An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 82

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 82
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 82
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 82
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 82

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

a first-class patronage and stands well with his fellows. Mr. DeMoude married Miss Emma I. Bradstreet. daughter of John and Emmeline (Campbell) Brad- street, both deceased, being natives of New York. This wedding occurred in Ogden, on May 16, 1867. One son, Ora D., was born to this happy union. He was educated in the high school at Boise and in the university at Moscow, taking also the pharmaceutical course. He received his state diploma on October I, 1897, passing well. Ora D. is also a first-class musi- cian, being able to skillfully handle any instrument in the range of band music and is now the leader of the Nezperce band. He is also a member of the Macca- bees, being record keeper of Sunrise Tent, No. 17. Mr. DeMonde has two brothers and one sister, Ed- win H., in Kansas, and a veteran of the Civil war, hav- ing enlisted in Company D. Third Wisconsin, and serving the entire war under Joe Hooker and being in the principal battles of the conflict, never wounded, but once terribly hurt in an accident ; Richard R., in Minnesota, and also a veteran of the Rebellion, serving under General Washburn in the Twenty-third Wis- consin; Nettie, wife of D. C. Clark, an attorney in Minnesota. Mr. DeMoude is a Republican, strong in his principles, and he is always ready to take the part of the good citizen. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Morning Star Lodge, No. 56, in Nezperce, being vice grand : also of the Maccabees, Tent No. 17 : also of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, Cedwick Home- stead, No. 428, being deputy organizer. The family affiliates with the Episcopal church.

LAFAYETTE STARCHER. Three miles east from Lookout is the home of the subject of this ar- ticle, who was one of the pioneers of this reservation country. Mr. Starcher owns forty acres in this place and also one hundred and sixty acres in Shoshone county. He handles his land to fruit and has it well improved.

Lafayette Starcher was born in Spencer, West Vir- ginia, on June 25, 1858, being the son of Alfred and Nancy (Nutter) Starcher, natives of West Virginia. They were pioneers in West Virginia and in Washing- ton county, Kansas. The father was a Confederate soldier and was captured near Wheeling. He was born in 1835 and died in 1867. His wife died in 1897. The family went to Atchison county, Missouri, in 1865, and the next year to Washington county, Kansas, where the father died. The mother later married a Mr. Ware. Our subject remained with his mother until he was twenty, gaining his education in those days. Then he went to do for himself. In 1888 he migrated to Rawlins county and took land, but afterwards left the country on account of drouth, and so forth. Two years were spent in Nemaha county and in 1892 he came to Farmington, Washington. Two years were spent on the farm there and some time in town, and in 1896 he made his way to the reservation and la- cated his present place. He has since devoted him- self to the improvement of his land.

On May 22, 1877, in Washington county, Kansas, Mr. Starcher married Miss Sarah, daughter of Rowdy and Jane (Covis) Breckinridge. Mr. Breckinridge was born in Ohio, and was a pioneer in Illinois, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and in Kansas. Mrs. Starcher was born in Ohio and has two sisters, Bell Henry and Rachel Mccullough, both in Kansas. Mr. Starcher has the following brothers and sisters: Jacob, Arti- macia Stonebraker and Indiana Groh, all in Kansas. Six children have been the fruit of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Starcher: Lenna Sargent, near Spokane; Otis, Carl, Veva, Roy and Oral, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Starcher are members of the Baptist church at Lookout and they are exemplary people. Mr. Starcher has always been an ardent and faithful laborer for the advancement of the schools and general improve- ment.

ABRAHAM J. MARSHALL. Our subject has been a traveler in various portions of the west and has gaincd a vast fund of practical knowledge in various lines, while also he is well informed as to the country. and his selection of a farm in the reservation portion of Nez Perces county speaks volumes for the advant- ages of the county.

Abraham J. Marshall was born in Millville. Clayton county, Iowa, on July 23, 1861, being the son of Michael and Alice (Scoggy) Marshall, natives of Ohio. The father was born in 1825 and died on March 28. 1800. He was a carpenter and a pioneer in Clayton county, where he remained until his death. He was a popular man of the county, having been sheriff, and also was in other public positions. The mother of our subject was born in 1824 and still lives in Dakota. Her parents were also pioneers in Iowa. Abraham attended public school until he was thirteen and then went out into life for himself. He located at Fort Pierre, Dakota. and went to work on the range, which avocation he followed for nine years. Then a year was spent in Buffalo Gap, Wyoming, and later he was occupied for six years with a stockman in Deadwood. Subsequent to that he came to Spokane and worked one year near Reardan, after which he was engaged in a brick yard in Medical Lake. In 1895 he came to Moscow and spent several years there. Then a winter was spent in Salubria valley, southein Idaho, and thence he went to Walla Walla, then returned to Moscow. In Janu- ary, 1901, he came to the reservation country and bought his present farm, one inile east and three miles south from Lookout. It is a valuable place and well handled and produces excellent returns.

