An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 58

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 58
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 58
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 58
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 58

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

when our subject was an miant and he has no rec- ollection of her. The family went to Michigan when George was five, where he was reared and gained his cducation. When fourteen he went to East Saginaw and began to learn the blacksmith trade. He contin- med at this trade until he was twenty-two. Then he bought and sokl stock until 1878, making a good success. In 1878 he went to San Francisco, thence to Portland and later to Moscow. Next we see him at Lake Waha, where in . company with John H. Wa- math he operated a sawmill for four years. In the spring of 1883 he went to Seattle and the next year returned to Michigan. Later we see him in Pendleton and then raising sheep in the Jolin Day country. It was in 1886 that he returned to Nez Perces county and again he started a saw mill near Waha lake. He continued this until 1895, when the mill and all the contiguous prop- erty burned and was a total loss. At this juncture, Mr. Pliter lost five hundred acres of wheat by the grasshoppers ; the combined blow would have defeated an ordinary man. However, he went to work, bought and sold cattle and hogs, shipping train loads of them to Kansas City and Chicago. He did well and also at his farming and now he owns a section of land thir- teen miles southeast from Lewiston, and sold four hundred acres besides, this spring. He has good improvements and stock in abundance.

In 1888 Mr. Pliter married Miss Mattie Parker, who died in 1894. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Pliter mar- ried Miss Agnes L. Reed, born in Clark county, Mis- souri, in 1864. Her parents are dead and also her eight brothers and sisters. Mr. Pliter has the follow- ing half brothers and sisters: Frank M., William, Catherine Gilbert, Lydia Stingle, Emma Buckey. Mrs. Pliter is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a graduate of Park College, Missouri. Mr. Pliter is one of the active Republicans of the county and has done exceptionally good work in this realm. He is a warm advocate of good schools and is a licavy tax payer, thus backing up his stand for better educational facilities with the means to do the work. Mr. Pliter operates a combined harvester, there be- ing but one other in the county. He is an active. enterprising agriculturist and a keen and masterful business man and has done a great deal for the ad- vancement of the interests of the county, both by individual labor and improving his property and in his creating a market in his stock buying and also in many other ways, being progressive and up-to-date. Mr. Pliter had one brother, John, in the Civil war.

WILLIAM L. RUDDELL. It now becomes our pleasant privilege to outline in brief the interesting career of the industrious and capable gentleman men- tioned at the head of this article. It is quite becoming that he should be granted recognition in his county's history, since he has labored faithfully here for the betterment of the schools of the county, has always stood for good government, and in industrial life he has wrought with a firm hand and winning skill, while

his moral conduct has been such as to win the appro- bation of all who know him.

William L. was born in Adams county, Illinois, on October 18, 1864, being the son of John D. and Urilla (Nichols) Ruddell, natives of Adams county, lilinois, where the mother still lives, the father dying in 1876. A more extended mention of these worthy people is made in another portion of this volume. William's grandfather, John M. Ruddell, was a leader in his county and the Democratic party, and was a member of the state legislature of Illinois. William's grandfa- ther, Nichols, was one of the leading stockmen of Adams county and a good man. Mr. Ruddell died in Missouri when this son was nine years of age. Will- iam then went to live with his father's father and there remained until he was of age, receiving a good educa- tion. He and his brother George decided to come west, and on October 18, 1885, they landed in Lewiston ; for ten years they labored together in various lines, both renting land and buying. Finally, in 1897, our sub- ject purchased his present place of two hundred and forty acres, thirteen miles southeast from Lewiston, where he docs a general farming business and raises some stock.

On October 12, 1888, Mr. Ruddell married Miss Hattie G., daughter of Isaac and Priscilla (Timmons) Mounce, natives of Indiana and Ohio. To this happy union there have been born four children, all at home and named as follows, Harry, Clair, Ethel, and Mearl. Mrs. Ruddell was born in Iowa on July 6, 1869. Mr. Ruddell is a member of M. W. A., at Lewiston. He and his wife are devout members of the Christian church. Mr. Ruddell is an active Democrat, believing in the stanch old Jeffersonian principles of democracy. He is especially active in the betterment of educational facilities and is now acting as clerk for his district. Mr. Ruddell had three uncles in the Civil war. and WV. D. Ruddeil was captain. Mrs. Ruddell had four uncles in the same conflict.

