An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 62

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 62
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 62
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 62
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 62

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In 1882, while in Dakota, Mr. Gaylord married Miss Mary, daughter of John Bingham, of Illinois. Mrs. Gaylord was born in New York city, in 1863, and has three brothers and two sisters. Mr. Gay- lord has three brothers, Orlando, an old soldier, Pres- ton, Joseph. To Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord, one child, Ackie, has been born. Mr. Gaylord is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a Republican, being active in the realm of politics. He is generally an attendant at the conventions and is always on record for good men, while in school matters, Mr. Gaylord labors for better facilities and education of the masses more fully.

ELGEE C. CHASE. The varied experience that Mr. Chase has had in different portions of the United States has satisfied him that the fertile and favored spot of the reservation country is a place worthy to be courted and as a country of resources for the farmer and stockman it is unexcelled. His farm lies four miles southeast from Nezperce and was selected by him about two hours after the country had been thrown open to settlement. It is mostly all good land, is well improved and has yielded to his skillful husbandry rich returns of crops in the years he has been here. He handles diversified farming and keeps enough stock to consume all the productions of the farm.

Elgee C. Chase was born in Columbia county, Wis- consin, on October 5, 1862, being the son of John G. and Eleanor ( Walton) Chase, natives of Vermont and Canada, respectively. When Elgee was a child, the family removed to Dodge county, Minnesota, and there he grew to manhood on a farm. In 1884 he went to Potter county, South Dakota, entered a pre- emption claim, farmed there and traveled over the country until 1800, when he went to Butte, Montana, and engaged in mining. In 1892 he returned to his boyhood home, and in 1893 visited the World's Fair at Chicago. In 1894 Mr. Chase came to Colfax, and soon we see him lumbering on the Clearwater. Then he wrought in Rossland, British Columbia, and at the opening of the reservation, came hither, as stated be- forc. His farm is one of the excellent ones of the

section, is well supplied with spring water and is a beautiful and valuable estate.

On December 2, 1897, Mr. Chase married Miss Mary, daughter of Fred E. and Mary (Bolin) Hon- roth. Mr. Honroth was a native of Germany and came to the United States when a child. At Louis- ville, Kentucky, he enlisted as first sergeant in Com- pany G, Twenty-eighth Infantry, in April, 1861. He served in General Grant's army and was in numerous severe battles. In the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, he was severely wounded in his shoulder and was dis- charged on account of disability. His wife was a na- tive of Indiana and in 1891 they came to Pomeroy, Washington, and later to Pierce, where he died in 1894, having never recovered fully from the strain of the war. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chase, Warner E., deceased, Mary E. In the spring of 1900, Mr. Chase had a severe attack of Nome fever and it was ascertained that the only cure was a trip to that region. He went, got one hundred and twenty miles into the interior, suffered about all a man can suffer without perishing, and stuck to it for one and a half years, and then the fever was entirely cured and he returned to his family and farm, a wiser and well cured man. Since then, Nez Perces county has appeared even better than it did before.

EDISON E. HARRIS is one of the well known and representative business men of Peck and his stanch qualities of worth have made him one of the highly respected and substantial men of this section. It is quite fitting that a review of his life form a part of his county's history, having been a man of activity and a promoter of good schools, progress and upbuild- ing.

E. E. Harris was born in Jamesville, -, 011 April 15, 1864, being the son of Jackson and Susan C. (Thayer) Harris. The father was born in Canada in 1836, of Irish extraction, was a pioneer to Califor- nia and now resides in Oklahoma. The mother was born in New Hampshire in 1838 of English descent ; her father was a veteran of the war of 1812 and of the Mexican war, and lived to be eighty-eight years of age. Our subject was taken to Minnesota in 1871 and in 1878 the family went thence to North Dakota, being the first settlers on the Fort Ransom reservation. From this resulted, in 1884, a gold excitement in that section. Edison grew to manhood and received a common school education in this section, and then graduated from the Ottawa University in Kansas. He made a trip to Texas in 1889, seeking a business loca- tion and brought back a band of cattle to Nebraska to winter. In 1893 he made the race to the Oklahoma country and secured a claim, where he toiled for four years and then for the benefit of the health of the fam- ily, he sold out and removed to the salubrious sections of Nez Perces county. He made settlement at Ahsalı- ka, secured a postoffice, and was appointed postmaster, this position Mr. Harris still holds, handling the office by an assistant. He opened a general merchandise

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store with M. Means, in that place and two years later removed the stock to Orofino. After this Mr. Harris was engaged as bookkeeper for Fox & Debaum, at Juliaetta, then at Lane and is now in the same position for the McGrew Mercantile house in Peck. Mr. Har- ris is manager of the concern and does a fine business.

