An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 54

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 54
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 54
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 54
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 54

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).

Mr. Fritz is a man of excellent standing, has an untarnished reputation and is one of the substantial men of the county.

DOUGLAS V. DOWD. As a distinguished edu- cator of Nez Perces county, as well as a landowner, the subject of this review is to be noted as one of the successful and leading men of the reservation portion of the county and one whose life is above reproach and whose standing is excellent among his fellows.

Douglas V. Dowd was born in Vinton county, Ohio, on July 24. 1852, being the son of Jolin and Olive (Fuller) Dowd. The father was born in Ohio, in 1818, and died in 1895. His grandfather was one of the earliest pioneers to the territory of Ohio, having gone there in the eighteenth century. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio, and died in 1856. Douglas V. was reared on the farm, educated in the district schools and the Ohio University at Athens, the first university established west of the Allegheny mountains, the date of its inception being 1804. At seventeen Mr. Dowd began his career as an educator, and from the inception he manifested those qualities and the worth that have made him so successful in life's pathway, being especially endowed by nature with the qualifications that are requisite for the first class educator. In 1878 Mr. Dowd went to Kansas, settling in Wabaunsee county, where he operated a Republican newspaper for five years, it being a journal of distinct merit. He taught school for a number of years. It was in 1895 that Mr. Dowd determined to try the west and accordingly selected Nez Perces coun- ty as the point. He taught for several years and in 1897 took up the ranch which has become his home-

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stead. It lies about two miles southwest from Steele and the final proof was made in August, 1902. At the present writing Mr. Dowd is teaching in the Fletcher schools and, as is his characteristic methods, he is do- ing the best of work, being a conscientious instructor, and realizing that he is molding the minds of the ones who will soon take the responsibilities of our great government into their hands, either to carry it on to greater perfection or make sad failure where their an- cestors have done gloriously.

In 1884, while in Kansas, Mr. Dowd married Miss Clara M., daughter of S. A. and Cornelia J. ( Apple- gate) Gould, natives of New York, and the father a farmer and merchant. Mrs. Dowd was born in Sen- eca Falls, New York, in 1860. Mr. Dowd has the fol- lowing brothers and sisters: Francis M., in Ohio; Homer N., at Thompsonville, Michigan; John W., in Toledo, Ohio; Milton B., in Victor, Montana: Ralph P., in Illinois ; Mary Goff, in Zaleski, Ohio; Charlotte Timms, in Dundas, Ohio. Two children have been born to bless the happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dowd. Augustus G. and Lillian C., both at home. Mr. Dowd is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. order, and also belongs to the Phi Delta Theta, a col- lege fraternity. He is a Republican and active in the realm of politics, and in 1902 was a delegate to Boise at the Republican state convention.

ALBERT ODERKIRK. Portions of Nez Perces county are among the most excellent fruit producing sections in the northwest, and the enterprising gen- tleman mentioned above has a fruit farm among the best in this favored region. He is located about two and one-half miles northeast from Lewiston, owns land that is well irrigated and produces under his skillful husbandry an abundance of fruit of the best kind and all varieties.

Mr. Oderkirk was born in Granby, New York, on December 8, 1858, being the son of Isaac and Caroline (Weatherwax) Oderkirk, natives of New York and now living in Canada. The father was born in 1832. and the mother in 1836. Our subject was taken by his parents to the province of Ontario, Canada, when young, and there he received his education in the excellent schools of that province, attending mostly at Tanworth. He made several trips to his old home and at the age of twenty-six he settled in North Dakota, taking land near Wheatland. He farmed and raised stock for seven years, then sold out and went to Park Rapids, in Minnesota, where he operated a hotel for six years and prospered. His next move was to come west, and the fertile region of Lewiston attract- ing him, he purchased his present good place. To the culture of fruit he has given himself with good success since that time.

On June 6, 1883, Mr. Oderkirk married Miss Annie, daughter of William and Jane ( Stafford ) Haw- ley, natives of Canada. Mrs. Oderkirk was born in Sheffield. Canada, September 2. 1860, and she has

four brothers, George, Perry, John and Frank. Mir. Oderkirk has the following brothers and sisters : Venus, Eugene, Isaac, Stephen and Irvine. To Mr. and Mrs. Oderkirk there have been born the following named children, William M., Vera A., Isaac V., Jennie, Ray and Cora, all at home. Mr. Oberkirk is a member of the K. of P., and of the M. W. A. He had one uncle in the Civil war. Mr. Oderkirk is an advocate of good schools and churches and is now doing service on the school board of his district. He is a Democrat in politics, but is not partisan, and prefers to choose the best men and the sound principles regardless of party.

