An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 92

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 92
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 92
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 92
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 92


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Mr. Blair has the following named brothers and sisters: George R., in Pratt county, Kansas ; Mary S. Miller, in Kansas City, Missouri ; Annie B. Balner, in Pontiac, Illinois : John R., in Sawyer, Kansas. He is a member of the M. W. A., and in political matters he is active and interested, always supporting the princi- ples of the Republican party. Mr. Blair is a bachelor, preferring the quiet of the celibatarian's life to the cares of the connubial relation. His mother is living with him at the present time.


HENRY RIGGERS. The prevailing condi- tions of hardship for the laboring men in Germany have sent many of the sturdy sons of that land to seek their fortunes in the resourceful territory of this land of the free. Among this number is the worthy young gentleman of whom we now have the privilege of speaking. He is a man of indus- try, thrift and energy, and has labored in such a way that he has gained a goodly competence since locating here. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres is located three miles southeast from Gifford and was taken by him under the homestead right in 1896. He has bestowed his labor here since and it lias produced such fine improvements, as house, barn. fences, orchard, and so forth, and the products of the soil have made Mr. Riggers a prosperous and well- to-do farmer. He raises cattle and hogs and feeds most of his grain to them. He raises flax for the market.


Henry Riggers was born in Germany in 1872, being the son of Henry and Mary Riggers, natives also of the fatherland. The father as born in 1829 and came to America in 1892. The mother was born in 1841. Henry was educated in his native land and came in his early manhood alone to Wash-


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ington county, Kansas, where he labored until 1892, when he migrated to the vicinity of Genesee. There he wrought on the farms until the reservation opened and then he took the land as mentioned above.


On January 10, 1899, in Nez Perces county, Mr. Riggers married Miss Mary Kothe, who was born in Germany in October, 1879, and came to the United States when she was four years of age. Two chil- dren have been born to this union, Henry and Her- man. Mr. Riggers has two brothers, William and Dietrich, both in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rig- gers are members of the German Lutheran church. In political matters Mr. Riggers votes for a Republi- can president but as to others, he selects according to the man. He and his faithful wife are respected and worthy people and are among the most substantial citizens of our county.


JOHN HENRY BRAMMER. Without per- adventure it is admitted that some of the most thrifty and substantial citizens of America come to us from the land of Germany. As a true specimen of the thrifty and industrious and keen business men of the fatherland, we note the young and well-to-do stock- man and farmer, whose name initiates this paragraph. A brief review of his career will be interseting read- ing in the history of Nez Perces county and there- fore we append it.


John H. Brammer was born in Germany, on June 5, 1869, being the son of William and Sophia (Heisterman) Brammer, also natives of the same country. The father was born in 1839 and came to the United States in 1893. He was a forester for Lord Von Rehden for many years previous to com- ing to America, and is now dwelling near Melrose. The mother of our subject was born in 1840 and died in 1900. John Henry was educated in his native land and often he and his father talked over the ad- vantages of this country and together studied the financial condition here : finally in 1893 determined to try the venture of citizenship in the United States. They landed in New York on April 1, 1893, and at once came to Idaho, where settlement was made at Cameron and there they lived until February, 1896, when our subject filed on his present place, about two miles west from Melrose. He has bestowed with wisdom his labor in raising stock, general farming and so forth, and has been rewarded with the due meed of the industrious and capable, and is well possessed of the goods of this world. Mr. Brammer has recently sold the home place but is buying an- other and also contemplates starting in business in Melrose.


On December 7, 1900, in Nez Perces county, Mr. Brammer married Miss Lena, daughter of John and Mary (Gertje) Eihlers, natives of Germany, and now living in Cameron. Mrs. Brammer has two brothers and one sister, Herman, George and Emma, all at home. Mr. Brammer has the following brothers, the South William, who was a soldier in


African war, now residing in this country ; George, a farmer here, who was also in this country before our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Brammer are members of the German Lutheran church and staunch sup- porters of their faith. He is a man of his convic- tions and not only favors the Populist ticket, but votes it also. While in Germany, he was during the last years a soldier in the army and is well trained in military tactics.


