USA > Idaho > An illustrated history of the state of Idaho, containing a history of the state of Idaho from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future; illustrations and biographical mention of many pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day > Part 87
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In 1883 he arrived in Idaho and secured from the government a ranch of eighty acres, six and a half miles east of Moscow. There he built a store, opened trade, secured the establishment of a post-office, which was called Cornwall, and continued merchandising until 1887, when he re- moved to Moscow. Here he engaged in money loaning and in speculating, and subsequently established the Bank of Moscow, in partnership with McConnell, McGuire & Brown. He held half of the stock and was elected president, but after five months he withdrew, and in 1890 erected the Cornwall Block, sixty-two and a half feet front, on Third street, and seventy feet deep. It
is a fine substantial structure, three stories in height, and stands as a fitting monument to his business ability and enterprise. He now owns nearly the whole of that valuable block, one hun- dred and twenty-five feet front, and his building brings him a rental of four hundred dollars per month. He continues his money speculations and is still the owner of the ranch which he entered from the government, together with many other fine ranches, which are principally planted to wheat. He has built and occupies one of the finest residences in the town, and it stands in the midst of twenty-seven acres of ground. Mr. Cornwall is also largely interested in several gold quartz-mines, among which is the Ozark mine, at Florence, and the Oro Fino, which assays as high as one hundred and twenty-five dollars to the ton, and of which he and his son own one-half interest. He has shares to the value of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in the Golden Gate mine, six and a half miles from Moscow, its ore assaying seventy-six dollars to the ton, and is a shareholder in many other rich mining properties.
In 1849 Mr. Cornwall married Miss Barbara Wise, a lady of German descent, who was born in Canada. Their union was blessed with four sons and two daughters. They lived happily to- gether for about twenty years, when death claimed the loving wife, during their residence in Wisconsin. All of the children of that mar- riage still reside in the Badger state, except the eldest daughter, who is deceased, and the second child, Frank E., who resides in Moscow and is his father's partner in various enterprises. Mr. Cornwall was again married July 17, 1881, when Annie Maria Olson became his wife. She was born in Wisconsin and is of Norwegian descent. Their children are: Lulu A., Mason H., Enos C. and Corwin E., all living at home with their parents, although the two eldest are now attend- ing the state university. Mrs. Cornwall is a valued member of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Cornwall contributes liberally to its support. He was made a Master Mason many years ago in Orion Lodge, No. 70, F. & A. M., in Wiscon- sin, filled every office and is now past master. He has now reached the age of seventy-seven years, but is still hale and hearty. The record of his life is a history of business ability and success, and
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his taxes now amount to one thousand dollars annually. He has been a liberal giver to church and public enterprises and has taken a deep inter- est in the upbuilding and prosperity of the town. In his business dealings he has ever been just and honorable, and on no occasion has he ever oppressed or cramped a debtor whom he believed to be honest, but who through unfortunate cir- cumstances was unable to meet his obligations. His life has been one of the highest integrity. He is a man of broad scholarly attainments, of culture and ability, and he belongs to that class of repre- sentative Americans who, while advancing indi- vidual success, also promote the general welfare.
WILLIAM F. SCHMADEKA.
This gentleman has been such an important factor in the upbuilding of Grangeville that his life record forms a part of its history, and no work purporting to give an account of the growth and improvement of Idaho and her towns and cities would be complete without an account of his life. He has always resided in the north- west, his interests are centered here, and he has labored untiringly for the best interests of this section of the country.
A native of Lane.county, Oregon, he was born on the 5th of September, 1860, and is a son of George Schmadeka, one of the honored pioneers of northern Idaho, whose sketch appears else- where in this work. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Oregon, and also con- tinued his education in Grangeville, whither he came with his parents when sixteen years of age. He entered the Grangeville Academy, and prose- cuted his studies under the direction of Judge Hall. He entered upon his business career as a farmer and stock-raiser, and, owing to his capable management and wise business policy, met suc- cess in his undertakings. He had been a resident of the county onlya year when the Nez Perces In- dian war broke out, at which time he was on the ranch with his brothers, George, John and Henry, and his sister, Caroline. While they were loading up a wagon in order to make their escape to Mount Idaho they were joined by some freight- ers, who had been attacked by the Indians and had cut their horses loose from the wagons and ridden them to the Schmadeka farm. They all made their way together to Mount Idaho, the
Indians following them almost to the town. At Mount Idaho our subject and his brothers assisted in fortifying the place and remained there for twenty days. After returning to their home, in connection with other settlers of the locality, they built a strong stockade, formed of logs six- teen feet long, imbedded in the ground five feet. There were three thicknesses of logs. In the center of the stockade was the Grange Hall, the second floor of which was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers, and they fortified the upper room by piling sacks of flour on the inside of the walls. The fort at Mount Idaho was built of stone, and Mr. Schmadeka took an active part in preparing these places of safety and stood on guard many a night on the hill near by, in order to give the warning in case of attack.
