An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 74

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 74
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 74
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 74
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 74

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DAVIS S. WRIGHT is a saw mill man and a true blue Republican with no uncertain motto on his banner and with plenty of keen penetration into issues and ability to handle convincingly the political questions of the day. His mill is located four miles west from llo, is one of the best and perhaps the largest plant in the reservation country and is handled with a wisdom and business ability that have given to the owner a gratifying success. In the political field he is known as one of the strongest factors of the party in this sec- tion and a terror to opposers, and in the caucuses and conventions he is a familiar figure and a power.

Davis S. Wright was born in Ohio, on April 15, 1858, being the son of Charles S. and Deborah (Oliver) Wright. The father was born in the state of presi- dents in 1838, and his father was a pioneer there. Charles S. Wright is now operating a flour mill in Dublin. The mother of our subject owns Ohio as her native place also and her parents were pioneers there. She and her husband came to Walla Walla in 1873. Our subject was taken from Ohio to Wisconsin by his parents when he was two weeks old, the trip being made by wagon. Settlement was made in Vernon coun- tv and ten years later they pulled up stakes and turned the prow of their prairie schooner toward the setting sun and cast anchor in Washington county, Oregon. There they farmed and about 1872 or 1873 they came thence to Walla Walla. Our subject was educated in Oregon and Washington and when he was nineteen went to do for himself. He was married about that time and went to farming near Walla Walla, where his home continued to be until 1892, in which year he removed to the Potlatch country. He settled in Ken- drick and took up the livery business and assisted ma- terially to build that town. In 1896, Mr. Wright came to the reservation and took a farm near Fletcher and in 1898, he took up the saw mill business as mentioned above.

On November 24. 1877, Mr. Wright married Miss

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Emma, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Skinner) Whetstone, the wedding occurring in Dayton, Wash- ington. Mr. Whetstone was a pioneer in the Walla Walla country and built the first house on the wagon road from that town to Lewiston. It is located in Whetstone hollow. Mrs. Wright was born in Colum- bia county, Washington, in 1860. She has the follow- ing named brothers and sisters, Mary, Alice, Robert E., all living in Nez Perces county. Mr. Wright has three brothers, William A., in Dublin, George W., in Kendrick, Amos A., in Spokane. Three children have been born to our subject and his wife,-Robert O., Lilly Johnson, Bessie L., in Nez Perces county. Mr. Wright is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge 65, at Magnolia. He has been justice of the peace for two ternis.

ESLI W. BEAN. This enterprising and thrifty farmer dwells about two miles northeast from Morrow, upon land that he took wild and secured through home- stead right. He has made a good home from his place and is numbered with the progressive and public minded men of the section.

Esli W. Bean was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, on April 30, 1848, being the son of Edward S. and Mary (Vaughn) Bean. The parents were pioneers in Rock county and died when he was young. After the death of the parents, he went to live with his sister, Mrs. Vielie. He remained with them until he was nineteen, gaining a good education and working on the farm. Then he went to Plover, Portage county, Wis- consin, and worked in the timber two years. Then he came to San Francisco and thence to Walla Walla. Here he worked in a saw mill for his cousin, Lon Bean, on the Walla Walla river. Four years later he came to Latah county and settled where the town of Palouse now stands. This was in 1875, but no Palouse was there then. He took land and farmed for a time and then went to Longmount, Colorado, with cattle. He worked there in a hardware and tinning establishment and sixteen years later came back to Oregon. This was in 1893 and three years later he came to his pres- ent place.

In February, 1879, Mr. Bean married Miss Lulu Crawford and two daughters, Goldie and Fern, are the living children born to them. Mr. Bean is a firm Re- publican and active in the primaries and conventions. He is an ardent supporter of good schools and ad- vanced twenty dollars to assist in painting a new school house if the neighbors would take hold and erect one. Mr. Bean has the following brothers and sisters : James, Lizzie. Hepsie Howard, Ira, Hulda.

HENRY J. GERTJE. This young farmer is an enterprising and successful toiler, whose labors have done much to advance the welfare of the reservation portion of the county and whose standing is first class among his fellows.

Henry J. Gertje was born in Waseca county, Min-

nesota, on June 13, 1876, being the son of John and Mattie Gertje. The father was born in Germany in 1832. About 1884 the family came to Dakota from Minnesota, where the father took land and farmed for three years. The next move was to Latalı county, in the Potlatch country, and there our subject received his education and grew to manhood. On November I, 1897. Mr. Gertje came to the reservation and took his present place, about two and three-fourths miles east and one south from Melrose. He has a good place, well improved, excellent labor having been done by him since his settlement here.

