An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 51

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 51
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 51
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 51
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 51

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On May 16, 1884. in Milton, Oregon, Dr. Vadney married Miss Carrie C., daughter of Levi R. and Cecilia (Vanattin) Mock, natives of Albany county. New York. They are Holland Dutch extraction. Mrs. Vadney was born in Chico, California, in 1870. and has the following brothers and sisters : Jacob. John J., Fannie Kirkpatrick. Dr. Vadney has one brother and one sister, George E., Camilla V. Four children have been born to this union: George E., Augustus, Albert E., Bertha C., all at home. Dr.

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Vadney is a member of the I. O. O. F. and has passed all the chairs. He is also a member of the M. W. A. He is a Republican and active in the campaigns. In addition to his business mentioned above, the Doctor owns real estate in various places and is prosperous. He is and has been for some time a member of the school board and has always shown himself an advo- cate of good schools. He contributed seventy dollars towards the new school house and is ever found a pro- gressive and public minded citizen.

ROBERT E. L. HUCKABAY. 1897 marks the date when Mr. Huckabay bought the relinquishment to his present place and since that date he has been one of the progressive and leading farmers of his section. His farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres and lies about two miles north from Westlake. Mr. Huck- abay was born in Lake county, California, on April 15, 1863, being the son of Berry and Sarah (Milton) Huckabay, natives of North Carolina and born on August 28, 1818, and September 26, 1818, respectively. The father was a pioneer in Oregon in 1850, then went to California and in 1873 came to the vicinity of Col- fax, where he died in 1891. The mother died on April 4, 1892. Our subject was educated in California and Washington and grew to manhood in the latter place. He remained with his father until the latter's death and then took full charge of the home estate until 1897, the year of his advent to the reservation country. Since this year, he gave himself to the good work of improvement and has achieved good success in his labors.

On May 3, 1891, Mr. Huckabay married Miss Ida F. Burgess, who died on March 20, 1900. On No- vember 4, 1901, Mr. Huckabay married Miss Bar- bara, daughter of John and Mary ( Miller) Unzicker, who are mentioned in this volume. She has four brothers and six sisters. Mr. Huckabay has the fol- lowing named brothers and sisters: Oliver, Amelia, Catherine, Adeline, Emeline. Five children were born to the first marriage of Mr. Huckabay, Ethel, deceased, Robert and Edward, twins, Victor, Schuyler, de- ceased. Mr. Huckabay is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in political matters is allied with the Democrats.

FRANK KELLER. A good and substantial man, a patriotic citizen, a thrifty and industrious farmer, and one whose labors have been wisely bestowed for the development of this country, it is fitting that the sub- ject of this article be accorded consideration in the history of the county of Nez Perces.

Frank Keler was born in Tama county, Iowa, on October 3, 1866, being the son of Joseph and Sarah (Mericle) Keller, natives of Ohio. The father, born in 1844, was a pioneer to Iowa and now lives in Ala- bama, having wrought through life as a blacksmith. The mother's father, John Mericle, was a pioneer to Iowa. In 1881 the family removed to Cowley county,

Kansas, where the father took land and there our sub- ject grew to manhood and received the finishing part of his education in the common schools. When twenty-one he stepped from the parental roof and in- augurated independent action. He wrought at the stock business for four years and in 1891 sold out and came west to Elgin, Oregon. For a time he farmed there and then made another move, this time to the county of Latah, and settled in the vicinity of Palouse, where he farmed for six years. It was in 1898 that he came to the reservation and selected a homestead four and one-half miles east from Melrose. He has opened up a farm and has a good orchard and in addition to general farming Mr. Keller raises cattle. He is pros- perous and handles his business affairs with wisdom.

In June, 1893, Mr. Keller married Miss Lona, daughter of Granville and Leona (White) Long, na- tives of Indiana, and the father a farmer. Mrs. Kel- ler was born in Indiana, in 1874, and has three broth- ers, Cornelius, Schuyler and Clyde. Mr. Keller has the following brothers and sisters: Martin, Jacob, Manuel, Joseph, Emma Kimball, and Pearl Sanderson. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keller, Esther and Clara. Mr. Keller is a member of the MI. W. A., at Melrose. Mrs. Keller is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Keller is also a member of the school board and devotes time and attention to improv- ing the school facilities. He is a Democrat, but not bound by party ties, so that he feels at liberty to vote for the man he desires.