JOSEPH P. WOOD. The career of this stirring gentleman in an exceptionally complete manner exem- plifies the hardships and labors of the pioneers, and also he has demonstrated what success can be achieved by care and industry.

Joseph P. Wood was born in Umatilla county, Ore- gon, on November 11, 1863, being the son of Joseph and Jane (Carey) Wood. The father was born in Knox county, Tennessee, on February 16, 1809, and died on August 3, 1878. He was a pioneer in Uma- tilla county in 1863, being one of the very first men to farm in that county. He crossed the plains with ox teams and remained on his homestead until his death. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio and died in Oregon in 1899. Her parents were pioneers in Ash Grove, lowa, and her father, Jonathan Carey, was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, becoming such at the age of twenty. Joseph grew up and was edu- cated in his native piace. He remained with his mother until he was twenty and then married Anna

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White, who died eighteen months later. Subsequent to this, Mr. Wood travelled over the northwestern states and spent one winter in the Yellowstone region. Then he came to Walla Walla, married and settled down to farming, buying land. He prospered tintil 1893, when everyone was broken financially or sadly shaken, and he suffered with the rest. He struggled on and operated a threshing machine and had to under- go much sickness, but at the time of the opening of the reservation he came to Nezperce straightway, and there located his family while he searched for a place. He selected his present abode, three and one-half miles southwest from Melrose, and filed. He brought his family thither with much difficulty, as there were no roads and he was obliged to sell his wagon to procure food. He lost a fine horse in hauling lumber, and for the first year or two it was a desperate struggle to keep back the wolf. However, Mr. Wood was possessed of determination and skill, and he continued and now has a fine place, well improved, owns two hundred and forty acres, raises cattle, horses, hogs and diversified crops.

In Walla Walla, in 1891, Mr. Wood married Miss Jennie, daughter of Daniel Priest, a soldier of the Civil war, a pioneer in Ohio and Michigan, being a native of Indiana, and is now dwelling in Lynn county, Kansas. Mrs. Priest was born in Indiana, had thirteen brothers and sisters. Mrs. Wood was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on June 2, 1861, and has twelve brothers and sisters, nine of whom whom are living. Mr. Wood has the following named brothers and sisters: Clarinda A. Beard, in Walla Walla; Mary E. Maxin, in Oakland, California ; George, on the old place in the vicinity of Walla Walla ; William, also on the old homestead. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, Roy and Edna. Mr. Wood and his wife are devout members of the Methodist church. He is a Democrat and takes part in some of the conventions, but is liberal in his princi- ples. Mr. Wood has been a member of the school . board from the first and is always striving for better- ment in this line. He advocates better schools and is strongly in favor of raising the money for them.

JOSEPH RAINVILLE. Rainville & Brothers, in- cluding Fred, Antoine, Felix, three brothers, and Jo- seph Rainville, their father, are a firm of well-to-do farmers whose estate of over five hundred acres lies five miles north from Culdesac. This land is leased from the Indians and is a first class grain and stock farm, well handled and productive of abundant returns.

Joseph Rainville was born in the vicinity of Mont- real, Canada, on April 2, 1839, being the son of Tim- othy and Flavio (Louizel) Rainville, natives of Mont- treal. The mother was born in 1820 and died in 1893. The grandfather was a soldier under Napoleon and died in 1856. Joseph worked on the farm with his father until he was twenty-one and then started for himself, spending two years in the home vicinity. 1863 marks the date of his advent to the United States and Cali-

fornia was the place selected for settlement. Six years Mr. Rainville devoted to farming and then he took up the carpenter trade in Plumas county. Later he wrought in San Francisco and also in San Jose and in 1879 came to Walla Walla. Mr. Rainville took up land and added by purchase until he possessed eight hundred acres of fine wheat land. In 1886 he went to the Umatilla reservation and remained there until 1894. when a trip was made to Butte, Montana. Soon he was in Alberta, then returned to Missoula and eighteen months later was again in Umatilla. In 1898, Mr. Rainville went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he re- mained for one and one half years. Then another move was made, Idaho being the objective point, and in 1900 he came to his present place spoken of above.