On January 30, 1900, Mr. Gertje married Miss Estella, daughter of William and Anna (Greer) Par- nish. The father was a millman born in Virginia in 1840 and served in Company F, Twenty-fifth Ohio, and was wounded at Gettysburg. The mother was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1847. Mrs. Gertje was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on August 10, 1876, and has two brothers, William and Charles, at Spalding. Mr. Gertje has the following named brothers and sisters: George, John, Herman, Mary Tedie and Edward. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gertje, Lulu I. Mr. Gertje is a stanch Re- publican, is always present at the post of duty and is an active worker. He is also strongly in favor of good schools and he and Arthur Cordiner helped to build the school house and hired the children to come to get the school started, and it is interesting to note that Mr. Gertje and Mr. Cordiner were both bachelors at that time. Mr. Gertje has a good home place and is highly esteemed in the community both for his excellent labors as well as for his intrinsic worth.

EDWARD S. HEGEL. About six miles north- west from Morrow is the home place of our subject, which was secured by homestead right on June 7, 189 ;. Since that time, Mr. Hegel has devoted him- self to improving the farm and building up the country. He is a man of industry and worth and is entitled to and receives the esteem of all.

Edward S. Hegel was born in Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, on May 24, 1869. His father, John F., who was born October, 1818, in Baden, Germany, was a plasterer and mason. He served in the confederate army under Price and Johnston. He married Eliza J. Folt. Edward S. worked for his father tintil he was fifteen, then went to Portland remaining three years. Next we see him at Ellensburg, Washington, and later was in the Okanogan country. He was also at Hunter, the same state, where he was occupied in raising stock with his brother for five years. Selling out, he went to Palouse country and farmed for two years. At the date mentioned he took his present place and is fast bringing it all under tribute by cultivation. Mr. Hegel married Miss Cordelia, daughter of George W. and Carry S. Wayne, who are mentioned in this vol- ume. Mrs. Hegel was born in Silverton, Oregon, on December 10. 1877. Mr. Hegel's father manufactured the first brick made in Ellensburg and in North Yakima

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and later burned the first kiln in the Okanogan country. He died in 1896. Our subject was school director and is actively interested in good schools and general prog- ress.

CHRISTIAN FLAIG. In recounting the items in the career of the subject of this article we note first that he was born in Germany, in April, 1867. His parents, Joseph and Mary ( Wernz) Flaig, were also born in Germany, the father in 1830, and are now de- ceased. Our subject received his educational train- ing in the schools of his native land and followed teaming and driving stage until he had arrived at his majority. Then he bade the fatherland and all its loved ones and associations farewell and sailed away to New York, whence he went direct to Spokane, Wash- ington. He soon selected Rosalia as the place of opera- tions and went to work in the saw mills. In the year 1888 he came to Spokane, and in 1895 he left Rosalia and came to the reservation country and located his present place. one mile south from Ilo. He has a quarter section of good land, well improved, having a fine house and orchard and buildings, and other im- provements ; thrift and order characterize the entire premises.

In 1896, at Lewiston, Mr. Flaig married Miss Min- nie, daughter of Frederick and Louise Johns, natives of Germany, who now live near Ilo. The former was born in 1853. and the latter in 1878, being an only child. Mr. Flaig has three brothers and sisters,- Mary, Franz and Amale. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flaig,-Louise and Fred. Mr. Flaig is a member of the M. W. A. He is a Demo- crat in political alliances and is a progressive man. In addition to his farming he owns and operates a fine threshing machine.

FRANK A. KEMPER. It is pleasure to us to be able to grant to this prominent and substantial citi- zen a consideration in the history of Nez Perces county, both because of his excellent industry and wisdom, which have accumulated a good holding for him, and because of his real worth and integrity.