On May 16, 1897, in Moscow, Mr. Marshall mar- ried Miss Henrietta, daughter of Stephen and Jennie (Erickson) Timmons. The father was born in Jasper county, Indiana, in 1813. He enlisted in the Civil war. in 1861, being in the Twelfth Iowa, and now lives in Nez Perces county. Mrs. Timmons was born in Min- nesota. Mrs. Marshall was born in Rock county, Min- nesota, on November 8, 1877. and has one brother and one sister, Henry, in this county: May, in Luverne, Minnesota. Mr. Marshall has the following named

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brothers and sisters: James and Charles, in Iowa ; Lizzie Moore, in South Dakota: Sophia Graham, de- ceased : Scott, Colesburg, Iowa : Firmon, in Greeley, Iowa : Wesley, in Millville, Iowa. Mr. Marshall is a Republican and capable of defending his principles.

Mr. Marshall has considerable stock and his hogs. Berkshire and Poland China, are among the finest in the county.

CHARLES F. STELLMON. About seven miles northeast from Nezperce we find the home of the gentleman whose name is mentioned above. He is classed with the prosperous and progressive farmers of the section and has wrought here with a display of wisdom and skill which have given him the meed of a goodly portion of property, while he came here with very little property of any kind except a good stock of courage and determination.

Charles F. Stellmon was born in Greene county, Tennessee, on December 20, 1868, being the son of Henry and Elizabeth Stellmon, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee. When Charles was nine the family removed to Washington county, Ar- kansas, and soon went to Benton county, where the mother died when he was twelve years old. When our subject was sixteen he went to the Cherokee na- tion and later went to Bates county, Missouri, work- ing on a farm. Later he went to various places, vis- ited his father, and in 1887 he came to Genesee, Idaho. There and at Juliaetta and Lewiston he spent the time until the nineteenth of November, when he filed on a piece of land near Nezperce, which, however. he sold in February, 1902, and purchased his present place. In 1900 he made a visit to his father in Ar- kansas and in June, 1901, he went to Benton county, Arkansas, and there married Miss Jennie, daughter of William and Meekie Burrow. This wedding occurred on September 24, 1901, and in October they came to the home near Nezperce. In February, 1902, as men- tioned above, Mr. Stellmon came with his family to his present abode. This farm is a valuable piece of land, doubtless as good as any in the locality, and is handled with great skill and thrift. Mr. Stellmon has a good list of improvements, including buildings, fences, orchards, and much other valuable property. Mr. and Mrs. Stellmon are highly respected people, are intelligent and progressive and have demonstrated their qualities of worth here, which has given them numerous friends from every quarter.

SAMUEL PHINNEY. It is especially gratify- ing to have the opportunity to chronicle the salient points in the career of this worthy pioneer. as he has been through all the vicissitudes and hardships of the frontiersman in most of the important western places in early days and has for nearly forty years been iden- tified with the northern part of Idaho, having always been a foremost figure in its progress and upbuilding. He is a man of sound principles, and now, in the

golden days of his career, he is surrounded with friends and is honored and esteemed by all.

Samuel Phinney was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, on August 2, 1830, being the son of William and Lydia ( Belknap) Phinney, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively. The father was of Scotch extraction, migrated to New York, where he was married, and then to Pennsylvania and thence to Iowa. He enlisted to fight in the Black Hawk war and was one of the enterprising farmers of Iowa until his death in 1876. The mother of our subject came from ancestors who were settlers in New York for generations back. Our subject went with the fam- ily to lowa when he was eight years of age and there was educated in the district schools. In 1851 he went to seek gold in California and after mining near Sac- ramento for a time he was taken sick and returned via the Isthmus to his home. Six months later he made the trip across the plains with ox teams to Port- land. Soon he was in Astoria, and after two years in a saw-mill he spent three years or so in rafting on the Columbia. Then a move was made to Walla Walla and stock raising occupied Mr. Phinney until he came to Lapwai in 1866. While in the Portland country he enlisted to fight the Yakimas. At Lapwai Mr. Phin- ney settled on land leased from the Indians and con- tinued there until the reservation opened, when he took his present place, a portion of which is devoted to the town site of Fletcher. He has given his atten- tion to raising the cereals and improvement of his farm and he is one of the substantial residents of this vicinity.