In 1861, Mr. Rainville married Miss Julia, daugh- ter of Xavia Baulait, the wedding occurring in Canada. Mrs. Rainville has not seen her parents for thirty-six years. She has four brothers and six sisters. Mr. Rainville has three brothers and seven sisters. To Mr. and Mrs. Rainville, there have been born ten children, named as follows, Joseph, in Oregon ; Henry, in Mon- tana : Nelson, Peter, and Frank, all in Oregon; Fred, born in San Jose, in 1879, is now one of the firm; An- toine, born in Oregon in 1880, also one of the firm; Elizabeth, wife of Felix Hamel, in Montana; Rosa, wife of Nelson Boyer, in Nez Perces county ; Felix, at home. Mr. Rainville and his family are adherents of the Catholic church and in political matters he is allied with the Republicans.

JOSEPH A. THOMPSON. Almost every state in the Union has her representation in the reservation country and this cosmopolitan population is one of the reasons why such progression and prosperity has been brought about here. From Illinois hails the subject of this sketch and in Mercer county, on January 21, 1862. he first saw the light. His parents were Ephraim and Elizabeth (Neeley ) Thompson. In the fall of 1865 they all removed to Boone county, Iowa, and as the father was a farmer our subject early experienced the invig- orating exercise of the agriculturist while his education was gained meantime from the adjacent public schools. In 1887, Mr. Thompson went to Oakland county, Mich- :gan, and on January 19, he married Miss Minnie E., daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Truesdell) Martin, na- tives of Philadelphia and Oakland county, Michigan. respectively. She was born October 10, 1864. Mr. Martin served as a corporal three and one-half years in the Civil war, being in the Twenty-second Infantry and the Eighth Cavalry of Michigan. He is now a mem- ber of the G. A. R. in Detroit, while he and his wife are living a retired life in McComb county, Michigan. On March 6, 1897, Mr. Thompson landed in Juliaetta and on the tenth of the same month he arrived in Nez- perce, having made the trip from Juliaetta in snow and rain and mud, with much hardship and attendant labor. He selected his present place, about two miles east from Nezperce and bought the relinquishment from another man. He has since that time been steadily pur-

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suing the worthy path of improvement and in making a fine home. His first crop was twenty-eight bushels per acre but now he has as large yields as any in this section. The farm is supplied with all improvements necessary, a good residence, substantial barn and other outbuildings. Mr. Thompson handles some cattle and does diversified farming. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., while he and his wife are members of the Re- bekahs, all in Nezperce. Mr. Thompson is also a mem- ber of the M. W. A., being a popular associate in these relations as he is also in general. He is a man of in- tegrity and is of excellent standing among the people of the community.

THOMAS STEPHENSON. The career of this worthy gentleman, especially since he has been in Nez Perces county, shows conclusively what can be done here by taking hold with one's hands and operating with wisdom the resources of the country. Coming here in 1896, with an old wagon and team, ten dollars in cash and a couple of weeks' supply of flour, Mr. Stephenson has wrought with a master hand until now he has, located five miles southeast from Melrose, a beautiful and valuable farm, all tilled in excellent shape, a large and tasty residence, one of the finest orchards in the county, stock of all kinds and all the implements needed in carrying on the farm, being one of the most prosperous and substantial men of this section. Mr. Stephenson raises the cereals, flax and carries his farm on with skill. He is now erecting one of the finest barns of the community.

Thomas Stephenson was born in Cumberland, Eng- land, on January 29. 1852, being the son of Joseph and Mary A. (Hornsby) Stephenson, natives of Cumber- land, and born in 1829 and 1833, respectively. They are still living in Nez Perce's county. The family came to Canada when Thomas was two and one half years of age, settling in the county of Gray. There our sub- ject received his education in the excellent schools of that country and he remained at home until he was twenty-six. At that time, Mr. Stephenson went to do for himself and rented a farm in the neighborhood. Later he took a homestead on the north shore of Lake Huron and for six years he dwelt there. Thence he went to Alberta and spent four years before he decided the country was too cold. Then, in 1896, he came to the Nez Perces country and has since wrought here as stated above, with gratifying results.