On June 21, 1887, at Lisbon, North Dakota, Mr. Harris married Miss Sarah A., daughter of Thomas and Martha Roach, natives of Canada, where also Mrs. Harris was born. They have two children, Susan and Crystal. Mr. Harris has two brothers and one sister, George R., Jack T., and Esther Whybark, all in Oklahoma. Mr. Harris is a member of the I. O. O. F., having assisted to organize the lodge at Oro- fino. He is also a member of the liberal Christian church. In politics Mr. Harris is a Republican and is now chairman of this precinct committee. He is active at all the conventions and especially interested and active in promoting good educational facilities. He was the moving spirit in organizing the Ahsahka dis- trict and in getting nine months of school each year.

WILLIAM BOLLINGER. This gentleman is a well known and representative business man of Lewis- ton, being at the present time a proprietor of the Bol- linger hotel, one of the popular and established hostel- ries of Lewiston, where he does a fine business and is well liked by every one.

Mr. Bollinger was born in New Ulm, Minnesota, on September 1, 1868, being the son of Rudolph and Sophia (Ihrig) Bollinger. The father was born in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 23, 1826, came to Amer- ica when a young man and now lives at Dayton, Washington. The mother was born in the province of Hessen, Germany, on May 7, 1845, and is still living. Her father and mother were also natives of the same province. Our subject was educated in primary stud- ies in New Ulm and at the age of fifteen came with his parents to Dayton, Washington, where the father took a homestead, which he still owns, having added more since that time. William completed his education in Dayton and remained on the farm with his father un- til becoming of age, went to Dayton and clerked in a grocery store and general merchandise establishment for August Engel. Five years later he went into the butcher business, spending one year, and then came to Lewiston and opened a restaurant with his present partner, John Bell. They operated the Royal for three years, adding meanwhile a grocery store, when the grocery was sold and the restaurant burned down. Be- ing partly insured, they saved a little from the wreck and bought the lots where the hotel now stands and put up the building. The hotel was a popular resort from the first and they are now handling the Scully house as an annex and have built a large addition to their establishment. The house is justly popular because of the skill and affability of Mr. Bollinger in his care of the traveling public.

Fred, Mary, Minnie. all on the farm at home. Mr. Bollinger is happily affiliated with the following differ- ent fraternities ; the I. O. O. F., the Rebekahs, the Encampment, the K. of P., the Uniform Rank, the D. O. K. K., the W. of W., the Auxiliary Circle, and also with the Sons of Veterans of Dayton, Washing- ton. The father of our subject fought in the Union army in Company C, Fourth Minnesota.

GEORGE W. TANNAHILL. The facetious speaking of a man said, "He is a self-made man and he did not quit until the job was done." Such is surely applicable to the subject of this sketch. He is a self made man, and he has done a good job. He is one of the leading young men of Nez Perces county, having demonstrated his ability, acumen and stirring quali- ties in his profession, that of the law, wherein he is making a brilliant success, but to gain which he has labored long and faithfully, making the most of all of his opportunities in life.

Mr. Tannahill was born in Selma, Van Buren county, Iowa, on July 2, 1872, being the son of John and Almira (Jones) Tannahill. The father was a carpenter and builder, born in Ohio, in 1843, and died in 1875. His father, Frank Tannahill was a native of Wales and he married Poly A., who was born in Iowa, and died in 1897. The mother of our subject was born in Iowa in 1847 and is living in Chautauqua county, Kansas. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Henry V. Jones, a native of Ohio, whose wife was Hulda Herrington, who died in 1898. George W. lost his father when he was a child of three. The mother married again and the stepfather being very kind to this lad gave him a good education until thir- teen years of age, when he desired to do for himself and accordingly went to Indian Territory and rode the range for a Mr. Brown. Two years later we find our subject in school in Kansas and again in Indian Territory, this time working in a saw mill. He then went to school and in 1800 came to Pomeroy, Wash- ington, where he worked on a ranch, then went to Le- land. Idaho, and farmed for himself for a couple of years. Then he turned his attention to operating a hardware store in Leland until 1896, when he sold out and removed to Valparaiso, Indiana, and entered the excellent law school of that place. He graduated in due time, having read law considerable before, and on September 14, 1897, he was admitted to practice be- fore the supreme court of the state of Indiana. He went to his old home and made a visit, then came on to Lewiston, where he has been practicing since that time. He has secured a good practice and is one of the reliable and capable members of the bar, having distinguished himself on many occasions, where he has done telling work. Mr. Tannahill is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the K. of P., and the Eastern Star, having taken many degrees in the first order named. In political matters, he is a stanch Democrat, faithful to the principles of Jeffersonian