Mr. Phinney married Adeline, daughter of Col- onel William Craig, at Walla Walla, in 1864, and to them have been born three sons, Fitch, Lee and Will- iam, farmers near Culdesac. Mrs. Phinney has two sisters: Annie, wife of Charles Fairfield, a farmer near Culdesac: Martha, widow of H. Vaughn. The subject of this article has traveled all over the north- west, especially the panhandle portion of Idaho, and is familiar with its early history, it growth, and has al- ways striven for substantial improvement and devel- opment.

STEPHEN JOHNSON. President Roosevelt said recently in eulogy of a man, "He has done things." And in speaking of the highly respected gentleman whose name appears above, we can say nothing more eulogistic than to recount somewhat the achievements of his life. They speak in no uncertain terms.

Stephen Johnson was born in Greene county, Penn- sylvania, on July 20, 1839, being the son of Zephaniah and Rachel ( U'lery) Johnson. The father was born in Pennsylvania, on December 21, 1812, and farmed in Greene county, and his death occurred on July 12, 1895. His parents were Zenias and Sarah (Crane) Johnson, both of German descent. The mother of our subject, who was born in Washington county. Penn- sylvania, about 1818, being of German extraction, is now deceased. Our subject received the beginnings of

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his education in his native place, but since that time Mr. Johnson has improved his time in a most com- mendable manner and stands today a well educated man, with a ready reference library at his hands with which he is very familiar. When the budding years of twenty came he started out and in Ohio and Iowa he worked at his trade of builder and contractor for six- teen years. Soon after the war he purchased land in Benton county, Iowa, aggregating seven hundred acres. While doing a contract business here, he had charge of the following churches: Garrison church, Benton county ; Grundy, Grundy county ; Iowa River and State Center churches, Marshall county ; and Wa- terloo, in Blackhawk county, in joint charge with Elder Miller. A sad experience in Mr. Johnson's career was the loss of his eyesight at the age of forty- five, but, using his own words, "Through skillful treatment and the blessings of the Lord, I am able to say, 'Whereas I was blind, now I can see', and I give all the praise and glory to His name." In 1883 he retired from the field of business and for twelve years devoted himself entirely to preaching, being thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the gospel. In 1897 Mr. Johnson came to the reservation and took land, which is now adjoining the town of Nezperce. He has im- proved his land in a becoming manner and is now re- tired from the more active calls of business. Mr. Johnson is still very active in preaching and for five years he proclaimed the gospel in this vicinity and George W. Thomas, whose heart and soul was in the work, was an able assistant in this worthy labor. Mr. Johnson is now presiding elder for the congregation at Nezperce and the one at Moscow also. He was the mov- ing spirit in organizing the church here and has done much to foster and build it up. One beautiful charac- teristic of our subject that we must not omit is that spoken of by the apostle that those in authority should be of good repute with those who are without. Thus shall the faith for which the church stands not be brought into disgrace. And it is with pleasure that we are able to state that in this particular Mr. John- son is of exceptional standing with all who know him, being highly respected and esteemed.

On March 7, 1865, in Knox county, Ohio, Mr. Johnson married Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Saloma (Rice) Hardinger, natives of Knox county, where also Mrs. Johnson was raised. To this happy union there have been born eight children, named as follows: Elma A., Zephaniah A., Zenas C., William F., Sarah O., George P., Mary E., James M. After preaching the gospel for thirty-five years he, accom- panied by his wife, went to Lordsbury, California, in quest of health. Mrs. Johnson has been a constant and faithful helpmeet of her husband and it is gratifying to see them in this, the golden time of their life, stanch tes- timonies to the truth and deserving of the enconium, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if found in the way of righteousness."