In Canada, on August 12, 1878, Mr. Stephenson married Miss Joanna, daughter of John and Frances (Cobbledeck) Williams, natives of England. Mrs. Stephenson was born in Canada, in 1855, and has five brothers and five sisters. Mr. Stephenson has the fol- lowing brothers and sisters, Emma, Henry, Philas, John, Sarah, Mary, Fannie, and Phurness. The fol- lowing named children have come to gladden and bless the home. Joseph, John, Frances, Emma, Thomas, Reuben. Frances is married to Mr. John Procunier, of this county. Politically, Mr. Stephenson is independent and reserves for his own choice the man rather than the

tenets of the party. Mr. Stephenson has been a mem- ber of the school board and believes in good schools and is willing to pay his share towards sustaining such. Mr. Stephenson is well satisfied with this country and speaks very highly in its praise and in turn he is highly spoken of by all who know him.

HARRY D. KINSMAN. This well known and representative business man is now in charge of the Sweetwater warehouse one and one-half miles south from Lapwai. He is a man of stability and has the respect and confidence of all.

Harry D. Kinsman was born in Canada, on De- cember 28. 1864, being the son of Ezekiel and Sophia (Forsyth) Kinsman. The father was born in New Hampshire. in 1809 and died in 1896. His ancestors were in the Revolutionary war and many relatives par- ticipated in the Civil war. The mother of our subject was born in Canada, in 1820, and is still living there. Harry was reared in Canada and at the age of fifteen went to Massachusetts. He enjoyed the privilege of a public school education and when twenty-four went to Central America and thence through Mexico to Cali- fornia. Afterwards, he came to Walla Walla and there did a warehouse business for twelve years. Next we see him in Lewiston in the same business for two years and then he assisted to erect the building where he is doing business at the present time. He does a good business for the owners, the property being the Kittenbach Company's warehouse.

On October 10, 1898, at Spokane, Washington, Mr. Kinsman married Miss Annie, daughter of James and Anna (Conway) Williamson, natives of Scotland and New York, respectively. The father was a fruit raiser in California. Mrs. Kinsman was born in Sacramento county, California, and has one sister, Julia, and one brother, James. Mr. Kinsman has the following brothers, Lamont, Robert, George and Frank. To our subject and his wife there has been born one daughter, Julia F. Mr. Kinsman is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Kinsman is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Kinsman is jus- tice of the peace in Lapwai and he is active in political matters, being a Republican.

GEORGE H. RUDDELL. Thirteen miles south- east from Lewiston is the estate of four hundred acres which is the home place of the subject of this article. It is a valuable farm and is handled with the enterpris- ing skill and assiduity of Mr. Ruddell, which insures him annual dividends of handsome returns in crops and stock. He is an excellent man, a good citizen, an advocate of good government and schools and is popu- lar and stands well.

George H. was born in Chariton county, Missouri, on May 26, 1866, being the son of John D. and Urilla M. (Nichols) Ruddell. The father was a farmer and a leading man in his county. He was county assessor, a

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Democrat and active for the welfare of the county. He was born in Illinois in 1834 and died in 1876. He had served in the Civil war, being four years under Grant. He enlisted in the Fiftieth Illinois as lieutenant and was promoted to a captaincy. The mother was born in Illinois in 1847, and lives there now. The parents came to Missouri in April, 1866, and George was born the next month. He attended school and worked at home until seventeen and then went to live with his grand- parents, Nichols, in Ursa, Adams county, Illinois. Three years were spent there and then he came west. October 15, 1885, was the date when he landed in Lewiston and went to work on a farm for wages, re- maining two years and then in company with his brother William rented a farm for three years more. They then bought land on Waha prairie and four years were spent in its culture when they sold out and rented again. He then bought his present place of four hun- cired acres.

On November 18, 1896, in Nez Perces county, Mr. Ruddell married Miss Edith A., daughter of Isaac and Precilla Mounce, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. The father is a pioneer of the state and a farmer. Mrs. Ruddell was born in lowa in 1875 and has the following named brothers and sisters, Hattie Ruddell, Clara Goodnight, Eben. Smith and Lafayette. Mr. Ruddell has the following named brothers and sisters, James N .. John D., William L., Harry L., Mattie A. Lamb. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruddell have been born two children, Lloyd H., five years old; Kennith D., four months of age, deceased. Mr. Ruddell is a mem- ber of the K. of P. and M. W. A. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and are highly re- spected people and valuable members of society.