GEORGE S. HALL is an intelligent, capable and leading citizen of the vicinity of Gifford. He has made a good success in the affairs of life, has won many friends and has maintained a reputation unsullied and clean.

George S. Hall was born in Polk county, Oregon, on December 30, 1859, being the son of Edward C. and Margaret (Leasure) Hall. The father was born in Bureau county, Illinois, and died September 27, 1901. His father was a Kentuckian and his mother a native of Illinois. They came to Oregon with ox teams in 1846, bringing the father of our subject with them. A donation claim of one section was taken in Polk county, and Mr. Hall, Reason B., being his given name, gained title for his services in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. When Edward C. became of age, his father gave him eighty acres and he bought as much more and farmed for a number of years and then went to making wagons and blacksmithing. His wife was a native of Indiana, and now lives in Moscow, aged fifty-eight. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the district school and the Willamette Uni- versity. Following this he worked on the farm, also spent two years running an engine in Portland. Then in 1890 lie came to Moscow and for a time mined in the opal mines, but upon their giving out he bought a farm in 1893, west from Moscow, gaining title at a low figure on account of the depressed times. When the reservation opened he sold well and bought his present

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land, seven miles west from Gifford. He has good improvements, a fine orchard, raises flax and oats, and plenty of stock. Mr. Hall has four brothers, John E., a farmer near Moscow ; Henry R., a miner at Murray ; Charles C., a commercial traveler in Portland ; Ralph L., farmer near our subject.

On January 30, 1895, Mr. Hall married Miss Lil- lian Husted, a native of Illinois, the wedding occur- ring in Moscow. Two children, William and Ray- mond, have been born to them. Mrs. Hall has two sis- ters, Emma ; Kate, wife of J. H. Williams, at Kalispell, Montana. Mr. Hall is a member of the M. W. A., Paradise Camp, 563: also the I. O. O. F., at Mos- cow. He is a Republican and a bright man, active and interested in the questions of the day and always a champion for the bettement of the country.

EMERSON T. ROOT. Perhaps there will never be put on paper the exact descriptions of the try- ing times the early pioneers had in opening the western country for settlement. Although the reservation portion of our country was settled later in the pro- gress of development, still the same trying times and hardships were to be encountered as in other sections and the worthy subject of this article had his portion in this noble work. Suffering, self-denial, and ex- tremely arduous labors with deprivations, were the lot of him and his family, but it is with pleasure that we can record that at the present time he is one of the prosperous farmers and stockmen of the county ; his estate lies one and one-half miles north from Melrose.

Emerson T. Root was born in Evansville, Wiscon- sin, on August 18, 1864, being the son of William L. and Almira (Silverthorn) Root. The father was a shoemaker. born in Ohio, in 1840, was a pioneer to Kansas and died in 1894. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1843 and still lives in St. Louis. In 1870, the family went to Whiterock, Kansas, and two years later to Saint Joseph, Missouri. There our subject was educated and learned the shoemaker's trade, working at it for five years. It then became evident that for the sake of his health it would be necessary to have outdoor labor and accordingly he went to teaming and afterward associated himself with a wholesale hardware house. In 1888 Mr. Root came west to Colfax and engaged in the sawmill business. Later he was agent for the Singer sewing machine. On April 14, 1896, Mr. Root landed on his present place and soon he had his family settled. Being practically without means, he was forced to go to the more settled country and work, thus leaving the family alone. He had to pack his provisions in on horseback and the first winter, he had the great mis- fortune to lose his horses and the only cow and calf they possessed, but despite these trying times Mr. Root labored on and he and his faithful wife are now enjoying the rewards of their industry in plenty and prosperity. He handles hogs, sheep, and does a gen- eral farming business.

On July 3. 1886, Mr. Root married Mrs. Melinda Lowe, daughter of James and Margaret A. (Broyles) Speer. Mr. Speer died in the Civil war fighting for his country. His wife was born in 1832 and now lives in Harrison county, Missouri. Mrs. Root was born in southern Missouri and has one brother, William R., now in that state. She was married first to George W. Lowe and by that marriage has one son, Benjamin F., and one daughter, Margaret A. Mr. Root has the following brothers and sisters, Oliver E., Wo illiam L., Leroy, Charles F., Arthur P., and George F. Alr. and Mrs. Root are members of the Methodist church at Melrose and devout supporters of the faith they profess. Politically, Mr. Root is an independent Re- publican and is a progressive and enterprising citizen. His uncle, Emerson T. Root, gave his life for his country in the Civil war. Mr. Root was clerk of the school board and always strives for the betterment of educational facilities.

