An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 73

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 73
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 73
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 73
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 73

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DAVID H. LOWRY. Characterized by public spirit, enterprise, and keen business ability, being withal a man of excellent qualities and actuated with a sence of high honor in his relations, it is fitting that the subject of this article be accorded a prominent position in the history of Nez Perces county. Mr. Lowry is the man who has really thought out the pro- blem of successfully locating a town and has given prac- tical exemplification to his plans and ideas in the thrifty and stirring village of Dublin. This town was platted

on June 1, 1900, and they have two substantial stores, a flour mill of sixty barrels capacity, good blacksmith shop, other enterprises and a fine hotel building. The town has an abundant supply of pure water, an impor- tant item which few other towns can boast of in this section. Mr. Lowry gave the Northern Pacific right of way and station ground on his land, it being select- ed by that company. He has offered free lots for school and church buildings and is a strong supporter of these things.

David H. Lowry was born in Ireland, on February 22, 1856, being the son of Hugh and Ann ( McKelvey) Lowry. The father was born in Ireland on June 21, 1817, and died on January 4, 1890. He came to the United States in 1870 and settled in Lincoln county, Missouri. The mother was born in Ireland in 1830, and died in April, 1892. Our subject was educated in Ireland and came to the United States with his parents when he was fourteen. He worked with his father on the farm, later went to Jackson county, Missouri, and farmed prosperously for seven years, after which he came to Lewiston. He farmed in the Genesee country and was on the Sound and in various employments un- til 1895, when the reservation opened and he selected his present place, upon which the town of Dublin is situated. Mr. Lowry has given his attention to general farming and handling his other lines of business, in all of which he has met with success. He has fourteen brothers, six of whom are living, John, Henry I., William P., Robert M., James, George. Mr. Lowry has been a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. In 1900 he was elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify. He is an active Democrat and a potent in- fluence that helped to carry the precinct for that ticket notwithstanding the land slide of the other precincts. He is skillful in raising the excellent English Berk- shires and the Poland Chinas, having the best strains in the west.

JAMES M. WHEAT. Among those who have clone commendable work in the development of the res- ervation country we are bound to mention the enter- prising and capable gentleman whose name appears above.

James M. Wheat was born in Madison county, lowa, on December 25, 1853, being the son of Au- gustus and Isabella (Smith) Wheat. The father was born in Alabama in 1822 and died in 1902. He opera- ted a general store for years in Indianapolis. He then became a pioneer in Madison county, Iowa. His father, James Wheat, was a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was born in Nauvoo and now lives in Missouri. Her father, John C. Smith, was one of the first settlers in Clarke county, Iowa, and is now operating a large mill in Portland. When our subject was eleven, the family went back to Indiana and made their home there for ten years. Then they returned to the old home in Iowa and in these places our subject was educated. When James was twenty-one he farmed in partnership with his uncle, J. T. Wheat. In 1883 he sold out and came to Genesee, where he

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settled on a farm until the reservation was opened. At that important time he came hither and selected his present place, about one mile south from Ilo. He has it well improved with comfortable buildings, orchard, fences, and much besides, and is one of the thrifty men of the section. In addition to general farming he pays considerable attention to breeding and raising fine Po- land China and Berkshire hogs, and is successful in this line.

On January 16, 1877, Mr. Wheat married Miss Jen- nie M., daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Simmons) Lockridge. This was in Warren county, Iowa, and eight children have been born to them, Charles E., William, Jessie, Everett, Lucella, Esther, Dora Z., Savanah M. Mrs. Wheat has six brothers and sisters, - Leander, Samuel, John. Allen, Sarah Follett, Sa- vanah Crow. Mr. Wheat has four brothers and sisters, Pantha Etta, Sarah T., Eldora, Edgar. Mrs. Wheat was born in Warren county, Iowa, in 1861. Her father was born in Virginia and was a farmer. Her mother was born in Kentucky and is a direct descend- ant of Daniel Boone. Mr. and Mrs. Wheat are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a Republican and active in the local campaigns. Recent- lv Mr. Wheat has been elected to the important posi- tion of road overseer and doubtless there will be mani- fested in his labors in this line the same efficiency and wisdom as have characterized him in all his ways.

SAMUEL M. EBY. Among the leading citizens of the vicinity of Nezperce, we are constrained to mention the well known and capable gentleman whose name in- itates this article. Mr. Eby is one of the shrewdest and most successful business men of the county. He is the owner of much land grouped around the town and his keen foresight, executive ability and fine management have placed him among the heaviest property owners and leaders here.