OSCAR PELTON. Among the successful and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen of the county of Nez Perces we should not fail to mention the name of the gentleman mentioned above, since he is one of the substantial men of the county, and is a real la- borer in the realm of upbuilding and advancement.

Oscar Pelton was born in Somerset county, Maine, on July 14. 1844, being the son of Matthew B. and Caroline ( Stevens) Pelton. The father was a farmer and lumberman in Maine, born in 1821, died in 1894, and served his country in the Civil war. The mother was born in Somerset county, Maine, in 1827, and still lives there. Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native place, remained at home engaged with his father until he was seventeen years of age, and then his young blood could not resist the call of Columbia to rally supporters for the defense of the flag and our government. He enlisted at the first call, in Company D, Thirtenth Maine Volunteers, and went with General Ben Butler to New Orleans, alsp served under Banks in the Red River campaign. He served three years and then received his honorable dis- charge and returned to his home. But he had for- feited his health in the struggle and has more or less suffered since from the troubles contracted in the war. At the age of twenty-three he removed to La Crosse, Wisconsin, remaining one year in the lumber business. He next bought land in Trempealeau county, the same state, and settled down to farming. After seven years he located in Wadena county, Minnesota, and took land and his parents followed him in 1876. He was one of the pioneers there and sixteen years were spent in tilling the soil in that county. Then he went to St. Cloud, and in 1895 came to Idaho for his health. He has been much benefited by the change and is now en- joying better health than for some time previous. He located two miles northeast from Lewiston and gave his attention to general farming and raising stock.

In August, 1867, Mr. Pehon married Miss Bar- bara, daughter of S. R. and Ann ( Fox) Bates, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Pelton has two brothers, Timothy and Hanson, both in Wisconsin. Mr. Pelton has the following named brothers and sisters : Albert, in St. Cloud, Minnesota: Ernest, in North Dakota; Sarah Pelton, in Canada : Hiram and La Forest, in Alaska : U. S., in Colfax, Washington.

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To Mr. and Mrs. Pelton there have been born the fol- lowing children: Loreda and Minnie, in Missoula ; Ernest, at home ; Fred and Eugene, in Spokane; Lois, Gladys and Harry, at home. Mrs. Pelton is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Pelton is a Republican and takes an active part in political matters. It is of note that Joel Pelton, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, was a soldier in the Revolution and served under Washington in many campaigns, being present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He saw Lafayette and other great men of that day. After the war he took up land in Maine, where he raised his family and lived to the good old age of one hundred and six years.

EDWARD DANIELS. A very prosperous and successful farmer and stock raiser, having a fine es- tate two miles east from Chesley, our subject is deserv- ing of being classed with the leading and influential men of this section, and as such we accord him space in the history of his county.

Edward Daniels was horn in Devonshire, England, October 14, 1850, being the son of Edward and Mary (Eastman) Daniels, natives of England, and born in 1805 and 1814, and died in 1867 and 1878, respectively. Edward grew to young manhood in England and re- ceived most of his education there; however, he attend- ed school some in Canada. In 1869 he came to London, Canada, and worked at railroading for a year, then went to St. Thomas and rented a farm on Lake Erie, where he continued for nine years. In February, 1889, Mr. Daniels came to Colton, Washington, and rented land, doing farming on a large scale. He was lexceed- ingly prosperous and was making lots of money. The wet year of 1893 and the following panic stranded him, as it did everyone else, and in May, 1896, he sought out his present place on the reservation. He brought the family the following year and since that time has devoted himself to general farming and raising stock. He has fine cattle, horses and hogs, and is a thrifty farmer who is rewarded with annual dividends that are gratifying.

On March 21. 1878, Mr. Daniels married Miss Margaret Dores, and three children have crowned the happy event, James Edward, a Methodist minister at Colton ; Olive Lenora, attending college at Salem, Ore- gon ; Frank Raymond, in Manitoba. On October 7, 1890, Mrs. Daniels was called hence by death.