Our subject has brothers and sisters as follows, Emma, wife of Herman Hessel, in Oregon; George, statesmanship and is active in that realm. He is in-

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terested in the mercantile business with his brother, at Ilo, Idaho. Mr. Tannahill has two brothers, Samuel O., in mercantile business at Ilo; John L., in stock business in Indian Territory. We wish also to record that the father of our subject was a faithful soldier for the Union in the Civil war.

ROBERT L. PENNELL. The young men who have made and are making a fine success in the busi- ness world of Nez Perces county are a prominent class of the population and as a distinguished individual of this number, we are constrained to mention the gentle- man whose name heads this paragraph. He is a na- tive of Chautauqua county, Kansas, born on October 13, 1876, the son of Samuel W. and Almira (Jones) Pennell. The father was born in North Carolina in 1848, and is now a cattleman and farmer in Kansas. He was a soldier in the southern army and his father was a native Virginian, while his mother came from German stock. The mother of our subject was born in Iowa, in 1850, and is still living at the home place in Kansas. Her parents, H. V. and Hulda Jones, were natives of Iowa, also. Our subject attended the com- mon schools and worked with his father until he had arrived at the age of twenty and then he went to Val- paraiso, Indiana, where he attended the state normal school. Graduating in 1898, he went to Chicago and accepted a position in a wholesale grocery house, after which he returned home. It was May, 1899, that he came to Lewiston, Idaho, and took up the business of the hardware and furniture merchant. He has won a good success in this line and is one of the well estab- lished business men of the city, having a profitable and extensive patronage. Mr. Pennell has brothers and sisters as follows, Charles W., Maude, Mollie, Grover Frank and Jennie. He has also the following named half brothers. S. O. Tannahill, George W., and John. Mr. Pennell is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is in- terested in fraternal insurance. In politics, he is allied with the Democrats and is an active and potent factor in the labors of the party in his county. The grand- father of Mr. Pennell, H. V. Jones, was one of the sturdy pioneers of the western plains.

On June 26, 1902, Mr. Pennell was married in Spokane, Washington, to Miss Edna Hilton, a native of California. Her parents were early settlers of Ore- gon and at present her father is a merchant at Leland, Idaho.

EARL E. FAIRLEY. Our subject is one of the younger men whose energy and stirring qualities have added life to the business development of Nez Perces reservation country and at the present time he is oper- ating successfully the only livery and feed stable in Peck. He is industrious, enterprising and capable, and stands first class with all the community.

Earl E. Fairley was born in Cherokee county, Kan- sas, on January 7, 1880, being the son of Edward H. and Martha (Sailing) Fairley, natives of Iowa and

born in 1848 and 1850, respectively. The father was a pioneer in Douglas county, Washington, also in the reservation section of Nez Perces county, while his parents were pioneers in Iowa. Our subject went with the family from Kansas in 1884, to California, thence to Oregon, and finally they settled in Douglas county, Washington, where the father took up stock raising. There Earl grew to young manhood and received his educational training. When the reservation opened, the father came hither and took land, the relinquish- ment of which he purchased, adjoining the town of Peck. Earl worked with his father until 1899, when he opened his present business in Peck, a first class livery and feed barn. Since that time he has devoted his talent and energy to building up his business and has gained a fine patronage.

On May 21, 1902, Mr. Fairley married Miss Helen A. Parks, her father, Miles Parks, being a saw mill man of the Potlatch country. Mrs. Fairley was born in Canada in 1880 and has three brothers and one sis- ter, Ford and Monroe, in the Potlatch country, Flor- ence and Raymond at home. Mr. Fairley has one brother, Oliver, living in Peck. Mr. Fairley is a mem- ber of the M. W. A., Peek Camp, No. 7144. In politi- cal matters lie is allied with the Democrats and is con- stable of this precinet. Mr. Fairley is a man of prom- ise and has already gained a very enviable prestige. Mrs. Fairley is a teacher of standing and also is con- siderably interested in writing, having written a num- ber of meritorious articles.

HON. FRANK B. WILLIS. It is indeed a pleas- ure to incorporate in this volume a review of the career of this esteemed and popular gentleman, who has been prominent alike in his county, Nez Perces, as in Cus- ter, his former county, and in the entire state of Idaho, as well, having filled responsible offices and having always manifested a becoming sagacity and enterprise in all his ways, both public and private business.

