In 1898, he was nominated as county surveyor and was elected on the Republican ticket, although the ticket was turned down in many respects. At the close of that term, he was promptly elected and is still hold- ing that important position as also that of city en- gineer.

On March 20, 1880, at Lewiston, Mr. Briggs mar- ried Mrs. Georgia Carter, widow of Lewis M. Carter, whose father Mr. Benton is a Methodist preacher. Mrs. Briggs was born in Indiana, as were her parents. and she has the following brothers and sisters, Helen Johnson, Mary Johnson, Joel H., Mrs. W. F. Kitten- baugh. Mr. Briggs has one brother and one sister, Sewall, Bertha Anderson. One child has been born to this union, Grace Maurice Briggs, who graduated from the state normal school in Lewiston, Idaho, in June, 1903. Mr. Briggs is a thirty-second degree Mason and the youngest ever made, it being done by special dis- pensation when he was twenty-two, while the required age is thirty-five. Mrs. Briggs is a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Briggs had two uncles and cousins killed in the Civil war. His great-grandfather, Elias Tinexst, was born in 1772 and died one hundred and three years later. He read the declaration of independence on the fourth when he was one hundred years old. It was

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his desire to live to celebrate the one hundredth anni- versary of inpedendence but he died a little too soon, but being an aged and stanch patriot.

JAMES W. BANKS. A true exemplification of that thrift and industry that gives as its meed the grat- ifying success so prized by all, a man of energy and sound principles, a citizen of worth and patriotism, it is fitting to grant a review of the career of the esteemed gentleman whose name appears above.

James W. Banks was born in Kansas City, Mis- souri, on February 21, 1861, being the son of Absalom and Susan (Little) Banks. The father was born in North Carolina in 1826, farmed in Iowa and Missouri and settled in Nez Perces county in the fall of 1901. The mother was born in Henry county, Kentucky. Our subject was reared in Iowa and there received his edu- cation. His parents were his companions until he was twenty and then he began to step forth into the world for himself. He farmed in Iowa for a time and in 1895, removed to Missouri and farmed until October 26, 1901, when he settled on his present place about three miles southeast from Ilo. He has a quarter sec- tion of good land, has devoted himself to its improve- ment and takes great pride in having everything thrifty and in order.

On September 25, 1881, Mr. Banks married Miss Milley N., daughter of Warren and Evelyn ( Boulds) Phillips, natives of Greene county, Kentucky, on Feb- ruary 14, 1823, and May 11, 1831, respectively. Mrs. Banks has the following brothers and sisters, Dabney A., Ermine Myres, James, Richard, Lou, Mary E. Mr. Banks has the following named brothers and sisters: George W., Andrew, Isabelle Egerton, Mary Simmons, Cora J. Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Banks have been born eight children, Carrie Cox, Warren A., Myrtle E., deceased, Edith, Ethel, Albert, Lenore, Elias M. Mr. and Mrs. Banks are adherents of the Ad- ventist church and he is a Democrat in political alli- ances.

MATHIAS BUECHLER. This well-to-do and representative farmer of Nez Perces county is also one of the stanch and unswerving supporters of our free institutions, having demonstrated on the field of blood his love for the land of freedom which he has chosen as his own. Mr. Buechler was born in Luxem- burg, Germany, on January 2, 1832, being the son of Peter and Katherine (Stein) Buechler, also natives of Germany, where they repose in the cemetery in Lux- emburg. Our subject was educated in his native vil- lage and at the age of fifteen years started in life for himself, working for the farmers of the vicinity. He afterwards learned the cooper trade and also became a wagon maker and pump maker. At the age of nineteen years, he was ready for the new world, and according- ly came hither, locating first in St. Louis, where he turned his hand to various occupations for a time and then learned the machinist trade and worked for two

years in the shops, also ran an engine until 1884, in which year he came west to Nez Perces county and bought the quarter section where he now lives, five miles south from Genesee. He has given his attention to farming here for the intervening time, achieving good success. He has his farm well improved with fine house, barn, out buildings, orchard, etc.

The marriage of Mr. Buechler and Miss Gesine, daughter of Gearhard and Sophie (Hemi) Easan, was celebrated in 1863 and they have been blessed by the advent of the following children, Henry C., married to Minnie Quade, and living in St. Louis, Missouri ; George H., married to Cora McNare and living in Den- ver, Colorado; August W., Robert H., Sophie, the last three being at home with the parents. Mrs. Buechler's parents were natives of North Germany and came to America, locating in St. Louis, where their death oc- curred. Mr. Buechler is a member of the order, known as the Sons of Herman, Lodge No. 15, in St. Louis. He and his family affiliate with the Lutheran church.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 40

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