JOHN S. UNZICKER. This thrifty and well- to-do farmer is one of the venerable men who has settled in the reservation country. His estate of one- quarter section lies two and one-half miles north from Westlake and is well improved and provided with good, large residence and splendid outbuildings.

John S. Unzicker was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on May 21, 1829, being the son of John and Barbara ( Unzicker) Unzicker. The father was born in Germany, came to the United States in 1829 and died the same year. The mother was born in Germany in 1808. Our subject was reared by his grandmother and commenced the battle of life for himself when he was ten years old. He was taken to Ohio when four and there educated. He learned the cooper trade but when he was nineteen he went to Lee county, Iowa, and farmed there and in Illinois. When twenty-seven Mr. Unzicker went to Hickory county, Missouri, broke the wild sod and settled to farming. At the breaking out of the war he returned to Davis county, lowa, then to Lee county, and finally went to Clark county, Missouri, was also in Cass county. He was in McPherson county and then in Linn, and in 1886 he came to Whitman county, Wash- ington. At the date of the opening of the reservation he came hither and settled on his present place. This was in the fall of 1895 and since then he has labored faithfully in farming and raising stock.

In Henry county, Iowa, on September 21, 1856, Mr. Unzicker married Miss Mary, daughter of John F. and Magdelene ( King) Miller. The father was a miller and farmer, born in Germany in 1801, came to the United States when a young man on a con- tract to work out his passage money after he got here, which he did. He died in 1871. The mother was also born in Germany. Mrs. Unzicker was born in Ohio, in 1839, and has the following brothers and sis- ters, Gideon, John, Isaac, Samuel, Joseph, Charles, Lydia, Sarah, Barbara. Mr. U'nzicker was an only child. The following named children have been born

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to Mr. and Mrs. Unzicker, Lydia, Gideon, William, Lavina, Samuel, Barbara, Emma, Ella, Charles, Clara. Our subject and his wife are members of the Men- nonite church. Mr. Unzicker is a member of the school board, is road overscer and has always been an advocate of good schools and progression generally.

GEORGE A. SMITH is one of the leading stock- men of Nez Perces county, as well as a heavy real estate holder. He has a farm of nearly one section, seven miles east from Lewiston, where the family home is, and also rents eight hundred acres in addition to this. Mr. Smith runs his cattle in the mountains in the summers and feeds them at the ranch in the win- ters. He has made a good success in this line of work and is a man of ability and energy. He raises barley and wheat on the farm and does a general farming business. He has a fine residence, good barns, and the property is one of the excellent ones of this section.

It is interesting to note the details of a successful life like this, and accordingly we append them. Mr. Smith was born in Pike county, Illinois, on August 22, 1860, being the son of Hiram R. and Nancy ( Al- kire) Smith. The father was born in Pike county, Illinois, in 1829, and died in 1873. The mother was born in Illinois also and died in 1863. Our subject remained at home with his father, the mother dying when he was very young. He gained a good educa- tion and at the age of thirteen the family removed to Vernon county, Missouri, this being in the fall of 1872, and six months later the father died. He had bought a tract of land there, but the family returned to the Illinois home, which they still owned. He remained there until eighteen and then came west in the fall of 1878. He went first to the Willamette valley and thence to Lewiston, landing here on November 2, 1878. He worked at different things until 1880, then took a position with the N. P. R. R. as fireman, and later be- came engineer ; then he operated an engine in a mill and in 1885 he began raising stock and farming. He took a homestead, which was the nucleus of his farm, and bought more land until he has as described above.

On November 14. 1886, in this county, Mr. Smith married Miss Alfreta, daughter of Robert and Eliza (Sewell) Inghram. The father was born in Holton, Maine, in 1837, and died in 1891. The mother was born in Miramichi, Canada, on August 30, 1842. Mrs. Smith was born in Holton, Maine, on October IO, 1870, and she has brothers and sisters as follows: John, Bernard, Robert L. and David. Mr. Smith has the following named brothers and sisters: Seldon, Robert, Hiram, Hilbert, Wesley Akers, Mrs. J. M. Edkins. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith there have been born five children, Laura, deceased; Arthur, also de- ceased ; Ernest, Dora and Helen. Mr. Smith is, a member of the I. O. O. F. and of. the W. W. In poli- tics he is allied with the Republicans. He has been a member of the Lewiston 'school board for eight years and is a warm advocate of good schools, and his efforts have done much in this direction in building up. Mrs.