Mr. Johnson has three brothers and two sisters : Silas, near town; George, in Iowa : Daniel, on the old home place in Pennsylvania : Phoebe, wife of Isaac Kemp, in Greene county, Pennsylvania ; Sarah, re-

siding with her brother, Daniel. Mrs. Johnson has three brothers: Jacob, in Sullivan county ; Frederick, there also; Philip, in Benton county, Iowa. Jacob and Frederick served three years in the Forty-third Ohio Infantry in the Civil war. George, another brother, died on a gunboat on the Mississippi. Frederick was wounded in the hand. George, the brother of Mr. Johnson, was also three years in that awful conflict, as was his brother, Zenas, now deceased.

DANIEL S. STARNER. This gentleman is a sturdy representative of the pioneers who have opened the reservation country for settlement and made it one of the finest portions of the state. At the present time Mr. Starner lives one and one-half miles northeast from Lookout, where he owns a good farm and has devoted his attentions since filing on it to improve- ment and production of the fruits of the field.

Daniel S. Starner was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on October 18, 1848, being the son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Byers) Starner, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and born on September 18, 1803, and Decem- ber 6, 1813, respectively. They died on December 13, 1882, and August 23, 1881, respectively. Our subject grew to manhood and gained his education in his na- tive place and always manifested skill with tools, early learning the carpenter trade. When twenty-three he went to Wisconsin, settling in Richland county for two years. Then came a move to Stevenson county, Illinois, and two years later he went to Crawford county, Wisconsin, where he wrought for five years. In that place Mr. Starner married Miss Phoebe J., daughter of William and Isabelle Duell, natives of New York and Germany, respectively. Three chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Starner, all deceased. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Starner migrated to Ore- gon and thence to Dayton, Washington. In this last place his brother John resided and was probate judge. For eight years Mr. Starner farmed in that vicinity and in 1891 went to Moscow. There and in the vi- cinity of Garfield he farmed until May 17, 1898, when he came to hiis present place. This has been the scene of his labors since that time. Mr. Starner also car- ried the mail from Beeman to Rosetta, continuing on to Lookout when Beeman was discontinued. Mr. Starner has two brothers and one sister, Jolin A., a merchant at Freese, Idaho; Julia A. Bolley, in Mans- field, Ohio; Frederick, in Lynxville, Wisconsin. Mr. Starner has been a member of the K. of P. for years. He is a Republican in politics, but is an independent thinker. Mr. Starner is a strong advocate of good schools, good roads and all general improvement. be- ing a man of broad views and of public mind.

NATHANIEL T. WRIGHT. Among the stir- ring and practical business men of Mohler, whose skill and ability are bringing success to them. we are constrained to mention N. T. Wright, who is one of

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the enterprising men who conduct the Mohler Imple- ment Company.

Nathaniel T. Wright was born in Iowa, on June 27, 1866, being the son of Williami W. and Elizabeth (Gibson ) Wright, natives of Indiana. His father was probate judge in Indianapolis fifteen years before his death. Our subject remained with his parents in Iowa and in Latah county, Idaho, until he was twenty-one, having acquired his education from the common schools. Then he took a preemption on Bear Creek ridge, and in tilling this and rented land as well he was engaged until 1896, when he came to the reser- vation and took land. He was steadily engaged to open this and improve it until three years since, when he rented it and entered the employ of an implement firm in Spalding and later another in Grangeville. In January, 1900, in company with Messrs. Giles and Grass, MIr. Wright opened the recent business and since that time he has bent his energies and devoted his skill and business experience to the successful up- building of this trade. He has succeeded in a very gratifying manner and the company has already a large trade and a very flattering outlook.

On June 15, 1890, Mr. Wright married Miss Mar- garet \., daughter of Urban E. and Hannah ( Bullis) Elliott, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively, and now residents of Kendrick. Mrs. Wright received her education from the district schools and she has five brothers: Newman, in Kansas; Charles, William, Eugene, Frank, the last four residing in Kendrick. Mr. Wright has two brothers and one sister : Samuel A., at Lookout; Will- iamı W., at Slickpoo; Goldie M., wife of Robert L. Ralston. Mr. Wright is a Republican and takes part in the duties of the patriotie citizen. He is a member of the K. of P., Magnolia Lodge, No. 51, at Culdesac : of the I. O. O. F., Echo Lodge, No. 60, at Mohler ; of the W. W., Camp No. 612, in Mohler; and of the auxiliaries of the I. O. O. F. and the W. W.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been blessed by the advent of two children, Arthur L. and Nathaniel T. Mr. Wright is one of the solid and reliable business men of Mohler, who devotes his attention carefully to the prosecution of his business and brings to bear a wealth of skill and experience, together with fine judgment and keen foresight, which are telling in building it up in a commendable manner.