Frank A. Kemper was born in Lippstadt, Germany, on August 31, 1845, being the son of Henry and Mary E. (Heimyer) Kemper, natives of Westphalia. Frank attended school from seven to fourteen. At the age of twenty he joined the regular army and served in the Franco-Prussian war, being under Gen- eral Mantaufel. He served in four of the fierce battles of that war, namely. Forbach, Columba, Gravalotte and Auxere. He endured great hardships and terri- ble fatigue in forced and long marches. Many bul- lets passed through his clothes and many soldiers fell at his side, but Mr. Kemper was never wounded. He was honorably discharged in 1871, and in October of that year he came from Bremen to the United States. landing in Baltimore October 22, after eleven days at sea. On March 13, 1872, he started for San Francisco.

and his train suffered wreck at Oakland, but he was not injured. Then he came by steamer "Ajax" to Port- land, and there followed his trade, harness making, for four years, and then went to Cornelius and farmed for some time. There, on January 16, 1877. Mr. Kemper married Miss Barbara Thomas, a native of Bavaria, Germany. In 1887 they came to Uniontown, Washington, where Mrs. Kemper died on September 18, 1888, leaving three children .- Joseph, Kate and Nicholas. On July 25. 1889, Mr. Kemper married Kate Hageman, a native of Peoria, Illinois. She was born on March 4, 1855, and came to Uniontown via San Francisco and Portland, in 1885. Mr. Kemper left the harness-making trade and in 1893 made a trip to the reservation to inspect the land and view the country : the result was that on November 18. 1895, he was on hand to file on his present place, about two miles northwest from Nezperce. He has a fine seven- room house, a large barn, first class granary, bearing orchard and the entire premises show skill and indus- try. In Mr. Kemper's house was held the first Cath- olic service of the entire reservation country, and for two years there was service there on each alternate Sunday. Father Suer, a well known and faithful mis- sionary, was the officiating priest. One child. Mary Magdalen, has been born to this couple.

THOMAS H. LADOW. This worthy pioneer has done much to open this western country for the abode of his fellows. He is worthy of a place in the history of northern Idaho and it is with pleasure that we accord him consideration. He is a man of integ- rity and strong character, and has manifested great energy and enterprise in his course.

Thomas H. LaDow was born in Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin, on August 22. 1853, being the son of John and Cornelia (Geer) LaDow. The father was born in Ohio, in 1819, and was a pioneer in Wisconsin and Minnesota, being in the last state at the time of the Sioux uprising. He was also a pioneer in Washing- ton. The mother of our subject was born in New York in June, 1826. The family went to Wisconsin, and in 1859 went thence to Dayton, Ohio, returning again to Wisconsin : Thomas distinctly remembers the debates between Lincoln and Douglas. They went from Wisconsin to Minnesota. and in 1868 came across the plains with ox teams to Walla Walla. Four years after that the father went to unsurveyed land north from Palouse and settled, and that is the home where our subject remained until twenty. In November, 1873. he began carrying the mail from Lewiston to Spokane, there being no town at Spokane, only a store or so. and no town between that and Lewiston. This was the first mail route into Spokane. Until 1882 the mail was carried on hoseback, and in that year Mr. LaDow got the contract for himself. He then put on a four-horse stage. Two years later he sold out and took a line from Colfax to Cheney. In 1884 he went to the Coeur d'Alene mines and there operated until his exchequer was empty : then he returned to staging.

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He operated the first line from Moscow to Colfax. then he took the line from Farmington to Spokane and later bought a livery stable in Moscow. In 1886 Mr. LaDow went on the road as a traveling sales- man for farm implements, and in a short time he went to farming near Palouse. In March, 1896, he came to the reservation and took his present place three miles south and two east from Melrose. He has a good farm, well tilled, fine barn and orchard and also handles considerable other land.

On November 9, 1884, at Moscow, Mr. LaDow married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Amos and Mary (Gwin) Phillips. Mr. Phillips was a pioneer to Whit- man county in 1874. Mrs. LaDow was born in Dakota in 1863 and has two sisters and one brother. Nora Whitson, Hiram and Jennie Ames. Mir. LaDow has the following brothers and sisters: Jose- phine, Emmett A., Lora Palmer, Hattie Cox and Stella McConnell. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. LaDow, --- Leonard, and Floyd, de- ceased. They are members of the Christian church in Melrose. Mr. LaDow is clerk of the school board and has been since the district was organized. He is greatly interested in good schools and general prog- ress. MIr. LaDow is a stanch Republican and his friends strongly urged him to accept the office of coun- ty commissioner.

By way of reminiscence it is of note that Mr. La- Dow was present when the volunteers, Captain Ran- dall, Lew Willmott, James Curley, C. M. Day, Josh Rowden, and Joe Moore, were surounded by the In- dians and Captain Randall and Joe Moore were killed almost in sight of the soldiers. Mount Idaho was but a trading post and Grangeville was not then built.