OAKY W. LEGGETT. The little village of Ilo owes its birth to the efforts of the subject of this sketch. Through his efforts the postoffice was estab- lished and he named the place Ilo from his little daugh- ter's name. He is a public minded man, takes liberal views of the questions of life, is always laboring for advancement and stands well among the people. Mr. Leggett operates a general merchandise establishment and has a good trade.


An outline of his career will be of interest to the readers of this volume and therefore we append the same. Oaky W. was born in Adair county, Iowa, on May 30 1873, being the son of John L. and Emma (Johnson) Leggett. His father was born in Illinois in 1839. He was a merchant and farmer, was post- master at Lathrop, lowa, for twenty-five years, was railroad agent also, and county commissioner for six years. He fought the battles of the country in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry for three years in the Rebellion. He was a pioneer of Adair county and lives there still. His parents were natives of Illinois. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio, in 1849, her parents being natives of the same state. Our subject grew to man- hood in lowa and there received his education. At the age of fifteen he took charge of a station at Rock Island, having learned telegraphy and the business from his father. Three years were spent there, next he operated as express agent from Des Moines for a time and then engaged with the Great Western for a time. After this, he returned to the farm and labored for four years. Next he opened a general merchan- dise establishment in Dana, Iowa, and did a good busi- ness until the store burned down. It was 1898 that he came to the coast and later to Lewiston. He engaged with the Small & Emory Lumber Company for a time and then came to Ilo, where he opened a general merchandise establishment, and as stated above, he suc- ceeded in getting the postoffice established, of which he is postmaster, in addition attending to his mercantile business.


On March 7, 1894, Mr. Leggett married Miss Lillie M., daughter of Oscar and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Allen, natives of Ohio. The father was a blacksmith : both parents died when Mrs. Leggett was young. Mrs. Leggett was born in Iowa in 1874, graduated from the high school and taught for three years. She has two brothers and one sister, Charles H., Oscar F. and Hattie. all in Iowa. Mr. Leggett has the following named brothers and sisters: Anna, Bert L., Stella M .. all in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Leggett have two children,


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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.


Ilo and Dorothy. Mr. Leggett is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. He is a Republican in poli- tics and labors for good government. He owns a farm near town and other property. Mr. Leggett takes great interest in good schools and in churches and at the pres- ent time he is assisting liberally to build the Presbyte- rian church at Ilo, although he is not a member of that denomination. Mr. Leggett's father, grandfather, and two uncles, Thomas J. Armstrong and John Spellman, all fought for the Union in the Rebellion. The two uncles were killed.


WARREN CLUGSTON is a man of varied and many experiences in the industries of this world, has traveled over the western portion of the United States, especially in the northwest, and is well satis- fied that the reservation portion of Nez Perces county is one of the best sections in the west. He has a fine home and a good farm nine miles southeast from Peck. being a well-to-do and thrifty farmer. War- ren Clugston was born in the vicinity of Salem, Ohio, on March 4, 1840, the son of James and Catherine Clugston, natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where also they were married. An uncle of James Clugston, Captain John Clugston, was killed in the Revolution. In 1835 the parents of Warren moved to Ohio and in 1851 they came to McDonough coun- ty, Illinois. where he grew up and was educated. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Second Illinois Cav- alry, and served under General Grant. He was in the battle of Holly Springs and many skirmishes but on account of disability was discharged some time be- fore his enlistment of three years had run its course. In 1864 Mr. Clugston joined the Bozeman train of eighty wagons and four hundred men and started for the west, coming via the Bozeman cut off from the Platte. At Virginia City Mr. Clugston left the train and came to Idaho City, Idaho, where he mined. In the fall of 1865 he returned home, having three com- panions, The trip was made on horseback and one horse sufficed to carry the pack for the entire com- pany.


On February 1, 1876, in McDonough county, Illi- nois, Mr. Chugston married Miss Ann E. Johnson and in 1879 they removed to Crawford county, Kansas, and farmed. Two children were born to this mar- riage, John C., near Peck; James L., in McDonough county, Illinois. Mrs. Clugston died on September 4. 1881. Mr. Clugston had purchased a farm in Car- roll county, Missouri, and there, on July 2, 1883, he married Sena A., daughter of John and Grazelda (Barrier) Parker. Mrs. Clugston was born on July 8, 1860, in Richmond, Missouri. Two children were the fruit of this union, an infant that died on August 8, 1884, and Grazelda Ann, born in Carrollton, Mis- souri, on October 12, 1885. Mr. Parker is a business man in Carrollton and is now aged seventy-one, and his wife died in February, 1896. In the fall of 1888 Mr. Clugston came with his family to Colfax, thence to Moscow, and in 1889 he settled near Southwick,


