An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 57

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 57
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 57
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 57
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 57

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On March 1, 1901, Mr. Bliesner married Miss Nettie, daugher of Mathias and Ellen Henderson, natives respectively of Ireland and Canada, and who came to Spokane county in 1890. The father died in 1899 and the mother is dwelling near by on the reser- vation. Mr. Bliesner is a man of excellent standing In the community, has maintained a first class repu- tation and is the recipient of the friendship of all who know him. He is a charter member of the M. W. A.

AUGUST LARSON. The grand old motto, "What is worth doing is worth doing well," has been exemplified in the career of the subject of this article and it is with pleasuree that we are privileged to put in the abiding chronicles of his county an epitome of the same, since also he has done much for the advance- ment of the county's interests and has conducted him- self in a commendatory manner here.

August Larson was born in Sweden on June 30, 1861, being the son of August and Carolina (Blom- christ) Larson. The father was a native of Sweden, farmed there and is still living, although born in 1828. The mother was born in 1833 and is still living. August attended school and worked on the farm until 1879. when he bade farewell to home, severed family ties and came to America. Landing in New York, he went thence to Chicago and worked on the Douglas pike for a year and then went to Iowa, where he farmed for ten years. He did well and accumulated a good property and in 1890 he decided to come west. On May 3Ist of that year, he landed

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

in Nez Perces county and took up a preemption in Tammany hollow. He improved and tilled it until 1899, then sold and bought his present place, twelve miles southeast from Lewiston. He has a good estate, well improved, a good band of cattle on Salmon creek. and other property. He has been prospered in his labors on account of his industry, his wise manage- ment and his keen foresight in business matters.

In 1885 Mr. Larson married Miss Walker, who was born in Scotland in 1865 and came to America when sixteen years of age. To them have been born six children: Albert, August, Fred, George, Bob and Grace. Mr. Larson has brothers and sisters named as follows : Axtel, Oscar, Amel, deceased, Emma, Alma, deceased. The living ones are in Sweden. Mr. Lar- son is affiliated with the Masonic order and with the M. W. A. He is road supervisor and has been for seven years. He has also been a member of the school board. In political matters, he is a Democrat and an influential factor in this realm. Mr. Larson is a warm advocate of good government, good schools, good roads, and good churches, and for all these worthy matters he labors faithfully.

ZEPHANIAH A. JOHNSON. It is with pleas- ure that we are enabled to grant in this history a re- view of the leading business man and prominent mem- ber of society whose name appears above, and who is proprietor of the largest flour mills in the county.

Mr. Johnson was born in Benton county, Iowa, on February 28, 1868, being the son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Hardinger) Johnson, natives respectively, of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The father was a farmer and carpenter and later was a faithful preacher in the German Baptist church. Our subject was educated in the native place and labored with his father until twenty-three. Then he bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres for himself and after cultivating it six years, came to the reservation. Two years after it opened he bought the improvements of a man, added materially in erecting greater and bet- ter improvements and then filed and sold it three years later as a relinquishment. He then erected a large flour mill in Nezperce, it being of seventy-five bar- rels capacity daily, and equipped with all the modern and up-to-date machinery known, and it is one of the finest plants in the northern part of the state. In June, 1901, MIr. Johnson completed a fine two-story residence on the hill overlooking the town, and he supplied the home with a three-story observatory tower, that makes the place doubly attractive. It is one of the finest places in the county and is made at- tractive and beautiful by the taste and tact of Mrs. Johnson, who presides with graciousness. In addition to the properties mentioned, Mr. Johnson has a fine quarter section of land one-half mile from the town, which he utilizes as headquarters for his industry of raising hogs, which he is building up in good shape, thus making a market at home, as he purchases many each year.

The marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Emma A., daughter of Jacob B. and Sallie ( Arnold) Lehman, who are deceased, was solemnized on March 4, 1891. Mrs. Johnson is a native of Benton county, Iowa. To them have been born four children, Charles Clifford, Murrel, Ray and James W. Mr. Johnson has three brothers and three sisters, William F., George R., James M., Elma Jones, Olive Cox, Mary Jorgans. Mrs. Johnson has two brohers and four sisters, Jacob, George L., Rebecca Fletcher, Nannie Pike, Sadie, Lydia.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the German Baptist church and are devout supporters of the faith, being also consistent in their representation of the denominational teachings in practical life. In Octo- ber, 1902,' Mr. Johnson suffered the loss of his fine home by fire.