Samuel M. Eby was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on March 3. 1841, being the son of Christian and Diana (Murray) Eby, natives of Maryland. The father descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch, was born in 1808, and died in 1891. The mother is of En- glish extraction, was born January 9, 1814, was mar- ried March 3, 1836, and died in 1900. Her father was a farmer and merchant. Our subject was reared and educated in his native place and after school days were past he taught for two years and then farmed. Later, we see him in Indiana and seven years were spent in successful farming. Then a move was made back to Ohio, and then he came to Missouri, where his busi- ness ability led him to acquire large tracts of land which he still owns, and which is operated by his son. Then Mr. Eby made one of the unfortunate moves of his life, a trip to Florida, where he lost about seven thousand dollars, but he still owns part of the real estate there and may yet make a winner out of it. Thence Mr. Eby went to the Rogue river country, Oregon, and after a short time came to the reservation and bought land in the vicinity of Nezperce. To the

management of these estates and the care of his other business, Mr. Eby devotes himself now. He has two brothers and three sisters,-Joseph W., a farmer in Ohio; John, a farmer in Tennessee: Agnes, wife of Samuel Wampler in Dayton, Ohio; Rebecca, widow of Levi Ikenberry, in Camden, Ohio: Jane, wife of A. C. Prugh, at Camden, Ohio.

Mr. Eby married Miss Nancy J. Collett, on April 17, 1866, in Miami county, Indiana. She was born in the same county, on November 13, 1843 and died at Warrensburg, Missouri, July 14, 1885, leaving the fol- lowing children, Agnes, wife of John Snyder, a farmer in Maryland; Edward M., a stockman and who looks after his father's property in Missouri ; Laura D., with parents. On September 12, 1886, at Warrensburg, Mis- souri, Mr. Eby married Miss Minnie E., daughter of Peter S., and Sarah A. (Miller) Garman. She was born in Elkhart, Indiana. and her father was a preacher in the German Baptist church. To this second marriage there have been born five children-George, Vernice, Hazel, Delfa and Isabel. Mr. Eby is a preacher in the German Baptist church, to which he and his wife be- long ; he is an ardent worker and supporter of the faith, being a man of great influence and filling the position of leader in a faithful and efficient manner.

ALEXANDER MILLER, a member of the thrif- ty band of sturdy men who came to this country at the opening of the reservation to make of it one of the most fertile and productive regions of the west, is now to be 1timbered with the leading citizens of this section and is a well-to-do and substantial man.

Alexander Miller was born in Fulton county, Ohio, October 18, 1850, being the son of Alexander and Polly Anna (Lyba) Miller. The father was born in Switzerland in 1810 and came to the United States in his boyhood days. He died in 1899, having been one of the prominent oil men in early days in Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania in 1826 and died in 1868. She descended from the Puritan stock; her grandfather Lyba fought in the Revolution and her grandmother who recently died played a conspicuous part also in that memorable strug- gle. Our subject worked with his father in the oil re- gions until eighteen and then returned to Ohio and there bored oil wells. In 1876, he went to Dickinson county, Kansas, and bought a farm of railroad land and also drilled wells in addition to the farm improvement and labors. He remained there for twelve years and in 1889, he sold out and came to Spokane, that being the time of the big fire. He took up railroading and was located at Medical Lake for nine months and then went to Colfax, where he continued that labor until 1895. In that year, Mr. Miller came to the opening reserva- tion and secured his present estate as a homestead. It is located a mile and a half south from llo and this has been the family home since that date. He has made good improvements and does general farming and rais- ing hogs.

In 1871, Mr. Miller married and two children were

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born to them, George and Amy. George is attending the Northwestern Medical college in Chicago where he will graduate in three years more and then will return to this country for practice. He has also had a course in Ann Arbor. Amy married George Palmer and they live in Colfax. Mr. Miller has two brothers and two sisters,-George, John, Jane Townes, Matilda Buria. Mr. Miller is a staunch Democrat and is an advocate for improvement in all lines and especially so in mat- ters of education. His home is a valuable and pleasant place and the six-room residence, good barn, fine or- chard and other improvements are all evidences of his wisely bestowed labors.

CHRISTIAN J. FIKE. No list of the leading agriculturists would be complete without an especial mention of the sagacious, capable, and upright gentle- man, whose name appears above.

