An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 89

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 89
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 89
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 89
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 89

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Robert H. Steele was born in Randolph county, Missouri, on April 16, 1858, being the son of William M. and Nancy H. (Wallace) Steele, natives re- spectively of Kentucky and North Carolina. Robert grew up on a farm, obtained a common schooling, and in 1878 went to Colorado Springs, where he teamed and railroaded until 1881. In that year he came to southern Idaho and there wrought on the Oregon Shortline and in 1883 we find him in the same labor between Colfax and Pullman. In 1884 Mr. Steele went to the Coeur d'Alenes and packed for Charlie Smith for a time, then worked in a sawmill in Pa- louse. In the winter of 1884-5 he went, via Portland, to San Francisco, Old Mexico, Texas, and so forth, to his home in Missouri, to visit his father, his mother having died in 1871. While crossing the Cascade mountains they were snowed in and were twenty-three days cooped up and finally had to walk out, almost perishing, as three days were spent without food under these trying circumstances. Two years were spent in the east and then Mr. Steele came to the vicinity of Troy. Latah county, and there took a pre- emption. This was the arena of his labors in the stock business until the spring of 1896, when he came to his present place at Steele postoffice, and took a homestead. This has been improved in a good man- ner, has produced abundant returns of crops, is a valuable piece of land and shows in every point the skill and thrift of Mr. Steele. His means were limited

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

when he opened this place but now he has gained a good competence. In April, 1902, Mr. Steele was appointed postmaster of Steele postoffice and since that time has discharged the duties of the office in an acceptable manner. In addition to the postoffice and farm, Mr. Steele has opened a general merchandise establishment and is constantly increasing his stock as the demands of trade indicate. He is a good, substantial man, well respected by all who know him and is an influential factor in the upbuilding of the country. He is a member of the W. W.

On February 17, 1895, Mr. Steele married Miss Nettie B., daughter of Allen and Susan Summers, who were pioneers to Bates county, Missouri, and also to Latah county and in 1896 to the reservation country near Nezperce, where the father died on February 21, 1902. The mother still lives on the old home place. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steele: William A., Victor H., and Susan F. Mr. Steele enlisted in the National Guards in 1890 and served three years, being there soon after the Frisco mine was blown up. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are members of the church and are in hearty sympathy with this branch of labor as in all worthy endeavors for the amelioration of the condition of all.

SAMUEL E. LOWARY is an enterprising farmer and stockman, two miles southwest from Melrose, where he took the raw land and has made worthy im- provements and also placed himself as one of the sub- stantial men of the community. He handles stock and raises the cereals and his place is a model of excellent cultivation and thrift. Mr. Lowary also has a fine orchard and intends making his place one of the finest that skill and labor can accomplish.

Samuel E. Lowary was born in Chautauqua county, Kansas, on November 16, 1871, being the son of James and Mary A. (Hawkins) Lowary. The father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 1833. served as teamster in the Civil war, came as a pioneer to the big bend country in Washington in April, 1883, and died there July 10, 1901, aged sixty- eight years, three months and twenty days. The moth- er was born in Missouri, on January 1, 1839, and died March 5, 1886. Our subject grew up in the various places the family lived and was favored with a public school education. In September, 1879, the family came to the Grande Ronde valley, Oregon, crossing the plains with wagons. Then came the move to Wash- ington, as mentioned above, and our subject remained at home until twenty-one, at which time he bought land, and farmed until 1895. In that year he came to the Potlatch country, tilling the soil there un- til the reservation opened, in 1896, when he came and settled on his present place, and here he has devoted his labors assiduously since with the happy result that his estate is one of the best improved and most excel- lent ones in the community.

In the spring of 1896 in Latah county, Mr. Lowary married Miss Harriett E. Timmons, daughter of Will-

iam and Mary Timmons, natives of Iowa and Penn- sylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer. Mrs. Lowary was born in Floyd county, lowa, on July 26, 1877. She has four sisters and three brothers living. Mr. Lowary has the following named brothers and sisters, Frank and George, in Lincoln county, Wash- ington ; Lorenzo, in Nez Perces county ; Minnie B. Richardson, in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowary there have been born four children, Annie B., Bertha E .. George and Dora. Mr. Lowary affiliates with the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A., at Melrose. He is a Republican in politics and is a stanch advocate of good schools and churches. Mrs. Lowary had one uncle in the Civil war. It is with pleasure that we can record tliat Mr. Lowary stands well with the people and is one of the leading and responsible men of this section.