JOHN WISSINK, an exemplary and enterprising young farmer residing three miles east from Nezperce, is one of the substantial citizens of the reservation country and deserves to have a position in the history of his county. He was born in the province of Gelder- land, Holland, on July 22, 1870, being the son of Bern- ard and Gerharda ( Bongers) Wissink, natives of the same place. There he was educated in the common schools and in 1885 came with his parents on the steam- er Weasland, of the Red Star line, to New York, whence they came direct to Lyon county, Minnesota, where the father bought a farm. Later they moved to several different places in the east. On October 17, 1898, Mr. Wissink married Miss Antoinette Van Wychen, whose parents were natives of Holland. She was born in Little Chute. Wisconsin. In 1900 Mr. Wissink came with his wife to Uniontown, Washington, whither his parents had preceded them. The following spring Mr. Wissink came to the reservation and bought the re- linquishment of his present place, which is about one hundred acres of grazing land and the balance is excel- lent for grain and hay. The farm is provided with plenty of running water and is improved with buildings, orchard, fences and so forth. Mr. Wissink handles some stock and does a general farming business. He

is thrifty and industrious and has the good will and re- spect of all who know him. Mr. Wissink and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church in Nez- perce and he is always interested in the welfare and progress of the country.

THOMAS G. JOHNSTON. About twelve miles southeast from Lewiston is the fine wheat farm of the subject of this sketch. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile soil which annually produces fine dividends of golden grain. He has it well improved and has lived here since 1896, the date of his advent to Nez Perces county.

Thomas G. was born in Toronto, Canada, on April 25. 1847, being the son of James and Mary (Graham) Johnston. The father was born in Dublin, Ireland, in ISII, and came to Canada in 1830. The mother was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, in 1809, and died Decem- ber 8, 1868. In his native place our subject was edu- cated and at the age of sixteen started for himself. He learned the blacksmith trade and until 1870 he steadily worked at it in Canada. Then he came to Chicago and thence to Benton Harbor, Michigan, where he wrought at the forge for ten years. The next move was to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he took up land and went to farming, devoting a portion of his time also to his trade. In 1889, he left that country and located in Douglas county, Oregon. He bought a ranch there and was numbered with the thrifty agri- culturists until 1896, the date of his coming to Nez Perces county. He selected the farm where he now lives, purchased it and there he has bestowed his labors since that time with gratifying success.

On November 27, 1872, in Benton Harbor, Mich- igan, Mr. Johnston married Miss Mary E. Robinson and two children have been the fruit of the union, Frances M., wife of Alexander Stevenson, in this coun- ty ; William T., at home. Mrs. Johnston was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1845, to Cyrus and Sarah (Porter) Robinson, natives of New York. Her grandfather was killed in the Revolutionary war, and her half brother, S. O. Coddington, her brothers, Will- iam and John, and her brother-in-law, Perry Nichol- son, were all in the Civil war. She had the following brothers, John, William, deceased, Robert and James. Mr. Johnston is a member of the 1. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Johnston takes a proper interest in political mat- ters and is allied with the Republican party.

WILLIAM A. EASTMAN is a man who has demonstrated to all who will see that where there is a will there is a way. He now lives five miles west from Nezperce, where he has a fine farm of one quarter sec- tion, well improved, owns considerable stock, does a general farming business and is prospered. In contrast to this it is interesting to note that when Mr. Eastman came to this reservation country, he had sixty cents in

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his pocket, which was his total cash capital, besides which he owed sixty dollars for a horse recently pur- chased. He threw up a rough log cabin for his family and covered it with sacks for a shelter, his family con- sisting of wife and one baby. Then he determined to see what could be done and the excellent showing men- tioned above is the result of the labors of himself and his worthy wife.

William A. Eastman was born in Jones county, Iowa, on October 4, 1865, being the son of Daniel and Adelaide (Nottingham) Eastman, natives of Michigan and Illinois, respectively. The father was born in Kalamazoo, in 1840, enlisted in the Civil war but was discharged before service and died in 1868. The mother of our subject was born in 1844 and died on October 9, 1901. Our subject remained at home, assisting in the support of the family and attending school until thirteen. The family, the mother having married again, removed to Republic county, Kansas, and William started for himself there. He was in the implement business for two years in Hardy, Ne- braska, and in the spring of 1895 he came west to Mos- cow and upon the opening of the reservation he selected his present place.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 58

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