and later we see him near Linden, where he pre- empted a quarter. On the seventh of June, 1896, Mr. Clugston came and took his present place, which was a wild piece of land and is now a fertile and valuable farm, well provided with buildings and other im- provements. He and his family endured the hard- ships incident to pioneer life, which were rendered more rigorous on account of the panic having just swept over the country before that. Mr. Clugston is a member of the G. A. R., at Kendrick. Mrs. Clug- ston was a graduate of the high school at Carrollton, Missouri, and has taught much both in the east and also since coming west. She held the principalship of the Juhaetta schools in 1895-6, and also has taught in other positions both in Latah and Nez Perces counties. Mr. Clugston is an old and skillful hand with threshing machines. He has followed the busi- ness for thirty-two successive years and is now using his sixth machine.


ALLEN J. SHORTLIDGE. A pioneer of the Central ridge country and one, too, who has made his labor manifest in the achievements in improving liis farm, our subject deserves first rank among the worthy men whose labors have made this county a fertile and wealthy country.


Allen J. Shortlidge was born in Delaware, New Castle county, on December 31, 1861, whence the family removed to Philadelphia. His parents were Allen and Mary A. (Plumley) Shortlidge. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Civil war, going in as a private but coming out as a captain. He fought in many battles and skir- mishes and was severely wounded through his hips at Antietam. He carried this ball to his death in 1899. In the early 'seventies the father came to the Black Hills, South Dakota, and in 1877 our subject joined him there. They freighted and in 1878 went to Wy- oming, working in the Sweetwater mines. In 1879 they went to New Mexico and there freighted until 1882 in which year they came to Pendleton and en- gaged in farming. In 1890 another move was made, this time Fairfield, Washington, being the objective point. Three years later they visited the Big Bend country and later our subject traveled in Alberta, Canada, but did not take land, not liking the country. In April, 1896, we find Mr. Shortlidge on the reser- vation and as soon as he saw the country he deter- mined to locate. A search soon found for him his present place, a fertile quarter ten miles southeast from Peck, where he has bestowed his labors with telling effect, making his farm one of the best in this section of the county. Few people were here and Mr. Shortlidge was forced to endure the hardships and deprivations of the pioneer and although he came with very limited capital, he is now one of the well- to-do men of the community.


On November 10, 1899, Mr. Shortlidge married Miss Carrie M. Wheat, who was born in Clay county, Illinois, on March 20, 1874. She graduated from the


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Flora high school and took up teaching which she followed until her marriage. She came west and taught at Moscow some also before her marriage. One child has been born to this union, Florence Lu- cile, who celebrates November 6, 1900, as her birth- day. Mr. and Mrs. Shortlidge are consistent mem- bers of the Christian church and they are leading and influential citizens in their community.


OWEN NUGENT. The famous little Emerald Isle has furnished a worthy quota of staunch men to build up American institutions and among the large number of substantial and patriotic citizens of this blood we mention the subject of this article, as both a typical specimen of the native land, and a patriotic, loyal and deserving citizen of this free land.


Owen Nugent was born in county Tyrone, Ire- land, in 1864, being the son of High and Bridget Nugent, natives of Ireland and dying in 1899 and 1895, respectively. Owen worked on his father's farm, embracing the rather meager opportunities to gain an education, and when twenty determined to try his fortune in America. He landed in Philadel- phia and for two years he wrought in the foundries and lumber yards of the Quaker city. Then he came on to Minnesota and farmed for two years. The next vocation was railroading, which he followed in all the states from Minnesota west and when the reserva- tion opened, he came hither and secured the place where he now lives. It lies six miles east from Ches- ley and has been well improved and made valuable by the wisely bestowed labors of Mr. Nugent. He has forty head of stock, has seven acres of ochard and other improvements equally excellent. Mr. Nugent has one brother in America and four brothers and three sisters in his native land. He has never seen fit as yet to abandon the quiet joys and composure of the bachelor life for the matrimonial sea, but Mr. Nugent is a jovial and affable man, a good business operator and stands well in the community.