GEORGE W. BELOIT. Among those whose la- bors have developed the reservation in Nez Perces county must be mentioned the gentleman whose name is at the head of this article. He has a nice farm and good improvements, one mile west from Summit, where the family home is now.

George W. Beloit was born in Flint City, Michi- gan, on July 19, 1864. being the son of Charles W. and Sarah J. (Martin) Beloit. In 1870 the family re- moved to Missouri. the father taking a homestead in Texas county. The parents remain there yet. Our subject left the parental roof at the age of fifteen and worked on the farms of the state for two years. Then he went to Montana, being engaged on the stock ranches and teaming for the government. Later he purchased a team and freighted, gaining sufficient means to enable him to spend a season in the Salt Lake Seminary, which made up for the lack of educational training he was deprived of in his earlier days. Later he took a course in the Helena Business College and canvassed for a Chicago house in that section success- fully for a time and then returned to Missouri to get married. Bringing his bride with him, he came to Hel- ena and canvassed for a couple of years. Later he rented a farm and then squatted on unsurveyed land, but the excessive drought spoiled three crops and, be- coming discouraged. he sold out and removed to Deer- lodge, where he gained employment for three years. He dealt some in town property there. In 1894 Mr. Beloit came with teams, via Boise valley, to the Pot- latch country, where he harvested and dealt in horses, and in 1895 he filed on his present place. He raises cattle and hogs and uses the entire production of the farm to feed his stock. Mr. Beloit has been especially successful in breeding hogs. He handles the Berk- shires exclusively, and has some fine premium winners and also a good many animals that are registered and eligible for registration. His success in this line has placed him in the lead in this entire section.

Politically Mr. Beloit is a Prohibitionist and has acted as delegate to the state convention. He was nom- inated for the legislature and was defeated, as he ex- pected. He has two brothers, Virgil and Fred, both

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

in Colorado, and he also has three sisters: Cora N., wife of Mr. Leslie : Carrie, wife of Elmer McClelland, of Mackey, Idaho; Clara, wife of Mr. Gray. The last named sisters are twins. Mr. Beloit's wife was born in Washington county, Missouri, on August 16, 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Beloit there have been born seven children, Jesse J., Heman H., Mabel \'., Wayne M., Florence N., Ray and Elden. Mr. Beloit and his es- timable wife are members of the Methodist church.

PRESLEY P. CLEVELAND. Men, like the sub- ject of this article, are the ones who have made the west so thrifty and wealthy. Mr. Cleveland is one of the leading agriculturists of Nez Perces county. We make that statement guardedly and the reasons are, that he has in the first place a well selected farm, which he took from the wilds when the reservation was opened. It is laid out with wisdom and the build- ings are erected with an outlook both for convenience and beauty. He has a well selected orchard that is a model in every respect. His land is handled in a skill- ful manner, being rotated to a variety of crops as hay, oats, wheat, barley, flax and the vegetables. Mr. Cleveland has a number of excellent graded cattle and some thoroughbred hogs. His barns are commodi- ous and his residence is comfortable and tasty. The entire appearance of the farm is one of thrift, indus- try and skill and because of the points mentioned it is evident that it is one of the model farms in the west, not given to extremes in any line, but manifesting a beautiful symmetry and proportion in all points.

Reverting more to his personal history, we note that Presley P. Cleveland was born in Monroe county, Tennessee, on August 19. 1851. being the son of Lar- kin J. and Minerva (Parker) Cleveland. The father was born in Tennessee and his father was one of the pioneers of that country from North Carolina. The mother of our subject was a native of Tennessee and her father came from Virginia to her native state. Presley grew up on a farm and gained his education from the public schools and from Croton Academy. He remained at home until of age and then farmed for a widowed cousin for four years. After this, he op- erated a farm for a great-uncle for four years, during which time he was married and in the fall of 1879 he came to northwestern Missouri. The next spring he went to the southern part of that state and nine years later he came to the vicinity of Garfield, Washington, where he rented land and also near Steptoe Butte for a year and then came to the Potlatch country, settling near Juliaetta in the fall of 1891. In the spring of 1892 he purchased a ranch near Kendrick and to the tilling of that he gave his attention until the reserva- tion opened up and then he located on the place de- scribed above. In addition to the items mentioned we should relate that the two hundred shade trees that Mr. Cleveland has arranged in an artistic manner about his grounds add great comfort, beauty and value to the property. In addition to his own land he leases eighty acres from Mr. Gifford. Mr. Cleveland has three