JOHN BRASCH is one of the substantial and en- terprising farmers of the vicinity of Nezperce, having taken his present farm, two miles northeast from town, in the fall of 1895. He came with two cayuses and plenty of courage and determination and this has won the day, for he now has a choice farm, well im- proved, with good buildings, orchard, fences, and so forth, and is a prosperous and well-to-do citizen. He also has a nice bunch of cattle and some hogs and horses.

John Brasch was born in Prussia, Germany, on February 25, 1842, being the son of Christ and Chris-

tina Brasch, also natives of the same place. When our subject was a child the family came to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where John grew to manhood. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany I, Twenty-eighth Volunteer Infantry of Wis- consin, and was attached to the western army under Sherman. He fought in the battles of Helena, where he was wounded ; Little Rock, Saline River, Spanish Fort, Blakely, and was in the siege of Vicksburg. Later he was sent to Texas and on August 23, 1865, he was honorably discharged, having seen plenty of hard service. Returning to his home in Wisconsin, he was married in Winnebago county, on March 3, 1867, Henrietta Koch becoming his wife. In 1880 they went to Thayer county, Nebraska, and in 1890 he came to Fairfield, Washington, and in November, 1895, Mr. Brasch made his present location, where he had pretty difficult toiling for a time, but now he is enjoying the fruits of his wisely bestowed industry. Four children have been born to Mr. Brasch: Chris- tina, wife of Lewis Nisson, in Adams county, Wash- ington ; Frederick W., who has a quarter section ad- joining his father's; Theodore L., at Fairfield, Wash- ington; Bertha, wife of B. Ohlson, at Rockford, Washington. On January 18, 1899, Mrs. Brasch was called hence by death.

On June 7, 1899, Mr. Brasch married Mrs. Mar- tha J. Stewart, daughter of George W. and Caroline V. Jackson. Mr. Jackson crossed the plains in 1845 and recrossed them five times. He was an intrepid pioneer and followed his profession of teaching school and music in various places of the west, especially in the vicinity of Spokane. He settled first in Clackamas county, Oregon, where Mrs. Brasch was born on March 13, 1856. She married Richard R. Stewart, by whom she had four children: Lynda V., wife of A. Pradella, near Spokane; Margaret G., wife of W. Redjovich, of Republic, Washington; Olive C., wife of E. C. Quincy, of Nezperce ; Andrew C. Mr. Stew- art died in 1898. Mrs. Brasch's father, well known as Professor Jackson, taught school and gave instruc- tion in music for the last fifty-seven years of his life. He was born on May 10, 1819, and died on October 25, 1894, the last event occurring in Spokane, where he was widely known and beloved. Mrs. Brasch car- ries a diploma as a skilled nurse and an expert ob- stetrician and has practiced for twenty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Brasch are among the most substantial and prosperous people of this vicinity and have the esteem and confidence of all.

LEE J. ROWE. It is like a fairy tale to recount the facts of the prosperity of the subject of this ar- ticle. In the fall of 1895 he came to the reservation and selected a raw piece of land, about three miles northeast from Nezperce, and in the following spring he brought his family to the land he had filed on. He had a team, one cow and seven dollars in cash when he landed here and now Mr. Rowe has one hundred and sixty acres of as fine farm land as one could wish to

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see. all fenced and under cultivation, a lovely eight- room house, commodious barns and outbuildings, a large amount of farming machinery, excellent or- chards and good berry gardens, besides considerable stoek, and his crops are a source of large revenue each year. Of course, he had the hardships and ardu- outs labors to endure incident to opening a farm here and his family were to be provided for, but he and his faithful wife labored along and the result has been this excellent showing mentioned above, and now they are among the leading and most substantial people of this vicinity. Mr. Rowe and his wife are devout members of the Christian church, as is also their child, Carroll, and their example has been for good all the time they have resided here.

Lee J. Rowe was born in Catawba county, North Carolina, on February 16, 1862, being the son of Noah I. and Camilie (Smith) Rowe, also natives of the same place. They reside in the old homestead house, where they have been for fifty years, and are aged seventy-four and seventy, respectively. The father served all through the awful conflict of the Civil war on the Confederate side. Our subject was liberally educated in Catawba College, attending that institu- tion from fifteen to nineteen.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 82

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