Christian J. Fike was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he was also raised and educated. When twenty-one he came to Iowa and bought land near Garrison, farming it for twelve years. Then his father came to Iowa and bought land near Waterloo, and our subject sold his estate and purchased land ad- joining his father's, which was the family home until 1897, the date of the migration to Nez Perces county.

The parents of our subject, Jacob C. and Elizabeth (Blough) Fike, were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1828 and died in. April, 1902, being descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch for several generations back. The mother was born in 1827 and still lives in Iowa. She also is descended from the Dutch of Pennsylvania. Upon coming to the reser- vation, Mr. Fike purchased the relinquishment of a settler, which is still the family home. The land ad- joins Nezperce and lies so as to overlook the town and is one of the most valuable places on the reservation. Mr. Fike has displayed both industry and wisdom in improving and he has a splendid orchard and is a very prosperous man. Mr. Fike has the following brothers and sisters, John, a retired farmer at Waterloo, Iowa; Samuel, on the old homestead at Waterloo, Iowa, and his mother resides with him : Sarah, wife of Benjamin Lohr: Susan, wife of Henry Grady, at Waterloo; Mary, wife of Albert Blaough, a farmer near Wat- erloo.

On October 3, 1865, Mr. Fike married Miss Fran- ces B., daughter of Abraham and Fanny Allison. Mr. Allison brought his family from Ohio to Stevenson county, Illinois. thence to Iowa and he is now living in Kansas. The mother is dead. Mrs. Fike was born in Miami county, Ohio, on September 8, 1846, and was educated in Illinois. She has two brothers and three sisters, David, a stock buyer in Kensett, Iowa ; Henry H., a banker and prominent man at Sac City, Iowa; Susan, wife of Peter Fike, a farmer in Kansas : Mary, widow of John Moses; Martha, widow of George Thomas, living on her homestead on the reservation. Mr. and Mrs. Fike have become the parents of six chil- dren .- Jacob H., born July 18, 1867. a school teacher

and elder of the German Baptist church in Indiana ; Bert, born November 14, 1877, engineer in flour mill at Nezperce ; Fannie E., born January 14, 1880. wife of John McCahill, a farmer near Nezperce: Abraham R., born July 27, 1882, in Iowa ; Franklin W., born Janu- ary 17, 1885, at home ; Charles C., born June 22, 1887, living with parents. Our worthy subject and his esti- mable wife are devout and faithful members of the Ger- man Baptist church and are devout supporters of the faith. Mr. Fike is allied with the Republican party but is not forward in that realm. He is a man of keen business ability, is exemplary in his walk and is re- spected by all. He and his faithful wife have raised a large family of children, whom they have taught in the fear and admonition of the Lord and it is with great pleasure that we are allowed to place the record of such stanch, reliable and worthy people in the his- tory. of our county.

CHARLES D. THOMAS. This rising young at- torney promises to place himself among the leaders in his profession in the near future as he has displayed great aptness and ability in the profession. At the pre- sent time he is a member of the firm of Stearns & Thomas, which handles a general loaning, real estate, insurance, and law business in Nezperce.

Charles D. Thomas was born in Danbury, Iowa, on January 7, 1871, being the son of Daniel and Mary (Smith) Thomas, natives of New York and Ohio and born in 1830 and in 1837, respectively. When Charles was young he came with his parents to Moscow and there he attended the public schools and in 1890 he graditated from the Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, Michigan. Returning to Idaho, he took up the work of the educator and for three years he was assistant prin- cipal of the Genesee schools. In July, 1901, Mr. Thomas entered into partnership with Judge Stearns and since that time has steadily pursued the study of the law, which he had followed in his teaching. Mr. Thomas has one brother and three sisters, Frank B., at Colville, Washington, in the building business : Lovina, wife of Melvin Chapman, at Waterville, Washington, raising stock ; Ida, wife of Scott Dennison, a farmer at Colville : Alice, wife of Alonzo Horn, a railroad man of Moscow.

On April 18, 1893, Mr. Thomas married Miss Dora R .. daughter of Allen and Rachel ( Robertson) Bond,, natives of Virginia, and now living in Irving. Oregon. Mrs. Thomas has the following brothers and sisters : Lincoln, merchant in Irving, Oregon : Edward. a mer- chant at Baker City : James, a farmer at Irving : Frank, a railroad man at Irving : Mary, wife of A. J. Green, an attorney at Moscow : Helen, wife of James Ebert, a farmer near Eugene, Oregon : Clara, wife of J. D. Spencer, a farmer near Irving : Daisy, wife of Charles Minkler, railroad conductor at Portland. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Vesta D., Reginald F., aged six and four, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Christian church. He is a member also of the I. O. O. F., Morning Star

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Lodge, at Nezperce: of the K. O. T. M., Nezperce Tent ; of the M. W. A., of Nezperce ; of the Yeoman of · America, at Nezperce. Mr. Thomas is an active Re- publican and has done good service in the county and state conventions. He is a bright, cultured and capa- ble young man and he is the recipient of the good will and esteem of all who know him.