On March 21, 1900, Mr. Daniels married Miss Effie E., daughter of John and Julia A. (Chamber- lain) Smylie. The father is a wagon maker and was born in Goddridge, Ontario, in 1840, and now lives in this county. His wife was born in New York, in 1843, and is still living. Mrs. Daniels was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1875. She attended the Lewis- ton Normal School and was a prominent teacher for five years. She has the following brothers and sisters : Mina B. Quillin; Bertha, deceased; Julia M. Lane ; Jennie A. Sargent; Elizabeth, deceased; John H .; Josephine ; and George E. Mr. Daniels has the fol- lowing brothers and sisters : Mary A. Whitfield,

Eliza Davis ; Elizabeth, William, John and James, all deceased. One child, Elizabeth, has been born to this second marriage. Mr. Daniels is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and his wife belong to the Methodist church. Mr. Daniels is an intelligent laborer for good schools and also for the improvement of roads. His farm is one of the finest, even of this excellent section, and the improvements are entirely commensurate with the natural fertility of the soil, and altogether the es- tate is a model. Mr. Daniels handles considerable stock and raises diversified crops. He has a half sec- tion of timber land in Oregon, in addition to his farm here. Mrs. Daniels' grandfather, Chamberlain, was a veteran of the Civil war and now has a good pension. Her great-grandfather, Barnes, was one of the first advocates of woman suffrage in New York.

THOMAS J. WIMPY. Although the subject of this sketch was located in a state where much of the sentiment was strongly in favor of the Rebellion, still when the critical time came for action he boldly and with a courage born of real conviction enlisted in Com- pany F, Second Arkansas Cavalry, on the Union side, the date being 1863, and under General Sanborn fought the battles of right. He was in the conflicts of Boone- ville, Big Blue, Independence and many skirmishes, and assisted to run Price out of Missouri. He served in- that state and in Arkansas mostly. He was honor- ably discharged in July, 1865, and is a member of the G. A. R. in Latah, Washington.

Thomas J. Wimpy was born in Union county, Georgia, on September 20, 1846, being the son of Aaron and Hannah Wimpy, natives of North Carolina. When our subject was six the family removed to Ben- ton county, Arkansas, and there received a good com- mon schooling. Then came the enlistment noted above, which speaks volumes for his loyalty, as he was but a lad of seventeen. After the war he resided a time in Missouri and then returned to Arkansas, where he was married, on June 27, 1866, to Mary A. Ander- son. Her parents, Andrew B. and Adelia (Dickens) Anderson, were natives of Tennessee and Georgia, re- spectively, and were married in the former state. Then they removed to Lumpkin county, Georgia, where Mrs. Wimpy was born, on June 17, 1844. Her parents crossed the plains in 1877 to Latah, Washington, and there her father died in August, 1899, in his seventy- seventh year. Mr. Wimpy and his wife started across the plains in 1876 with teams, but at Cheyenne, as the Indians were hostile. they took train to Kelton, and then came to the vicinity of Latah. No settlers were there, except his brother, Major Wimpy, and one or two scattering ones. Our subject engaged in farming and did well until the panic, when he suffered financial loss, as did all others. In the fall of 1897 he came to his present location, about five miles northeast from Nezperce, and here his labor and wisdom have given him a goodly competence. He has comfortable and tasty improvements and has been one of the progress- ive and substantial citizens. Mr. Wimpy and his wife

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are devout members of the Christian church and their lives are exemplary and upright. Six children have been born to this household, Amanda J., wife of E. M. Nelson, of Nezperce ; Sarah B., wife of W. M. Poteet, of Nezperce; Eva M., wife of Arthur Boswell, near Nezperce ; Minnie E., Aaron A., James W. Mrs. Wimpy's mother is living with her, aged seventy-eight.

J. TELFORD ORBISON. No man is better known in Nezperce or more popular than the genial, whole-souled and capable gentleman whose name ap- pears above. He is the pioneer merchant of the town, has labored with untiring interest for its welfare and upbilding steadily since its start, and is now one of the substantial and capable business men.

J. T. Orbison was born in Miami county, Ohio, on November 9, 1841, being the son of Alexander N. and Mary (Ayers) Orbison. The father was a farmer until 1841, then went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, then to an Indian trading village, where he entered the com- mission business. He built warehouses, operated a canal, building many boats, and also built twenty-five miles of plank roads four directions out of the village. About this time he secured the establishment of some of the business houses that were the means of making the city what it is today. He was exceedingly pros- perous and amassed a splendid fortune. Owing to great generosity to friends, and some heavy losses, however, his estate was much smaller at the time of his death. But even then it was a handsome amount to each one of the family. About 1882 he sold his inter- ests in Fort Wayne and went to Sturgis, Michigan. Although he was retired from active business there, he built an elevator with his youngest son and was known as a prominent and prosperous man until his death, in 1896. His parents were natives of Randolph county, Virginia, and of English descent. The moth- er of our subject was born in Ohio, on September 28, 1818, her father being a physician and both of her par- ents natives of Orange, New Jersey.