Smith had two uncles in the war of the Rebellion, John Inghram, who died in the army, and Frank, who lost one leg. Mr. Smith is one of the enterprising, thrifty and sagacious citizens of our county and is the recipi- ent of the esteem and confidence of his fellows. Mr. Smith is a stockholder and director of the Idaho Trust Company, Lewiston. He is a candidate for county commissioner on the Republican ticket from the first district.

HON. LOUIS CLARK. This capable and influ- ential citizen of Nez Perces county is one of the pow- erful men whose talents have been turned to the pro- vision of sound legislation for the state of Idaho, be- ing at this time a member of the state senate from Nez Perces county. Mr. Clark is conceded to be the most powerful forensic orator on the floors of legislation in his state, and he has made a record that is highly appreciated not only by his constituents but also by all lovers of salutary and right laws.

Louis Clark was born in Hawkins county, Ken- tucky, on August 3, 1865, the son of William H. and Mary A. (Ray) Clark, whose ancestors had been resi- dents of that section for four generations. Mr. Clark is the eldest of three children and his father died while he was an infant. From that time forward, Louis helped his mother in the battles of life. In 1874, they came across the plains to Boise, Idaho, and in 1882, our subject came to Beeman and later settled in Gifford. In this latter place he gives his attention to mercantile pursuits in Gifford and handling his estate two miles west from Gifford. Mr. Clark has made a brilliant success in farming and raising stock and is one of the most substantial men of the county. He was reared amid the trying scenes of life in various localities and received his education from the common schools. In 1890, he became greatly interested in politics and in 1892, he was elected constable of the Potlatch district. In 1896, he was elected justice of the peace in the Lapwai precinct. In 1898, he was nominated as state senator but was defeated. In 1900, he was nominated again and that time he carried the day. In both races, he went far ahead of his party and although the county of Nez Perces is Republican, he won, being on the Democratic ticket. It was soon discovered that Senator Clark was the right man in the right place and the senate accorded him responsible positions. He is chairman of the committee on agri- culture and live stock, a member of the committee on rules, on highways, on bridges and ferries and he has been one of the most active and influential men of the senate. The success that Mr. Clark has won is en- tirely the achievement of a strong will, wisdom, in- tegrity and untiring activity in the various channels of business life and in the realm of politics, while also in educational matters he has always been a power for good.

Senator Clark is a member of the Reorganized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which organization is often confounded wrongly with the polygamous faction which Brigham Young establish-

HON. LOUIS CLARK.

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ed, but the two organizations are widely different and the church of our senator is stanchly opposed to the practices of the followers of Young.

On July 2, 1885, Louis Clark married Miss Ida M., daughter of J. A. and Susan (Herrington) Richard- son, natives of Missouri. The nuptials occurred in Juliaetta, Latah county. Mrs. Clark was born in Pendleton, Oregon. She had one brother, Isaac, killed in the Philippine war. He belonged to Company B, Idaho Volunteers. Another brother, John, was killed in an accident, and one brother, George, is living at Juliaetta farming. Mr. Clark has four brothers and two sisters living. We wish to mention that in ad- dition to the brilliant record that Senator Clark has made in legislation for his state, he has also demon- strated that he possesses excellent business and execu- tive ability and is a good financier. He has large tracts of real estate, handles about two hundred head of beef cattle annually, and has done a lion's share in the development of the resources of Nez Perces county.

JOSEPII H. DAY, an enterprising and success- ful farmer and stockman, residing on his estate of two hundred and forty acres, four miles north from Mor- row, has also achieved success in the work of the edu- cator and is one of the substantial and influential men of this section.