Mr. Willis was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on October 10, 1845, being the son of John F. Willis, a native of New Hampshire, born in 1785 and died in 1855, and a pioneer of northern New York. The mother of our subject was a member of the Whit- ney family of New York, where she was born and died in 1848. When ten years old, Frank B. was left an orphan, but remained at the old home, a part of the time being spent at the St. Lawrence Academy and at Eastman's College at Poughkeepsie, New York. When nineteen, Frank B. came to Red Wing, Minne- sota, where a half brother lived, and there he clerked in a dry goods store for eighteen months. Immediately after the Sioux war, in 1866, he crossed the plains from Abererombie with an ox train. He landed in Montana, and the first sight that met his eye was three men dangling from the limib of a tree. Such a thing expresses the times of that then, new, rough and ready country. Our subject worked in the vicinity of Helena, for two years, then came to East Bannock, Montana, and mined. In 1870 he went to Salmon

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City, Idaho, and mined there until 1878. Then he went to Challis and opened a livery stable. Next we see him assessor of Custer county, being the first elected incumbent of that office which he held for five successive terms. He was also elected grand master of the I. O. O. F., for the jurisdiction of Idaho, and he has held some of the highest offices in this order. In 1893 and 1894 he was representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Atlantic City and Dallas, Texas. In 1891, having been active and prominent in politics for years previous Mr. Willis was elected lieutenant gov- ernor of the state of Idaho, acting in conjunction with Gov. W. J. McConnell. Subsequent to this service, he sold his interests in Custer county and repaired to Poca- tello and engaged in the drug business there. Six years were spent at this and then he sold out and came to Lewiston, where he bought the Aune interest in the furniture stock of Aune & McGilvory. He sold out that stock and in 1900 opened the Lewiston Furniture and Undertaking Company, where he is doing a good business at this time.

The marriage of Mr. Willis and Miss Anna O. Diehl. of Salt Lake City, was solemnized in 1887; two years later Mrs. Willis died, leaving one child, who died at the age of six. In 1892 Mr. Willis married Mrs. Della B. Burns, widow of Judge James Burns, of Custer county, Idaho. She was born in southern Ohio, came west and was a teacher in Nebraska and Iowa. Mr. Willis has but one living brother, Charles B., in Willisville. New York, the old home. Mr. Willis is a member of the Artisans and is one of the highest in the I. O. O. F. He has always been a Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is prominent in the councils of his party and has always been active in it. In addition to the fine business that Mr. Willis is doing in Lewiston, he owns property in Pocatello and in Custer county, Idaho.

JAMES WILLIAM WHITCOMB. The sub- ject of this review is one of the well known and leading citizens of Nez Perces county, having been one of the active participants in improvement and advancement in its limits for a number of years. He is at the present time owner of a fine farm of one-half sec- tion in Tammy hollow where he also rents twelve hundred acres of grain land and operates with his own, being thus one of the largest farmers of the en- tire county. He has his estate improved in an up- to-date manner, and has the best of all kinds of ma- chinery for its cultivation. Good buildings of all kinds needed are in evidence and in addition, Mr. Whit- comb has a fine eight room house and a large barn in Lewiston, corner of Eighth street and Eighth avenue, where he resides during the school season.

James W. Whitcomb was born in Adams county, Illinois, on March 28, 1859, being the son of Emory Stratton and Rhoda (Beatty) Whitcomb. The father was born in 1819, at West Swanzy, Maine, and came as an early pioneer to Illinois, where he was married, his wife being a native of Illinois. He was

a wool carder and a miller and wrought at his trades in Illinois. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Whitcomb came to Walla Walla, leaving the parental roof and the old homestead of Illinois. One year later he was in Nez Perces county and there took government land which he still owns. Steadily and constantly has Mr. Whitcomb wrought in the goodly enterprise of producing the fruits of the field and building up the county and is deserving of great credit for his worthy labors.

On November 12, 1885, Mr. Whitcomb married Miss Sallie, daughter of James R. and Mary C. (Ruddell) Nelson, early pioneers of Nez Perces coun- ty. Six children have been born to this happy union, as follows, Marvin R., Mamie A., Homer E., Delia M., Lee V., Joseph M. Mr. Whitcomb is a member of the M. W. A., of Lewiston. Several years since, his parents came from Illinois and the father died here in September, 1899, but the mother died in August, 1889. Mrs. Whitcomb's father is living in this county but her mother died on November 17, 1898. Mr. Whitcomb is one of the substantial and reliable men of the county and has been very zealous and active in the cause of education and general pro- gress. He and his estimable wife are worthy mem- bers of society and stand in high regard in the com- munity.