Reverting again more particularly to our subject, we note that the foundation of his education was laid in the schools in Fort Wayne, and then he went to col- lege in Oxford, Ohio. While in his sophomore year the war broke out nd he promptly laid aside the books for the musket, and enlisted in Company E, Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After his three months of service expired he took a place in the quartermas- ter's department and remained there until the close of the war. Then he went to Sturgis, Michigan, entered the grocery business and later railroaded on the Fort Wayne road. Next we see him in Frankfort, Ken- tucky, in the boot and shoe business, whence he went to Louisville in the commission business until 1879. Then, on account of his wife's health, he went again to Michigan, this time taking a station at Alma, on the Saginaw Valley & St. Louis railroad. Then he re- moved to Saginaw, Michigan, taking the position of cashier of the Michigan Central for five years. It was in 1891, when Mr. Orbison came to Coeur d'Alene and

opened a gents' furnishing establishment. Two years later he removed to Moscow and one year after that he was in Denver, whence upon the opening of the reserva- tion he came to Nezperce and opened a general mer- chandise establishment. He has continued in business steadily since and has always labored for good schools, good roads, and, in fact, all things that would build up the town.

Mr. Orbison married Miss Aubrey Van Dervanter, whose parents were natives of Louisville, where they died. The wedding occurred on October 8, 1878. Mr. Orbison has two brothers deceased and two sisters living, Millie, wife of William D. Van Devanter, a journalist in Chicago; Lucy B., wife of Ira Pendleton, a retired capitalist in Los Angeles. Mrs. Orbison has three brothers, Silas, in St. Louis ; Charles and Robert, in Memphis, Tennessee. She has one sister, Mary, wife of George W. Cline, a leading capitalist in Louis- ville. Mr. Orbison is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 56, in Nezperce, being treasurer since its organization. He is also a Mason, holding his mem- bership in the Knight Templar Commandery, No. 4, in Moscow. In political matters Mr. Orbison is a strong Republican, and is an intelligent and potent factor in that realm.

EZEKIEL LUCAS. A public minded, progress- ive, upright and exemplary man, a thrifty and pros- perous farmer, a good neighbor and a loyal friend, we are pleased to grant to the subject of this article a rep- resentation in his county's history.

Ezekiel Lucas was born in Fremont county, Iowa, on April 21, 1861, being the son of John and Lucinda (Keeler) Lucas. The father was born in Ohio, in 1821, came as one of the earliest pioneers to Fremont county, Iowa, and now lives in Palouse. The mother was born in Indiana, in 1836, and died in 1899. Ezekiel was reared and educated in his native place and re- inained helping his father until twenty-three. Then he farmed for himself in Woodbury county, Iowa, and in 1884 came to Washington and settled in Palouse. He took up the lumber and saw milling business, but in 1887 he returned to the east and in time went to St. Louis and there learned the machinist trade. In 1898 he determined to see Klondike and got as far as Port- land, when he was led to turn aside and wrought at his trade in Seattle. He was very successful in this line, and in 1901 he came to hiis present place, which he purchased. He has improved the farm in fine shape, has a neat and comfortable house, a good orchard and a splendid barn, with outbuildings and all necessary utensils for the labor of the estate.

In 1891 Mr. Lucas married Miss Clara, daughter of Henry and Josephine (Elkins) Peck, natives of Vir- ginia. The wedding occurred in St. Louis. Mr. Peck was an architect and builder. Mrs. Lucas was born in the Cherokee Nation in 1859, at Fort Gibson, and has one sister, Minnie Wardinski, living in Chicago. Mr. Lucas has brothers and sisters as, follows : Henry, Riley, Lee, Lizzie Brown, Clara Boatman, Ruth Smith

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and Samantha Perkins. To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas two children have come to gladden their home, Arthur and Lottie. Mr. Lucas is a Democrat and is of sufficient independence to vote for the man and not to be tied to party tenets regardless of his own opinion. : He has always been an advocate of good schools and is doing much for the betterment of educational facilities, while also he labors hard for general improvement and advancement.