OREN L. DICKINSON. In addition to han- dling a fine tract of land which Mr. Dickinson secured on the reservation by the homestead right, he has, since 1901, been operating a drug store at Melrose, where he is working up a good patronage. He is a man of good standing and has labored for the advance- ment of the interests of the country and is a progressive and patriotic citizen.

Oren L. Dickinson was born in Oswego, New York, on August 12, 1840, being the son of Ru- dolphus and Margaret K. (Coplin) Dickinson. The father was a merchant and died in 1893, while the mother was born in Michigan. Oren was raised by his grandfather Coplin, until ten, his father being in California, and then the father came home and took him to Davenport, Iowa, where he received his edu- cation. Oren remained with his father until he was eighteen and then started out in the world for him- self. Three years were spent in traveling to various places and then he setled in Dixon, Scott county, Iowa, and took a mail contract. In September, 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Ninth Iowa, and served principally on scout detachments in Arkansas. After three years of faithful service, he was discharged at Davenport and now is the recipient of twelve dollars per month from the government. Following the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits with his brother Arthur for two years in Calamus, Iowa. In 1873 he took a homestead near Harrison, Arkansas, and two years later returned to Iowa and took up the tinner's business. It was in 1882 that he retired from that and migrated to Palouse, Washington, where he continued the tinner's work in connection with a preemption in Latah county. That was his home for fourteen years and then upon the opening of the reservation, he came hither and took his present place, which he is handling in partnership with his son.

In Scott county, on September 9, 1860, Mr. Dick- inson married Miss Susan, daughter of John and Margaret (Anfinson) Larson, natives of Norway. Mrs. Dickinson was also born in Norway, on March 13, 1844, and came to the United States with her par- ents in 1856. She was well educated before coming to

ZEPHANIAH A. JOHNSON.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

this country. The parents settled in Illinois and then came to Iowa. She has three brothers; Louis, Anfin, and John. Mr. Dickinson has one brother, Arthur, living in Missouri, and one half-brother, Frank Dick- inson, in Vineland, Washington. To our worthy sub- ject and his estimable wife there have been born the following named children: Rudolphus S., in Iowa ; Joacquin, in Nez Perces county ; Alfred, at home ; Donacelia, wife of W. R. Skey; May V. Yarbrough ; Sophia, wife of Jesse J. Wright; Melrose, Arthur F. and Chester O., both at home. Mrs. Dickinson is a faithful member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Dick- inson is an adherent of the Republican party and takes a very active part in the campaigns. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution and this son is not a whit behind in patriotism.

ALOIS KACHELMEIR was born in the east- ern part of Germany, on June 25, 1856, being the son of Joseph and Catherine Kachelmeir, both natives of Germany. The father, a musician, was justice of the peace in Germany for sixteen years. In 1857 they came to New York, and thence to New Ulm, Minne- sota, where the father secured land and farmed. Our subject grew to manhood on the farm and was edu- cated in both the German and English schools. On October 23, 1888, in Renville county, Minnesota, Mr. Kachelmeir married Miss Mary Gaurahy, whose parents were born in Ireland, but she was born in Renville county, on May 1, 1871. In 1893 Mr. Kachelmeir came to Spokane and farmed near Trent. Upon the opening of the reservation in the fall of 1895, he immediately came hither and selected his present farm about two miles northeast from Nezperce. It is one of the very choicest farms in this section of the country and has been handled in a very skillful manner by the owner. He has a good house, a choice orchard and all outbuildings and improvements necessary for carrying on the estate. Mr. Kachelmeir has shown himself to be an honest, industrious, and upright man, a worthy citizen and one whose labors have always been for substantial improvement and the building up of the country. His example in first class farming has been of great benefit as a fine practical object lesson to the new comers on the reser- vation and it has stirred the spirit of emulation in many and the general result has been of value to the country.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kachelmeir. Joseph, Alois, Cecelia, Mary, Bridget C., and Ralph. Mr. Kachelmeir and his estimable wife are members of the Catholic church, while he is a mem- ber of St. Joseph's Union of Renville county, Min- nesota.