GUST HADFORD. It is especially interesting to note with what zeal and interest those who come to the United States from the north lands of Sweden and Norway enter into the spirit of American citizenship. As a veritable leader in this worthy undertaking, we are constrained to mention Gust Hadford, who has manifested such loyalty and patriotism in his new found home that one is kindled to admiration of his manly and public spirited ways. In addition to this, Mr. Hadford determined when he came to become a thorough American and so at once set with a will to learn the language and he is now master of the English in a gratifying degree and speaks it fluently.


Gust Hadford was born in Sweden, on January IO, 1870, being the son of Lars and Catherine (Vester- lund) Hadford, natives of Sweden. The father is a farmer, was born in 1837 and is still living in his native


place. The mother died in 1ยบ85. Gust was educated in his native place and on August 20, 1885, he came to the United States. As said before, he came with the full determination of making this his home and settled to the spirit of the subject with an apitude and zeal that have made him a worthy and leading citizen. He had three older brothers, Peter, in this country, who toiled in McPherson county, Kansas, two years and a half and then came to Washington and worked at railroading for a time, after which he farmed in Spo- kane county until 1896, at which time he came to the reservation country and selected his present place, three miles southeast from Lookout postoffice. He has a good farm, well improved with comfortable buildings and beautified with a fine orchard. Mr. Hadford does a general farming business and raises cattle, horses and hogs.


At Spokane, in July, 1896, Mr. Hadford married Aliss Hannah E., daughter of Hans Halverson. Mr. Halverson was born in Norway and his widow now lives near Medical Lake, Washington, on a farm. Mrs. Hadford was born in Iowa, in 1880 and has two sisters and two brothers, Mary Wick, Anna Hadford, Holver, and John. Mr. Hadford has two brothers on the res- ervation. Lewis and John, and two sisters in Sweden, Christine and Caroline. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hadford, Celeste, Glady G. and Claude A. Mr. Hadford is a Republican and takes an intel- ligent interest in political maters. In addition to his other labors, Mr. Hadford has operated a threshing machine during much of the harvest times and is a skillful hand in this line.


WARREN P. HUNT. This well known pioneer has made a good record for himself and wrought with energy and sagacity for the development of the country since the early sixties, being one of the first who set- tled in Lewiston. He was born in Erie county, New York, near Buffalo, being the son of Isaac and Diantha (Allbee) Hunt. The father was a farmer, born in Mas- sachusetts, in 1812, and died in New York in 1896. while the mother was also a native of the Bay state, born in 1814, and died in 1892. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools, and went to California, via Panama, arriving at Sonora the day he became of age. He mined for eight years with indifferent success and then went to Monterey county and farmed for two years, when he came to. Idaho, landing in Lewiston in June, 1862. He was soon in Warren at the mines, where he secured some claims for himself and then bought the stage and express line from Lew- iston, which he operated for about seven years. Sell- ing then, he was elected recorder and auditor of the county, and was also given a second term, as his service was faithful and efficient. He was then ap- pointed postmaster for five years, then resigned the of- fice and took preemption and timber claims and en- gaged in raising stock. He was thus employed until 1891, when he sold one claim and took up the butcher business in Lewiston and Lapwai, also buying and sell-


WARREN P. HUNT.


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ing stock. Mr. Hunt continued in this until 1898, when he retired from active business to enjoy the fruits of his industry, wisdom, and thritt. He owns the claim he took in an early day and also some valuable town property.


The marriage of Mr. Hunt and Miss Olive C., daughter of J. D. and Caroline (Stiles) Martin, was solemnized in 1870, and they had two children, Irene, deceased, and an infant, unnamed. Mr. Mar- tin was a miner, born in New York, in 1823, came to California in 1850, and was assessor of Marysville. His wife was born in New York in 1828. Mrs. Hunt was born in New York on February 22, 1850, and came to California in 1858 ; she has one brother and one sister, Mortimer S. ; Hellens A. Leland. Mr. Hunt has one brother and one sister, Clara Washburn, and Frank. Mr. Hunt is a Republican and zealous for good government. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, in California. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Pio- neers' Association, and is one of the worthy pioneers of the county and a reliable, upright and highly es- teemed man.