ARTHUR E. MISNER. Few men have the sta- bility and perseverance to stem the tide of life in busi- ness enterprises when they have met total loss, but the subject of this article, a well known and highly re- spected farmer and stockman, two and one-half miles northwest from Melrose, has displayed this kind of courage and doubly so has he manifested tenacity of purpose and determination to achieve success, for twice, by outside circumstances, he has been a loser of his en- tire property. Such circumstances have but brought out the real metal of the man, and Mr. Misner is now one of the most substantial and capable men of our section.

Arthur E. Misner was born in Mount Morris, Illinois, on January 3, 1851, being the son of Chris- topher and Cordelia (Clark) Misner. The father was born in Indiana, in 1822, and died in 1889. He was a pioneer in Illinois, and was on the ground of Chicago before the town was thought of. He operated as a merchant and in 1879 settled near Spokane and took up the stock business. The mother was born in Ohio, in 1820, and is now living with our subject. Arthur E. left home at the early age of thirteen, and made his way, gaining a classical education in the Willamette University at Salem, Oregon, entirely by his own ef- forts. Following that excellent achievement, he taught for five years, but discovering that his health demand- ed more out-door exercise, he went to the Big Bend country in Washington and took up stock raising. When Spokane was starting, in 1880, Mr. Misner opened a livery stable there and took the contract of carrying the mail to Okanogan. He also drove the first four-horse team to the Salmon river mines, carry- ing a load of miners. Aside from Mr. Glover, our subject had the first livery stable in Spokane. He did weli until the big fire in 1889, and then suffered the loss of everything. Then he prospected in the Okanogan country and soon we see him near Sprague farming four hundred acres, but the wet year of 1893 again swept him clean from his property. It was 1895 that Mr. Misner came to the reservation and took his present place. Here he has again made a good suc- cess, and is now well among the leaders of this section.

At Sprague, Washington, in 1893, Mr. Misner mar- ried Miss Mary, daughter of William and Anna Swan- nack, natives of England but immigrants to the United States from Australia. Mrs. Misner was also born in Australia, and she has two sisters and nine brothers. Mr. Swannack is a large fariner near Sprague. Mr. Misner has two brothers and two sisters : Willis. a blacksmith in Spokane : Henry, a merchant at Sprague ;

Mary Melcher. in Spokane county ; Emma Bowerman. in Republic, Washington. The following children have been born to our subject and his estimable wife: Mildred, Helen, Dorothy, Ladru R. and William. Mr. and Mrs. Misner are members of the Methodist church, and in politics Mr. Misner is an active Republican and a stanch helper of his friends in the conventions. Mr. Misner is a member of the school board and evinces a zeal for good schools and has taught one term here. He has a fine farm, well improved, has just completed a tasty residence of seven rooms, and other improve- ments in proportion, while raising grain and stock occupy his attention. Mr. James Clark, the maternal grandfather of our subject, is one hundred years old, and is said to be the oldest Mason in America. He dwells in Quincy, Illinois.

FRED M. MANNING. This well known pioneer, and successful stockman is now a leading business man of Lewiston, having in company with his son- in-law, Nathan Branch, rented a laundry, where they are doing a good business.

He was born in Milford, Maine, on June 8, 1858, being the son of George A. and Susan E. (Wilber) Manning. The father is a real estate dealer in Lewis- ton, and was born in Maine in 1838. The mother was born in Boston in 1839. Our subject came to Idaho with his parents in 1869 and the father took a preemp- tion at Central Ferry, which he still owns and is known all over as the Manning homestead. At the age of six- teen Fred M. started in the stock business for himself. which he has continued ever since. He keeps his stock wherever he finds the best range, in Kootenai county and other places. He was in company with George White on the start. At the breaking out of the Nez Perce war he went as scout for the government under General Gatley and Lieutenant Bowman. In the Ban- nock war of 1878 he was with General Howard when they chased the Indians all over the country. He was at the Malheur reservation when eighty surrendered and took the first gun from them. Mr. Manning con- siders Lieutenant Bowman one of the most able and faithful officers in the west at that time. Mr. Man- ning was in the heat of these struggles and did com- mendable and valiant service. He found the bodies of Monday, Grosgrove and Hailey, brother of Hon. John Hailey, whom the Indians had killed. and buried them, chiseling the name of each on a granite rock beneath which they were killed. He also found the bodies of Crook and the man with him, who were killed by the savages. Mr. Manning's father organized the California Hundred during the Civil war, went east with them as their major and fought in that war, they being the only ones that went east for that purpose.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 54

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