WILLIAM A. TESTERMAN is a true fron- tiersman and in many ways and districts he has shown forth the proof of this. He was born in Newton county, Missouri, on August 6, 1851, being the son of Harvey and Nancy (Eads) Testerman, natives of Tennessee, whence they came to Newton county, Missouri. The father died in 1853 and our subject was brought up with his mother and stepfather, Per- rin Fay, with whom he came to Fredonia, Wilson county, Kansas. In 1872 he went to Sherman, Texas, then on to western Texas where he was a cow- boy for years. The Comanches were hostile at that time and as he was a member of the Texas Rangers, he had many skirmishes with the redskins, but was never wounded, although he has seen many killed by their deadly arrows. Mr. Testerman was with the noted scout, Jack Stillwell, and had much frontier experience. His health failed and, alone on horse- back, he made the trip to San Juan, Colorado, en- countering hostile Indians and much hardship. He was without food for three days and laid out at night. He mined in Colorado and also had a hay ranch, and in 1878 left that country for Goldendale, Washington. He bought some horses there and in 1879 drove them to Wyoming. On May 8, 1881, Mr. Testerman married Miss Annie B., daughter of Ephraim and Sarah J. McFarland. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland came from the east to Linn county, Ore- gon, in pioneer days and there Mrs. Testerman was born. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Testerman took another trip with horses to the east, this time taking his wife with him. They had a fine time, hunting deer, birds, antelope, and catching fish. Following

MRS. JAMES W. WHITCOMB.

JAMES W. WHITCOMB.

WILLIAM A. TESTERMAN.

GEORGE W. UNDERWOOD.

FRED. B. SEARS.

WILLIAM STEVENSON.

WILLIAM E. RATCLIFFE.

JOHN BIELBY.

JOHN H. BLACK.

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this delightful trip, Mr. Testerman settled in Gilliam county, Oregon, and secured twelve hundred acres of fine land. He did well raising wheat and the year of the panic had fifteen thousand bushels, which he hauled twenty-five miles and sold for nineteen cents per bushel. This strain ruined him financially and he was forced to come to the reservation with borrowed money. He rented land from the Indians in the vicinity of Lapwai, and in 1899 he bought his present place of one-half section from the state, it being school land. His estate is located four and one-half miles east from Nezperce. The farm is in a high state of cultivation and Mr. Testerman is one of the heavy property owners of this section. He has a fine resi- dence, excellent barn, and all outbuildings and im- provements that are needed on the farm. Mr. Tes- terman rents one hundred and twenty acres of In- dian land near by and does a general farming business and also raises stock. He own a share in the tram- way to Kamiah. Eight children have been born to this happy couple, Charles A., James F., Annie B., William M., Ada C., Ida E., Harvey E. and Robert L. Mr. Testerman has always been an intrepid and skillful frontiersman and although much in the midst of rough men, he has never allowed himself to be in- temperate or immoral and is the possessor of an un- sullied reputation.

GEORGE W. UNDERWOOD. This esteemed gentleman is one of the first of that worthy band of pioneers who came into this country when it was wild and inhabited only by savages, and here he has done excellent labor for the opening up of the resources at hand, the development of the country, the advancement of good government, and the establishment of free in- stitutions of civilization.

George W. Underwood was born in Middlesex, Yates county, New York, on October 9, 1839, being the son of Adams and Mahala ( Aldrich) Underwood. The father was a farmer and was born on January 7, 1803, in Vermont and died in 1843. He was a highly educated man and had taught school for nineteen winters in one place. The mother was born in New York, on May 18, 1804, and died in August, 1885, in Middlesex. New York. Our subject remained at home after the death of his father, laboring with an older brother and attending school. Before he be- came of age, lie went west to Michigan and Illinois and one year later returned to his home. He had learned the wagon and carriage maker's trade and at that time worked for a carriage maker. It was in 1860 that he came west via New York and Panama, to San Francisco and thence to Douglas county, Oregon. The next spring he came to Walla Walla and thence, in 1861, to Lewiston. He went into the mines and worked summers with William Stevenson, his part- ner. They did carpenter work thus until 1873, and then located on his present place, twenty miles south- east from Lewiston, and with Mr. Stevenson went into the stock business. Before this Mr. Underwood had

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 62

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