SILAS JOHNSON. A capable and upright man, whose life is consistent with his faith and who has won and retains the confidence and esteem of all who know him, it is quite within the province of this vol-

ume that our subject should be represented in the bio - graphical portion thereof.

Silas Johnson was born in Greene county, Penn- sylvania, on January 29, 1846, being the son of Zepha- nia and Rachel (\'lery) Johnson. Our subject was educated and grew to manhood in his native place, and for fifty-two years he dwelt on the old home place, within three miles of where his father had been born in 1812. On July 8, 1875, at the native place, Mr. John- son married Miss Nannie, daughter of John and Maria (Lockard) Rudabaugh, natives of Pennsylvania and residents of Westmoreland county, where Mrs. John- son was born on May 13, 1854. Mr. Johnson followed farming and raising stock there until 1898, when he came on the long journey to Nezperce, landing here on March 31, 1898. He soon bought the relinquish- ment to his present place and settled down to make a home. The land was wild then, but he has it all culti- vated now, well fenced and adorned with a fine eight- room house, large and substantial barn and all acces- sories needed on a well regulated farm. Mr. Johnson is one of the thrifty and prosperous farmers of the country and is of exceptionally good standing. He and his wife and their children are all members of the well known German Baptist church, with the excep- tion of Howard, and are devout supporters of the faith. Six children have been born to this happy home, name- ly : Leslie, married to Gertrude Young : Alice, wife of David John; Melvin, married to Daisy Center ; Ethel, wife of Peter Fike; Pearl and Howard, both at home. Mr. Johnson has always evinced the keenest interest in advancing the educational facilities of the land where he has dwelt, as also in the general progress and sub- stantial development of the country.

SAMUEL W. MARSHALL. Located at what was once known as the Beeman stage ranch, abont one mile north from Lookout, is this prosperous far- mer, as well as teacher of vocal music, in which line he has been blessed with abundant success, being endowed by nature for the fine art, and the subject of this sketch is entitled to representation in the history of Nez Per- ces county.

Samuel W. Marshall was born in Newton county, Missouri, on April 2, 1854, being the son of Elias M. and Rebecca ( Sutherland) Marshall. The father was a farmer and minister in the church of Christ. He was born in Illinois in 1831, and died on March 5, 1890. He was a pioneer in Newton and Jasper coun- ties, Missouri, also in Bourbon county, Kansas. He was a scout in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, enlisting in the fall of 1861 and participated in the battles of Prairie Grove and Cane Hill. Being discharged on account of sickness he soon joined the militia and assisted to chase Price out of the country. The mother of our subject was born in Indiana in 1838 and is now living in Joplin, Missouri ; her father was one of the earliest pioneers of Newton county, Missouri. When Samuel was seven the family went to Fort Scott, Kansas, and there he was raised and educated. Returning to New-

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ton county, he soon went into the mines in the vicinity of Joplin and then took up farming. He had received a technical training in music in the meantime and commenced to give instruction in vocal music. In 1888 he sold out and came to Moscow, where he rented land extensively until 1893, doing well until that "wet vear." Losing heavily, he then went as foreman for the Farmers' Warehouse at Jewell. Four years later he took a position as weigher for the Tacoma Grain Company at Kendriek and after two years of service he came to Nez Perces county. He located on the Cottonwood for a time and in 1900 he came to his present place, which he intends to farm to fruit and grasses.

On December 25, 1876. in Joplin, Missouri, Mr. Marshall married Miss Mary M., daughter of Abram and Rebecca (Henry) Shira, of German extraction and born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Mrs. Marshall was born in lowa, on October 26, 1856, and has two brothers and one sister, George M., Emma Blankinship, John H. Mr. Marshall has the following brothers and sisters: Elizabeth Wolf, Margaret L. Hooper, Cyrus A., Martha J. Garrison, Seth W., de- ceased, Edward E., Schuyler C., Ira S., deceased, Fredrick and Perry D. Eight children have been the fruit of this happy union: George A., in Moscow ; James C., deceased : Hattie J. Keeney, in Rosedale, Washington ; Ida R., deceased ; Minnie A., a musician in Rosedale : Charles L., deceased ; William O., Mary G. Mr. Marshall is a member of the W. of W. at Lookout. He is also a sehool trustee and labors faith- fully for the improvement of the schools. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are consistent members of the Church of Christ. Mr. Marshall was the last postmaster at Beeman.