SMITH RUPE. Perhaps no man in the vicinity of Chesley is better acquainted with the country in Nez Perces and adjacent counties than the subject of this sketch, who is a man of integrity and substan- tial qualities and has made a good home on the land acquired from the wilds of nature.


Smith Rupe was born in Montgomrey county, Vir- ginia. on April 5. 1853. being the son of William and Catherine (Carl) Rupe. The father was born in Ger- many in 1795 and died in 1886. He was a pioneer in Virginia and the mountain districts of Kentucky. He was a carpenter and farmer. The mother was born in Virginia in 1814, and died in 1879. The family came to the mountain districts of Kentucky, when Smith was a small boy and there he grew to manhood and received his educational training. In 1882 he moved to Living- ston county, Missouri, and there farmed for ten years, doing well. His next move was to Farmington, Wash- ington, where he did a thriving garden business until the reservation opened, when he made settlement on his present place, two miles northeast from Chesley. He has a well improved place and a fine bunch of cattle.


On August 30, 1877, in Kentucky, Mr. Rupe mar- ried Miss Lizzie, daughter of David and Frances (Montgomery ) Traylor, natives of Kentucky. The fa- ther enlisted in the Mexican war, but it closed before he got into action. He is now deceased, but the mother is still living. Mrs. Rupe was born in Menifee county, Kentucky, in 1861 and has three brothers, James R., George R. and Wiliam A. Mr. Rupe has the following brothers and sisters: Mary M., F. Marion, Oscar H. and John M. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rupe: Sarah F. Simmons, in Chesley : Louise J. McBride, at Farmington ; Ida M. Herman, at Chesley, Idaho ; Eva, Marion, Lloyd, and an infant unnamed, all at home. Mr. Rupe is a mem- ber of the M. W. A., at Melrose, and his wife is a


+


member of the Methodist church. He is a Democrat in politics and is intelligent in the questions of the day. Mr. Rupe does a general farming business, raises the cereals and stock and is prosperous. He is an ad- vocate of good schools and a progressive and good citizen.


Mr. Rupe's maternal grandmother was captured by the Indians and held a prisoner until she made her escape.


JAMES M. TABER. Any compilation that has to do with the pioneers of Nez Perces county and adja- cent country cannot fail to make mention of the genial and affable gentleman whose name appears above, since he is one of the carliest settlers; his father was one of the stanch men who came across the plains with ox teams and opened the west for the abode of man.


It will be interesting to note the details of this ca- reer and we will briefly outline them. James M. Taber was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, on April 6, 1860, being the son of John and Catherine (Whetstone) Taber. The father was born in Indiana in 1829 and died in Washington in 1871. The mother was born in Illinois in 1838 and lives at Latah county. In 1864 the family crossed the plains with ox teams and the father bought land on the Touchet river, near Walla WValla. He went to work improving the property and was one of the enterprising men there until his death. Our subject and his brother continued to handle the farm until 1878, and then they sold out and the family went to the Potlatch country. Mrs. Taber had mar- ried E. Fix in the meantime. She was the first white woman in the Potlatch country and they have labored faithfully in the upbuilding of the country. James M. took land and farmed there until 1892, doing well. Then he sold out and rented land on the Nez Perces reservation. He continued there until 1896, then re- moved to Lewiston for a year to educate his children. He returned to the reservation and engaged as engi- neer at Mill No. I : he passed the civil service examina- tion and could have remained indefinitely. He deter- mined, however, to purchase a mill for himself and ac- cordingly bought his present property, three miles southwest from Kippen. He has operated this mill for four years and does well. He is a good sawmill man and has a fine plant.


On May 21, 1882, in Nez Perces county, Mr. Taber married Miss Addie, daughter of Perry and Nancy (Sumpter) Thomas. The father was a freighter and packer in Oregon. being an carly pioneer. He came first to Washington and Idaho in 1852. He and his wife were born in Missouri. Mrs. Taber was born in Walla Walla county, Washington, in 1866, and has one brother and one sister, Thomas T. and Dora Taber. Mr. Taber has two brothers, Lewis C., Samuel S., and Lillie Hall and Ira Fix, a half-brother and sister. Mr. and Mrs. Taber have the following named children : Lucy M. Bailey, of Nez Perces county : John, Clarence. Lester, Dorcas, and Samuel, at home. Mr. Taber is a member of the M. W. A. and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Taber has




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