It is an interesting reminiscence that Mrs. Thomas is one of a family of eight children, all of whom were born and married in the old family home in Irving. Oregon.

In 1902 he was nominated by the Republican party as candidate to the state legislature and was elected by a large majority, receiving two hundred and forty- three votes in his own precinct. He was also a member of the seventh session.

CHARLES LARSON. In at least two lines of endeavor has Mr. Larson achieved success and is now one of the prominent and successful farmers and busi- ness men of the reservation country, being located at Ilo, where he carries on a thriving business as a wheel- wright and wood workman. He was born in Norway, on September 25, 1873, being the son of Lars and Mary (Erickson) Larson, natives of Norway and born in 1787 and 1836, respectively. The father died in 1881, aged ninety-four. The mother later married Mr. Nelson and is now living in the Potlatch country. Charles was educated in his native country and there learned the trade which he now follows, also perfect- ing himself at a carpenter's school. He worked on piece work until eighteen, when he came to the United States, whither his mother and stepfather had come four years previous to this time. Mr. Larson settled at Moscow and took up his trade which he followed for five years. In 1895 he took his present farm as a homestead, but he returned to Moscow, off and on, working at his trade. In April, 1901, he opened his present business and is doing well.

On November 3, 1896. in Nez Perces county, Mr. Larson married Miss Anna, daughter of Julius and Sophia Shoemaker, natives of Sweden and Germany respectively. Mrs. Larson has three sisters and four brothers. Mrs. Larson was born in Latah county, on April 4, 1880. Mr. Larson has three brothers and one sister. Leonard, Louis, John, Lena. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Larson, Hazel I., John. Mr. Larson is a member of the M. W. A., at the Ilo Camp. He is a stanch Republican and believes in pro- gress and improvement and is always fostering public enterprises which are for the welfare of all. Mr. Lar- son has a fine farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, well improved with buildings and last year he sold of oats alone three thousand and five hundred bushels.

DANIEL W. YORK is a man of the true grit as has been demonstrated by his success in this new coun- try in spite of hardships and scant means, which en-

tailed great labors and deprivations. He has a good farm three miles northwest from Morrow and has im- proved it in a becoming manner. He threshed eleven hundred bushels of grain this year and feeds most of it to his stock, having some fine hogs. Altogether, Mr. York is prosperous and one of the leading and sub- stantial men of the community.

Daniel W. York was born in Alabama; on Novem- ber 6, 1863. His father, Caswell, was born in Ten- nessee, on April 20, 1827. He was among the Indiana volunteers and was detailed on the bridge brigade and went ahead preparing the way for the army to pass. He homesteaded land in Spokane county, having previously married Elizabeth Wallace of Tennessee. Besides our subject, they had the following children : Adam, John E., Nancy Crane, Jane Nelson, Mary E. Behrens, Hen- ry C. and Daniel W., twins. Henry C. was a member of the National guards at Tekoa, Washington. Our sub- ject worked with his parents until he was twenty-four and then went to Tekoa. Washington, where he engaged in the lumber business with his brother. They con- tinned for two years and then Mr. York turned his at- tention to farming in the same county until the spring of 1897, when he settled on his present home place. He has stuck to the battle with grit and has shown real skill and wisdom and is now being rewarded with good success and prosperity. In addition to the other things mentioned on the farm, Mr. York raised one hundred and fifty bushels of timothy seed.

On May 17, 1891, Mr. York married Miss Mary J., daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Blue. She was born in Linn county, Oregon. on October 17. 1870. The fol- lowing children have been born to this marriage : Edna E., born in Whitman county, Washington. on March 14, 1892; Hattie E., born in Spokane county, April 14, 1894: Arthur H., born in Nez Perces county, March 30, 1902. Mr. York is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and his wife helong to the Christian church. He has been clerk and trustee on the school board for five years and was elected again at the last meeting.