He has long been prominently identified with the business interests of the city, having for twelve years conducted a meat market, after which, in 1893, he established his present general mercantile store. He erected a brick building, fifty by eighty feet, which is filled with a large and well selected stock of dry goods, groceries. men's furnishing goods and millinery. He re- ceives a liberal patronage and is conducting a profitable and constantly increasing business. He is also accredited with having erected more build- ings in Grangeville than any other man. He put up the first brick block and the second two-story building, the first being the Grange Hall, and all these substantial structures, erected through his efforts, not only stand as monuments to his enter- prise and business ability, but have also proven of material benefit to the town.
On the 10th of May, 1893, Mr. Schmadeka was united in marriage to Miss Lorena Harmon, the wedding ceremony being performed by the Rev. W. A. Hall, his friend and former teacher. Their union has been blessed with one son, whom they have named Edmund Carlisle. Theirs is one of the most beautiful homes in Grangeville, sur- rounded by extensive and well kept grounds, and its hospitality makes it the center of a cultured society circle.
In his political views Mr. Schmadeka has al- ways been a Democrat, and active in support of the party. He served as deputy sheriff of the county under T. J. Rhodes, and was a member of the first board of trustees of the town of
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Grangeville, being appointed to that position by the board of county commissioners. He was afterward elected to the same office and dis- charged his duties in a most prompt and able manner. He was also at one time an active worker in the Grange, and has ever been regarded as one of the most progressive and public-spir- ited citizens of his town and county.
WILLIAM F. SOMMERCAMP.
William F. Sommercamp, the leading merchant of Weiser, Idaho, is a native son of the golden west. He was born in California, February 16, 1860, and comes of German ancestry. His father, William F. Sommercamp, was born in Germany and when a young man emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, where for a time he fol- lowed his trade, that of confectioner. Subse- quently he married Miss Mary Slack, of Zanesville, Ohio, and shortly after their marriage they removed to California, where he engaged in mining. In 1864 he came over into Idaho and became one of the promient miners and stock- raisers of Owyhee county. He died in the sixty- second year of his age. His widow is living, aged fifty-nine years, and of their children,-three daughters and seven sons,-only four are now living, three sons and a daughter.
William F., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family. He was in his fifth year when they moved to Idaho and located in Silver City, and in the public schools of this place his education was begun. Later he attended St. Augustine College, at Benicia, and, after clerk- ing three years in a mercantile establishment, took a course in Heald's Business College, San Francisco, where he graduated in due time. After his graduation he accepted a position in a San Francisco wholesale house, where he re- mained three years. Next, we find him at Bodie employed as bookkeeper for Gilson, Barber & Company, and afterward he was for two years receiving teller in the Bodie Bank. Returning to Silver City at the end of that time, he became manager of the mercantile business of W. D. Bigelow. In the course of a year Mr. Bigelow died and Mr. Sommercamp took charge of the business, running it on shares for a year. Then he purchased the stock and continued the business five years longer. In 1891 he came to
Weiser and opened his general merchandise busi- ness in this city. From the first he met with grati- fying success, his long experience and excellent training standing him in good stead. His busi- ness has constantly grown, and to-day his well stocked general store would do credit to any merchant in any town.
Mr. Sommercamp was married December 16, 1881, to Miss Alice Harley, a native of Oregon and a daughter of W. S. Harley of that state. They have two sons and a daughter,-William H., Walter E. and Ora Belle.
Mr. and Mrs. Sommercamp are worthy mem- bers of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is identified with the popular orders of Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias and Masons. In the I. O. O. F. he is past grand, and past chief patriarch of the encampment, and he holds the rank of past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he supports the Democratic party, tak- ing an active and influential part in local affairs. For three successive terms he served as treasurer of Owyhee county.
HENRY A. RUSSELL.
Among the industrial interests which claim the attention of the residents of northern Idaho fruit- raising now demands special attention, and the gentleman whose name heads this review has at- tained considerable prominence as a horticultur- ist and has made a life study of the subject, is familiar with the needs of the different kinds of fruits, and his success has demonstrated his prac- ticability and enterprise. It is worthy of note that he was but twelve years of age when he planted his first orchard, which comprised two hundred pear, peach and apple trees, which he purchased of the Rochester, New York, nurser- ies, with funds of his own earning.