CHARLES W. MOTE, the enterprising farmer and patriotic citizen whose labors have resulted in great good in the line of development in Nez Perces county, resides about four miles southwest from Forest, on a farm which he secured through homestead right, and which his industry and thrift have cultivated and im- proved in a commendable manner.

Charles W. Mote was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, on June 20, 1850. His father, Jacob C., was a farmer, born in Darke county, Ohio, on October 27, 1827, and was a pioneer in southwestern Missouri. He was a confederate soldier under General Greene. He married Rachel, the daughter of John and Mary Jane Cline, and she died on April 15, 1876. They had one child besides our subject,-Emma F. Worth- ington. Our subject's grandfather was born in Ohio, and his father was born in England. Charles W. worked for his parents until twenty-two, and in 1878 he went by ship to Nino, California. One year later he went to Siskiyou county and dairied six years and also packed to the mines some. On October 19, 1885, Mr. Mote married Miss Lida A., daughter of Henry C. and Hannah Cory. The father was born in Indi- ana on January 24, 1829, and his father, Daniel F. Cory, was born in Ohio. Henry C. Cory died July

I, 1892, and his wife May 9, 1895. Besides Mrs. Mote, they had the following named children : Mary E. Walker, born December 24, 1850 ( Mr. Walker was in the Illinois Infantry during the Rebellion ) : Lesius H .. born December 10, 1852, a graduate of the Spring- field Academy : Aaron E., born January 28, 1855, a miller : Elsja M., born January 20, 1857, a pioneer in Spokane ; Susa L .. Davidson, born January 15. 1859: William E., born April 12, 1861 : Elda E. Estes, born September 1, 1865: Ina A. Denny, born January 12, 1870; Daniel F, born August 20, 1873. He was a regular at Vancouver for three years, and was on the Oregon at the time the Spanish fleet was captured. Our subject and his wife landed in Union county, Ore- gon, on November 1, 1885, and he farmed there for a decade. On December 4. 1895, he came to his present place, which has been the family home since that time. One child has been born to them, Cory A., born Feb- ruary 14, 1800. Mr. Mote is a member of the M. W. A., and in political matters is a Republican.

JOHN V. WILKS. In addition to the business of general farming which our subject carries on. he has been greatly interested in contract work and freight- ing, having followed the latter from Lewiston to Grangeville for eleven years. Also he furnished the telephone poles for the line from Lewiston to Mit. Idaho, from Morrow to Nezperce and from llo to Culdesac

John V. Wilks was born in Steuben county. New York, on April 12, 1851. His father, William Wilks. was born in England on January 10, 1821, and was a farmer and lumberman. He married Harriet, the daughter of Rance and Sarah E. Robbins. She was born in New York state in 1827, and is now living in Tillamook, Oregon. Our subject has the following brothers and sisters: Sarah E. Christianson. William M., John V., James, George, Charley L., Mary Ann Hull, Olive L. Ramon, Hans, Ellen Crugg, Hattie A. Clinesample, Emma, Lillie E. and Albert. Our sub- ject remained with his parents until he was nineteen and gained meanwhile an education from the district schools. Then he began farming and lumbering in northern Wisconsin, where four years were spent, and during this time he married Miss Eliza C., daughter of William D. and Cynthia E. Newton, natives of Ver- mont. The father was a pioneer in Wisconsin and had many fights with the hostile savages. He was an ex- pert violin maker. The mother was born on August 4, 1822, and was left a widow in Wisconsin with nine children, and she endured great hardships and wrought with an untiring hand to accomplish the support and bringing up of this large family. She taught the first schools in Oconto county and was a practicing physi- cian, being in great demand among the people of her vicinity. She died on December 4, 1901. Mrs. Wilks has the following brothers and sisters, Charles H., born September 20, 1845; George N., born March 22, 1847 : Sarah E. Hiszh, born April 7, 1855 : Robert P., born May 21, 1848: Edward D. W. I., born in 1849:

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Myron A., born June 1, 1852; Luman O., born in 1851: Hattie A. Foltsz, born in 1856. When Mr. Wilks married he went to York, Nebraska, and lived there for seventeen years. Thence he came to Rock- ford, Washington, and did timber work for three years. The next move was to their present place, about one mile northwest from Forest, where he has a farm of eighty acres. which is well fenced. He also has good buildings and other improvements. The school house is on Mr. Wilks' place and he is an active advocate for good schools. In 1893 he was chosen road supervisor and held it seven years and is asked again to fill this position. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilks there have been born the following named children, John W., born April 2, 1873 ; Eddie, born January 22, 1875 ; Emeline, born April 21, 1876; Eliza L., born July 10, 1878: Martha E., born December 28, 1880; George F., born March 16, 1883; Rosa M., born June 5, 1885; Bertha M., born March 29, 1888: Lillie E., born April 21, 1891: William D., born July 25, 1892; Zoa F., born June 10, 1894; Ruth E., born May 28, 1895 ; Myrtle A., born February 8, 1898.