SIDNEY J. DOGGETT. Among the mechanics of Nez Perces county there is none with more skill in his line, enterprise in business, good practical judg- ment and ability, than the subject of this brief article. Mr. Doggett now handles the first shop in size and business on the reservation, doing a general black- smith business with all of its branches and operating a half dozen men.

Sidney J. Doggett was born in Siskiyou county, Cal- ifornia, on April 29, 1867. being the son of William C. and Jane P. (Redman) Doggett. The father was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, on March 14, 1825. and followed mining until he came to Sprague, Washing- ton, where he farms. The mother was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, on January 10, 1838. The family came to Washington when Sidney was seven months okl, where he was reared and educated. When eighteen he rode the range in the Palouse and in 1800, he rented land near Pullman and farmed. It was 1896

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that he came to the reservation and bought the relin- quishment of a settler and followed farming until he proved up on the place. During the times between the rush of farm work he gave his attention to the black- smith's art and he became very proficient in it. In the fall of 1901, he erected a substantial building in Nez- perce and opened a shop, and as said above, he is hand- ling the largest blacksmith business in the reservation country. Mr. Doggett has the following brothers and sisters : John, a farmer at Chesley : Jefferson D., farmer near Walla Walla; Robert S., a farmer at Johnson, Washington : Francis E., a farmer in California : Isaac H., and Frederick T., farmers at Sprague, Washing- ton : Sierra Nevada, wife of T. A. Brown, a farmer at Pullman. Mr. Doggett is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Rebekahs in Nezperce; also of the W. W., and the M. W. A. and the Women of Woodcraft, all in Nezperce. He is a Democrat but is never zealous of personal preferment.

On February 23, 1801, Mr. Doggett married Miss Edna A., daughter of Alsa and Sarah (VanBibber) Woodward: Mrs. Doggett was born in Missouri on October 5. 1874: she has the following brothers and sisters : William D., a farmer at Johnson, Washington ; Caroline, in Missouri : Martha, wife of John Brown, a saw mill man at Kendrick ; Cinderella, wife of Robert L. Doggett ; Alice, wife of Wm. Anderson, in Wash- ington. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Doggett .- Lulu M., Herbert E., Etta, William A., George, and Esther. Mr. Doggett is enjoying the meed of honest industry and wisdom in the competence that he possesses and the prosperous business that he is handling, while also the confidence and good will of all are his in unstinted measure.

LEWIS D. STEVENS. This prosperous farmer lias well earned the meed of success by his thrift, his industry, and his wisdom in managing the resources of the country in these pioneer days and is to be classed among the substantial and capable men who deserve representation in the history of the county.

Lewis D. Stevens was born in Alpine county, Cali- fornia, on April 10, 1876. His father, Alexander H .. a farmer, was born in Perth, Scotland, on May 4. 1849. and married Sarah F. Trimmer. Our subject remained with his parents until nineteen. He came to Nez Perces county on July 9, 1885, and engaged in the cat- tle business with his father and for himself. On Au- gust 14. 1895. Mr. Stevens married Miss Addie, daughter of Darius. B. and Arabelle J. Randall. Mr. Randall's first work in life was as a teacher. being a first class educator. He was first lieutenant in the Rebellion and later was lieutenant in a company at Fort Lapwai. A detailed account of his career in the Indian troubles will appear in another portion of this volume and we will not revert to it here. He was a brave and coura- geous man and with a handful of sixteen he was pit- ted against one hundred and twenty-five Indians. He fought the Indians with display of desperate and great valor but was overpowered and slain. It is said that

officer Perry stood and witnessed the awful massacre with no move to avert it. Mr. Randall was judge of Idaho county at the time of his death. He was be- loved and estecmed by all. Mrs. Stevens was born December 8, 1876, in Idaho county and her brothers and sisters are named as follows: Oronoco L. Ingh- ram, born April 25, 1866, in Linn county, Oregon ; Henry A., born August 28, 1867, in Nez Perces coun- 1y ; Belle J. Gable, born November 2, 1870, in Nez Per- ces county ; Maude E. Byron, born September 16, 1873, in Idaho county. Mrs. Stevens has also one half sister, Jay M. Dorman, born March 13, 1883, in Idaho county. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have two girls, Ruth Elizabeth, born June 19, 1898, in Idaho county ; Lauretta Jay, born September 18, 1900, in this county. Mr. Stevens has devoted himself to the improvement of his estate and has done commendable work. He raised about two thousand bushels of grain last year and feeds it all to his stock. He has fine stock, having twelve cattle, sixty horses, thirty sheep and many hogs.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 73

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