brothers, Alfred A., Harvey H. and Robert MI. Also he has two sisters, Cordie, wife of Orin Evans, near Gifford : Eliza, wife of David Black, south of Gifford. Mrs. Cleveland's maiden name was Nannie J. Rausin. She was born in Monroe county, Tennessee. He had three uncles in the Confederate army and one in the Union army. The last one was a lieutenant, who was wounded at the battle of Nashville.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland there have been born ten children, Charles F., Robert B., Ben J., Ira, Satie L., Minerva E., Larkin P., Hattie M., Grace E., Lona H. Mr. Cleveland is one of the leading men of the community and is always alert for the furthering of those measures that tend to advance the welfare of all. He was formerly a Republican in politics but is now a Populist.

Mrs. Cleveland, whose parents were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, but now deceased, had three uncles in the Union army . one on the mother's side, and two on the father's side.

PHILANDER H. CLARK. Although Mr. Clark has not been in Nez Perces county as long as some of the pioneers, still he has been in different sections of the west for a long time and has wrought with energy and skill and thrift in these various places for their upbuilding and advancement, and during the time of his stay here he has made a good record for himself and is one of the established business men of Gifford. He operates a feed and livery stable and does a good busi- 11css.

Philander H. Clark was born in Blount county, Tennessee. on June 4. 1863, being the son of Philander H. and Margaret J. ( Dearmond) Clark, natives of Tennessee, where they now reside. The ancestors came from Scotland and England and were of French de- scent. Our subject remained at home until twenty, gaining a good education from the common schools and from Marysville College. Then he came alone to Polk county, Oregon, purchased land and settled to farming. He remained there until 1890, when he sold out and came to Colfax, Washington, and selected land eight miles north from that town. He tilled the soil in a becoming manner there for a decade and then sold again and on this occasion he made a visit to his home place in Tennessee, renewing old acquaintances and having a pleasant time with his aged parents and the other members of the family. But the pleasant asso- ciations of the east were not able to allure one whose spirit had tasted the freedom and stir of the occident, and accordingly we see Mr. Clark back in the west and soon settled in Gifford, the date being October, 1901. He opened a feed stable, which he has been im- proving, and during the months in which he has la- bored here he has gained a good trade and is fast be- coming popular with the people of his section and the traveling public who require rigs. He is known as a reliable and accommodating man and one who exerts himself for the safety and welfare of his patrons.

Mr. Clark has three brothers, James R., a farmer

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about two miles northeast from Gifford: Robert and Thomas E., both living with the parents in Tennessee. Also Mr. Clark has one sister, Mary, who resides with her parents. Mr. Clark had one uncle and two nephews in the Confederate army, while his father was a strong Union man. Our subject is a member of the W. of W., at Lookout. Mr. Clark owns his own property and stables here and is one of the thrifty and respected men of the community.

CHARLES W. LITTLE was born in Elgin, Illi- nois, on November 29, 1860, being the son of Edward V. and Lannie Ann (Keach) Little. The father was a cabinet maker and was born in Montreal, Canada, and the mother was born in New York. Our subject was reared in his native place and received a cominon school education. He came to the coast in 1882 and for one year he was engaged with the street car company in San Francisco. He next spent two years in fishing for salmon on the Columbia river. After this he purchased a farm in Linn county, Oregon, and gave his attention to raising poultry. This was in 1884 and at that time he also married and continued to live on the farm until 1887. In that year he removed to Lincoln county, Washington, and there took a government claim, which later he abandoned. In 1892 Mr. Little went east and remained two years. It was 1897 that he came to his present location and is now farming a portion of the land of Mr. Butler, his brother-in-law. To Mr. and Mrs. Little there have been born three children, Jessie E., Minnie E. and Marion W.