JOSEPH S. SIMMONS, a prosperous and intelli- gent farmer residing about two miles northeast from Ilo on the estate which he took by homestead right from the wilds of nature, has done good labor in the building up of the country and is one of the enterpris- ing devotees of progress in every line, especially in the matter of betterment of educational facilities, for the purpose of which he even advocates doubling the school tax.

Joseph S. Simmons was born in Warren county, Iowa, on November 20, 1859, being the son of William C. and Mary B. (Allen) Simmons. The father was a farmer, born in Maryland in 1819 and died in 1876. He came to Warren county as early as 1846, being one of the very first settlers there. The mother was born in Indiana in 1821 and is now living in Nez Perces county. Her father was in the Blackhawk war and also in the war of 1812. She was a grandniece of Daniel Boone and her parents were pioneers in Ken- tucky. Our subject received his education in his native place and remained there until young manhood. 1879 marks the date when he started west for himself and he was in the first rush to Leadville, in the San Juan country, and then traveled in New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming and returned to Iowa after he had been absent four years. He farmed there for a couple of years and in 1886 came to Genesee, settling to the basic art for nine years. Then came a move to Camas prairie and when the reservation opened he took his present place and has devoted himself principally to raising grain and improvement of his farm since. He is one of the substantial agriculturists in the section and a man whom all respect.

On January 4, 1885, in Iowa, Mr. Simmons married Miss Mary F., daughter of Absalom B. and Susan (Little) Banks. The father was born in North Caro- lina in 1828 and the mother in Kentucky in 1838 and

they both live in Nez Perces county. Mrs. Simmons was born in Warren county, on July 26, 1867, and has the following brothers and sisters: James George, Isabella, Andrew J., Cora J. Mr. Simmons has brothers and sisters named as follows: Lewis A., Me- halah A., John B., Lucinda R., William T. Three chil- dren have been born to this couple, James, Herbert, and an infant unnamed. Mr. Simmons is an active Demo- crat and a familiar figure in the caucuses and conven- tions.

ERNEST C. MABBOTT. This young and enter- prising agriculturist has done his share toward the opening of the reservation country and it is with pleas- ure that we accord him a review of his career in the history of this section.

Ernest C. Mabbott was born in Iowa county, Wis- consin, on April 2, 1874, being the son of Thomas and Nellie (Farivell) Mabbott, natives of Iowa county, and now living in Nez Perces county. They were among the first settlers in Iowa county, and have wrought well on the frontier. The maternal grandfa- ther was in the Pikes Peak excitement and died in that country. Our subject grew to the age of eighteen in Iowa county and received a high school education. When he was eighteen he came to Genesee, and one year later went thence to eastern Colorado and re- mained two years. In 1895 he came to Genesee again, and two years after that time he came to the reserva- tion and secured his present place, two miles north and two east from Ilo. He has done well by devoting him- self to general farming and raising hogs.

On December 19, 1899, Mr. Mabbott married Miss Mary, daughter of Jefferson and Priscilla (Tatron) Tuttle, natives of New York and born, respectively, in 1844 and 1843. The wedding took place in Yuma, Colorado, and two children have been born to them, -Lela A. and Ivan E. Mrs. Mabbott was born in Howard, Nebraska, on November 12, 1880, and has two sisters and three brothers,-Nellie, Frank, Cora, Winfield and Thomas. Mr. Mabbott has the following brothers and sisters : Mav Lyford, Grace Markham, Guy, Ruth. Mr. Mabbott is a member of the W. of W. at Fletcher. He is a Republican and a progressive citizen, always laboring for the general welfare and advancement. He affiliates with the I. O. O. F. at Ilo.

JOSEPH STACH. Without doubt some of the most enterprising citizens of this country have come to us from the Fatherland, and one among this worthy number is mentioned at the head of this article; it is with pleasure we accord him representation in the his- tory of his county, since he is a man of uprightness and integrity, since he has done a first class work in developing the country, since he is now one of the substantial men of the community, and since he is a patriotic and public minded citizen of worth and ex- cellent standing.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 74

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