LONZO McWILLIS. The reservation portion of Nez Perces county is the newest portion in the northern part of the state, its settlement dating from 1896. Among the later ones to settle on this desirable section of land is the subject of this sketch, who bought his present estate, about five miles northwest from Culdesac. Mr. MeWillis is a substantial man of ability and is improving his place in fine shape and is counted one of the progressive and enterprising men of the county.

Lonzo McWillis was born in Port Oxford, Oregon, in 1869, being the son of William and Mary E. (Dougherty) MeWillis. The father was born on the ocean while his parents were coming from Scotland, in 1836. He was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and was a professional cook on the Ohio river steamboats. He died in 1887. The mother was born in Iowa in 1847 and in 1849 her father crossed the plains to Oregon, bringing the family in 1852, with ox teams. His name was Nathan Dougherty, he was born in Indiana and he married Lydia Rickard, a native of New York. Our subject remained at home with his parents until he had reached his majority, and then he migrated to eastern Oregon, taking up the sheep business in Grant. Cook. and Gilham counties. In

1899 he sold his possesions there and came to Nez Perces county, Idaho. As mentioned above, he bought his land instead of taking it as a homestead. Immedi- ately Mr. McWillis went to work in improving the estate. He built a beautiful modern house and soon after moving in it burned to the ground. At the present time he is engaged in erecting a commodious barn and his estate is being improved accordingly in other lines.

Mr. McWillis is the originator of a new kind of flax which is lighter colored, earlier, produces more seed to the acre, and yields more oil to the pound than the ordinary flax. On five square rods of ground seventy-five pounds were raised and the test shows the white flax to yield at least sixteen one-hundredths of a pound more oil per bushel than the average variety.

On November 19, 1894, at The Dalles, Oregon, Mr. MeWillis married Isabella, daughter of Jason R. and Mary C. Butler. Mrs. McWillis was born in Lynn county, Oregon, in June, 1871. She has three brothers and five sisters, while Mr. MeWillis has two sisters and six brothers. Two children have been born to this happy marriage, Leonard M. and Mabel E. Po- litically Mr. McWillis is a Republican and takes the part of the interested and intelligent citizen. It is of interest that the father of our subject was in the In- dian war of 1855-6, having enlisted at The Dalles.

FRANK W. HILTON. To the well known and industrious merchant whose name is above, we grant space in this history as he is one of the leading men of Leland, has made a commendable record and is a substantial and good citizen and an upright and capable man.

Frank W. Hilton was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on August 25. 1851, being the son of Richard and Rachel ( Bailey) Hilton. In 1864 the family came to Inyo county, California, and there the father bought several hundred acres of land. The parents still live there. As soon as our subjeet had finished his edu- cation, he assisted his father in freighting from Los Angeles to Independence, the county seat of Inyo county. Also during this time he learned the wagon and blacksmithi trade. When he was eighteen he went to Arizona and freighted. Two years later we find him in St. Clair county, operating a supply store on the Pescadero and Saratoga road. and then he erected a hotel on the summit of the range and conducted it for two years. Returning to Inyo county he started a little town in Round valley, which is now a thriving trading point. He then went to Pendleton, took land and after five years sold it. His next move was to Genesee, where he purchased a blacksmith shop. This was sold in 1893 and then Mr. Hilton came to Leland. taking up the sanie business with the added part of merchandising. In 1897 the store burned down and in1 1901 the shop was destroyed by fire. The former was re-established and the latter has not been. Mr. Hilton is doing a good business and is popular with the trading people.

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In 1871 Mr. Hilton married Miss Margaret, dangh- ter of John and Eliza ( Henson) Hartman, natives of Missouri, and of German and Swedish descent. Mr. Hartman is a prominent merchant in Saratoga. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have eight children; Richard, a wealthy farmer and real estate owner at Pomeroy, Washington : Frank, with his parents ; Allen, at home ; Edna, wife of Lee Penell, a merchant at Lewiston ; Erma, wife of William Hillman, near Dayton, Wash- ington ; Lettie, Pearl and Kate, at home. Mr. Hilton is a Republican, has attended conventions but never allows his name placed in nomination for office though often urged to do so. Mr. Hilton has three brothers, one sister, Joseph H., a leading farmer near Preston, Washington; Oscar, a large farmer in Inyo county, California : Charles, a farmer in the same county ; Amelia, conducting the mercantile business of her husband, who recently died. Mr. Hilton's family is an old and prominent one in New York, Judge Hilton, one of the wealthy men of that state being one of the family. This latter succeeded to A. T. Stewart's busi- ness upon his death. Our subject is an amiable and upright man. has a fine standing among his fellows .and has always manifested industry, assiduity and wisdom in his labors.