Mr. and Mrs. Little are members of the Reor- ganized church of Latter Day Saints, better known as Josephites. This organization has repudiated some of the practices of the body from which they split and they are entirely free from the practice of poly- gamy as sustained by Brigham Young. It is but right to say that this reorganized denomination has so far cut off all those things that were objectionable to the body politic of the country that they stand as one of the evangelical organizations of the country. Mrs. Little's father is a priest in this church. Mr. and Mrs. Little are respected citizens of the county and are esteemed by all who know them.

SETH GIFFORD. Not only has the subject of this article taken a leading and influential part in the affairs of the county of Nez Perces since he has been here, but in his career formerly, he has held prom- inent positions and has achieved brilliant success in the face of great odds. A more detailed account will be interesting reading for the people of our county and accordingly we append an epitome of his life.

Seth Gifford was born in Morgan county, Ohio, on November 23, 1847, being the son of Burton and Re- becca (Worrall) Gifford. His father was born in Ken- nebec, Maine, and for forty years sailed the ocean.

Our subject's mother was born in Ohio, being de- scended from Holland Dutch and her ancestors were early settlers in Pennsylvania. Mr. Gifford's paternal ancestors were English Quakers and the sturdy blood of that race is manifest in the life of our subject. They were among the earliest settlers at Roxbury, Massa- chusetts, and the family is known there to this day. Mr. Gifford's present wife was formerly Miss Cannie Crewdson, born in Iowa in 1866, her parents being William W. and Eliza Crewdson. She has two broth- ers, Ezekiel, treasurer of Crook county, Wyoming, and Monroe, a farmer in Iowa; she has also two sisters, Carrie, wife of John Haney : Eva, wife of Israel Lake. Mr. Gifford has two brothers living, John and Charles : George died in the south during the Civil war : and six sisters, Harriet, wife of Jesse H. Swart : Ann, wife of Thomas Gray ; Ruth, wife of John Malone : Martha. wife of James Pierce : Maria, wife of Joseph Walker : Eliza, wife of Cass S. Swart. By a former marriage Mr. Gifford has two children, Wilford L., now asses- sor and tax collector of Nez Perces county, and Len- na M., who is now assistant superintendent of the city hospital at Sioux City, Iowa. This former wife of \r. Gifford used to be Anna Buckman. From the pres- ent marriage there have been four children. Burton, Lora, Lucy and Ruth.

Mr. Gifford spent his boyhood on a farm in Cedar county, Iowa, coming there when four years of age. At twenty, there he married his first wife and settled on a farm which his father gave him. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Forty-seventh Iowa. under Colonel Sanford, being most of the time at Helena, Arkansas. He went to Dakota in. 1870, taking a pre-emption and then came back to Montgomery county, Iowa. Later he sold out and removed to Audubon county, pur- chased a farm and also engaged in mercantile labors for one year, and the next five years were spent in traveling about in the government secret service. He came as far west as the Pacific coast and did com- mendable work in capturing law breakers. In 1882 he was engaged in the Apache Indian war as a scout and had many narrow escapes and much thrilling ex- perience In 1885 he went to the Black Hills, repre- senting five leading companies in detective work as well as being in the government service. In 1887 he was elected sheriff of Fall River county, and served six years. He was the only Republican that has ever served in that county. In 1890, under the state law, it was his duty to protect the interests of the people, as the Sioux Indians at Pine Ridge and Rosebud agency were on the war path. He did a great deal of fighting and while not at the battle of Wounded Knee, he was there just after the battle. It was at a time of great trouble, as the outlaws of the world had flocked there: but soon it was apparent that in Mr. Gifford, a man was on the scene who was a match and during two terms he was instrumental in sending to the pen nineteen terrorizing criminals. During his term of service the territory was made a state and under the state constitution he could hold only two terms or doubtless he would have been called to still conserve the interests of the county in peace-

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ful government. He then retired to his stock farm on the Cheyenne river, remaining in that retreat, tak- ing the long needed rest from constant strain for years, until May, 1895, when he went to Little Bitter Root Falls, Montana, with teams, taking his family and there settled on unsurveyed land. On account of the exposure of his family to hostile Indians who were fighting for that land, he vacated and came to Nez Perces county and settled on land that now ad- joins Gifford. He broke twenty acres the first fall and now it is all farmed to wheat. He bought land where the town stands, and was instrumental in starting it. He owns a large interest in the site and is one of the prominent men of this section. Mr. Gif- ford is engaged in conducting a first class hotel, operating a general merchandise establishment and is postmaster for the town. In all these relations he has manifested great ability, excellent wisdom and integrity to the satisfaction of the patrons of the of- fice and to the enlargement of a fine business.