Joseph H. Day was born in Washington county, Oregon, on October 5, 1864, being the son of George C. and Sarah J. (Painter) Day. The father, a farmer and stockman, was born in Ohio, crossed the plains in 1850 with ox teams and settled in Oregon City. He put the first boat on the river above the falls, then farmed and taught school and in the 'sixties was sent to the legislature. He was a strong and influential Republican and did much to mould affairs in early days. He was also active in the Indian troubles in the 'fifties. The mother of our subject was born in Mis- souri and crossed the plains in 1851, with her parents. Her grandfather, Robert Moore, crossed the plains in 1838 and started the town of Linn City across the Willamette from Oregon City, which was later washed away. W. C. Painter figured prominently in the In- dian wars. Joseph C. Painter and two brothers were members of the Washington legislature. Our subject grew to manhood .in his native place and was edit- cated in the common schools and business college in Portland. Then he taught two years and removed to Kittitas county, Washington, where he taught four years, after which he went to Walla Walla, Whitman and other counties and worked with engineering corps for the Northern Pacific. In 1896, Mr. Day came to his present place and since that time has been engaged in farming and raising stock. He was nominated by the Democrats for county surveyor in 1898 but suffered the defeat of the party that year.

On October 7, 1888, in Ellensburg, Washington, Mr. Day married Miss Orlena, daughter of Casper B. and Elizabeth A. (Enochs) Fetters. The father was an artist as well as a farmer, and died in 1898. One

of his wood engravings among others attracted con- siderable attention in the World's Fair in Chicago. The mother was born in Illinois and still lives in Ellens- burg. Washington. Mrs. Day was born in Illinois in 1869, and has five brothers and two sisters, Carl B., Horatio, Freeman, Estella Elliott, Flora Dyer, Jo- scph, Ernest. Mr. Day has the following brothers and sisters, William R., Margaret Barstow, Jessie M. Adams, George P., Robert, Anna Andrews, Grace Schuster, Josephine Ford, John, Benjamin, Chester, Walter, Francis E. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Day, Jean, George C., John and Lydia M. Mr. Day is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Mos- cow, and the A. O. U. W. at Ilo.

ALFRED E. MILLER. This genial and affable gentleman, who with his faithful and pleasant wife have traveled on the journey of life for many years, and now as the golden years of their days are begin- ning to run apace. they have made themselves a home in the reservation country, .which for natural advan- tages is equal to any which has been developed and improved in a becoming manner.

Alfred E. Miller was born in Spring Mills, Penn- sylvania, on June 13, 1833, being the son of Jonas and Lydia . (Ettinger ) Miller, natives of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and born in 1801 and 1799 and died in 1876 and 1874, respectively. The father was a tailor but farmed some the latter part of his life. Alfred was educated and raised in his native place and when seventeen started for himself. He worked on the farm and one year later took up blacksmithing, which he followed for three years. Subsequent to that, we find him for eight years in a dry goods store and then he went to Colorado and mined three years. His next move was to Baker City, Oregon, and there he freighted and mined for fifteen years and came thence in 1877 to Dayton, Washington. That was the place of his toils on the farm until 1891, when he came to Genesee and bought land. Like the majority of the farmers in the gloomy vear of 1893, he went to the wall financially and when the reservation opened he came hither and selected his place, three miles west from Gifford. He had but a few cents in cash, and the opening of a new place was very slow, but he has labored on and now has a good home, plenty of stock, does a general farming business and is prospering. Mr. Miller has one brother, Charles, a tailor in Penn- sylvania, and four sisters, Catharine, deceased wife of Michael Keys : Ann, widow of Evan Evens, in Penn- sylvania ; Polly, widow of Lyons M. Hanna ; Marga- ret, single, living in Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the Baptist. He is a Republican and is active in the im- provement of the country and the development of its resources.

On April 19, 1867, at Lagrande, Oregon, Mr. Mil- ler married Julia Holbfield, widow of David Holbfield, and daughter of Theopholus and Elizabeth H. (Lech- man) Shaw, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Miller was

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born in Putnam county, Missouri, on June 26, 1838, and came to Oregon with her parents in 1865. She had nine brothers and sisters and all are dead but two, Sampson, in Okanogan county, Washington ; Daniel, in Baker City, Oregon. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller : Charles, at home ; Annie, wife of George M. White, near Culdesac ; Jane, wife of Charles Bateman, on the reservation ; Mary, wife of F. A. Schreifler, a farmer near Gifford. Mrs. Miller had one son by her former marriage, David, liv- ing near Clarkston, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are well respected people and are worthy of the esteem in which they are held. They have labored well to develop the western country and are deserving of the portion they have wrought out by their toils.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 51

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