STEPHEN R. SOUTHWICK. As one of the early pioneers of this section of Nez Perces county, a man of energy and enterprise, whose labors have materially built up Nez Perces county, always domi- nated by integrity, wisdom and charity, the subject of this article is granted a representation in his coun- ty's history with pleasure, and we are assured his life's sketch will be interesting to many.

Stephen R. Southwick was born in Rensselaer county, New York, on February 12, 1838, being the son of John Wesley and Esther (Chapman) South- wick. The father was a farmer and carpenter. At the age of three our subject was called to mourn the death of his mother, after which he resided with his aunt, Roxana Chapman, until seventeen years old. During this time he was favored with a good public school education, and then three years were spent in Eureka College, in Woodford county, Illinois. Mr. Southwick then took up the work of the educator and followed it more or less until recently. He was emi- nently successful in this line and has a record that is worthy and good. In addition to this, Mr. Southwick acted as surveyor in a number of places. In Labette comunity, Kansas, he was chosen county surveyor for two terms. He also surveyed the towns of Chetopa and Oswego, both being thriving places now. It was 1882 that Mr. Southwick came to his present place. about one-half mile southwest from the village of Southwick He took a quarter section and added forty acres more by purchase. He cultivates a small por- tion and the balance has fine timber. Mr. Southwick has had many experiences in various frontier lines. One night, hearing an outcry, he rose from his bed and opened the door and answered. The party in distress

called again, and by this signalling from each other the stranger was guided to Mr. Southwick's door, and behold, it was a monstrous cougar. This ended that interview, as the door was shut. Again, Mr. South- wick's daughter was after the cows and a fond bear accompanied the young lady home, but the journey home was in the form of a race, and we understand that Miss Southwick made good time, to the disgust of bruin, who fell behind. Again, Mr. Southwick came suddenly face to face with a brown bearship, and so unaccustomed were each to the etiquette of this kind of tete-a-tete fellowship that they ignominiously fled in opposite directions, and we have not yet heard the bear's version of the episode. but Mr. Southwick is trustworthy and would not reflect any thing on the training of bruin.

In 1888 Mr. Southwick was appointed postmaster at Southwick, the office being named for him. Seven years and more he served faithfully to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. Southwick is a Republican and Populist. He has been chosen justice of the peace, but would not act. He is frequently selected for the conventions, both county and state.

On July 8, 1863, Mr. Southwick married Miss Martha, daughter of Aaron and Melinda ( Dougherty ) Shay, natives of Ohio and Shelby county, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Southwick there have been born eight children : Edwin, living in Canada ; Harvey, five miles southwest from Southwick; LeRoy, near Southwick ; Albert, at home; Mary, wife of Frank Daggett, living near Southwick: Mattie, wife of Frank Brown, living in San Jose, California; Emma and Myrtle, at home. Mr. Southwick has one sister in Missouri,-Mary, wife of Henry Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Southwick and their children are members of the Christian church and he is an elder in that organiza- tion.

It is of note that Mr. Southwick and Mr. L. R. Chapman by hard effort succeeded in getting the gov- ernment mail route to Pierce City from Southwick, which shortened it forty miles and saved much ex- pense. Mr. Southwick stands exceptionally well among those who know him and his faithful life as an educator and his worthy labors in pioneer work have given him an enviable prestige.

GEORGE W. PLITER. In this gentleman we have exemplified the true grit and stability that have outridden the adversities and hardships that accumti- lated in his path and have with every rising tide of trouble found a way to scale them all and bring excel- lent success to him in the end. He is one of the most prosperous farmers and real estate holders of this county, and is one of its leading and prominent busi- ness men.

George W. Pliter was born in Genesee county. New York, on March 22. 1853, being the son of Matthew Pliter. The father was a farmer and was born in Germany February 21, 1809. He came to this country when nine years of age. The mother died

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 57

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