He served as justice of the peace from 1895 to 1900 and in politics he has always been active. He is a Republican and has not scratched the ticket for twenty-five years. For two years, Mr. Gifford was in charge of the postoffice and the stage station at Beeman. He has a brother who was connected with the famous Brown in operating an underground railroad in 1859. Mr. Gifford is unsectarian but his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Gif- ford stands well among the people of this section and has gained a prestige that is deserving and enviable. He has many friends from all quarters and his past services in the interests of peace and good government entitle him to the emoluments that are now his to en- joys.

SAMUEL PORTER. Among the leading stock- men and farmers of the vicinity of Peck the name of our subject holds a prominent position, which is well merited by his excellent endeavors and personal worth.

Samuel Porter was born in Northampton, Massa- chusetts, on September 8, 1867, being the son of Will- iam J. and Ellen ( Foley ) Porter. The father was born in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1830, and came to the United States in 1846. He now lives in Nez Perces county with this son. He was county supervisor in Hancock county, Iowa. The paternal grandfather of Samuel was born in America. The mother of our sub- ject was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1812. and died in 1807. The family came to Mitchell county, Iowa. when Samuel was two years old, and then went to Hancock county, where they remained until 1893. There Mr. Porter grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools. He wrought with his father in the stock business, which the latter was extensively engaged in. During this time he traveled to various portions of the country, Florida, all over the south and to the leading markets. In 1893 they came to Kendrick and bought a ranch, which the father owns now. In the fall of 1895 Mr. Porter came to his pres- ent place, about one mile northeast from Peck, and

there took land. He has a half section of fine land, well improved and productive of good returns annu- ally. Mr. Porter has a fine seven-room house, a ca- pacious barn and all improvements needed. He raises cattle extensively, being associated with his father, as he has always been since boyhood.

On May 10, 1899, Mr. Porter married Miss Isa- bella Holt, daughter of James and Mary Holt. The wedding occurred in this county. Mr. Holt is a stock- man and farmer in this county and was born in Ken- tucky, but crossed the plains in a very early day, hav- ing been one of the sturdy pioneers who opened up California, Oregon and Idaho; and was married at The Dalles. His wife was born on the Pacific slope. Mrs. Porter was born near Marengo, Washington, in 1872. She has five brothers and eight sisters. Mr. Porter has the following named brothers and sisters, John, deceased; Joseph D., William, Ella, Cusic, Mag- gie, deceased. Our subject and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church. In political matters Mr. Porter is a Democrat and sometimes is at the con- ventions. He is a hearty supporter of good schools and is a progressive citizen. Mr. Porter has some excellent Shorthorn cattle and takes great interest in breeding fine stock. His farm is well supplied with water from springs which he has piped down, and his estate is a place of value and displays commendable thrift.

WILLIAM S. CLAYTON. This enterprising and well known business man of Gifford is one of the representative citizens and public minded men who have built the town of Gifford to what it is and have the energy and push and skill to make of it a prosper- ous and influential municipality. It is very fitting therefore that the history of Nez Perces county should grant space for the life of Mr. Clayton. He was born in Jackson county, Arkansas, on October 14, 1863, being the son of John M. and Cynthia (Damron) Clayton. The father was a Methodist minister and a chaplain in the Confederate army during the entire war. His wife's brother, John Damron, was a soldier in the conflict on the southern side. The father still lives on the old homestead at Pea Ridge, where our subject was reared. The place is the spot of the bat- tle and made famous by Sigel and others. William S. was educated in the common schools and in Pea Ridge Academy. In 1884 he came to Wyoming and there spent three years herding stock. Then two years were happily passed in visiting his home place and vi- cinity. After that, Mr. Clayton came to Klickitat county, Washington, and learned the blacksmith trade in Centerville, in that county. He wrought there and in Sherman county, Oregon, for eight years and in 1899 came to Culdesac. In 1900, he came to Gifford and started a blacksmith shop. G. M. Lindsay started a general merchandise establishment at about the same time and this was the nucleus of the town. In June, 1901, Mr. Clayton started a small hardware store in connection with his blacksmith shop and as business increased he erected a building especially for

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 89

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