A native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Russell was born December 23, 1855, and is of German and Irish ancestors, who settled there at an early period in its history. His father, John Russell, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsyl- vania, and married Miss Julia A. Bryan. By occupation he is a farmer and live-stock dealer and has followed these pursuits throughout his entire life. He is now seventy-two years of age. His wife died in 1887, at the age of sixty-four years. In their family were seven sons and three
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daughters, all of whom are yet living. Leonard Russell, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Manassas Gap, Virginia, and died at the age of eighty-nine years.
Henry Agnew Russell, who was the third child in his father's family, was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the Jamestown Academy and the Pennsylvania State Normal School, after which he spent several years in Illinois, in teaching and studying. He then made his way across the Mississippi, and at dif- ferent times has been in southwestern Missouri, Kansas, Dakota and eastern Washington, teach- ing in most of those states. He came to his pres- ent home in 1892 and here has two hundred and forty acres of land. He has planted his trees twenty feet apart, alternating the apple trees with peaches, pears, cherries and prunes. Upon his arrival he erected a nice commodious residence, in which he and his family reside, and all the other accessories of the model farm are there found, in addition to the fruits mentioned. Being a practical nurseryman he propagates ornamental trees and plants as well as fruit trees, and raises wheat, oats, corn, beans, barley, tim- othy and clover hay, flax, live stock, poultry and Italian bees. While the orchard was young he planted it with beans, placing five rows between the trees, believing the growing of a leguminous crop to be much better than to leave the ground uncultivated and uncovered. He raised one thou- sand pounds of beans to the acre, last season's crop amounting to eighteen tons, without taking any of the tree food from the ground, and the land seemed benefited by the methods which he followed. He has taken a very active interest in fruit culture and fruit shipping, his present orchard consisting of more than ten thousand trees, mostly coming in bearing, the output amounting to five carloads last season, and it would be almost impossible to find any one better informed on the subject than he, having propa- gated most of the orchard trees now bearing in the Potlatch fruit belt.
Mr. Russell was assistant collector of fruits, etc., for the World's Columbian Exposition, which display from Idaho was so greatly admired and highly spoken of. He was also the first ap- pointed fruit inspector of Idaho and has served continuously under the different laws enacted.
The work of this officer is to inspect the orchards, to direct and compel the ridding them of fruit pests and noxious weeds and to aid in promoting and protecting the horticultural interests of the commonwealth and preventing the sale or dis- tribution of infected fruits, etc. He was the rep- resentative of the Potlatch fruit-growers at the Spokane Fruit Fair for three years, and received the gold medal for their display of fruits. He is one of the vice-presidents of the Northwestern Fruit Growers' Association, and it was from their exhibition at the Columbian Exposition that the fruit was taken whichi won the first prize in com- petition with the apples of the world. Very suc- cessful fruit fairs are now held in Spokane annu- ally, and the horticultural interests of the north- west are thereby greatly advanced. Mr. Russell has built a fruit evaporator on his property with a capacity of three tons of green fruit daily, and is thereby prepared to care for the products of his orchard when the market will not pay fair prices for the fresh fruit. He has served for some years as inspector and secretary of the Potlatch Horti- cultural Association, and is regarded as one of the leading representatives of the fruit-raising inter- ests of Idaho.
Mr. Russell was married September 15, 1886, to Miss Minnie O. Burns, a native of Ray county, Missouri, and a daughter of Agnew Burns. They now have three children, Emile H., Frederick A. and Floyd E. In politics Mr. Russell is a Repub- lican, locally casting his vote without regard to party ties. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
LEMUEL C. NEAL.
A representative of the mercantile interests of Lewiston, Lemuel C. Neal is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and is a most energetic, enterprising man, whose success comes to him as the reward of his well directed efforts, and is therefore justly deserved. He is native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred at Sun Prairie, Dane county, on the 12th of June, 1845. His ancestors were early settlers of Maine, and there his parents, Thomas and Olive (Dalton) Neal, were born, reared and married. In 1843 they removed to Wisconsin, locating within its borders ere its admission to the Union. In 1867
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they went to Kansas, purchased lands at Beloit, and there the father carried on agricultural pur- suits until his death, which occurred in 1887, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years. His wife departed this life in her fifty- sixth year. They had nine children, of whom six are living.
Lemuel C. Neal, the fifth in order of birth, was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Wis- consin, and pursued his education through the winter seasons in a log school house, while in the summer months he assisted in the labors of culti- vating the fields. When he was but sixteen years of age the country became involved in the great civil war, and from the beginning his patriotic spirit prompted his enlistment. It was not until the 29th of September, 1862, however, when he was seventeen years of age, that he was received, but the demand for soldiers had then become so great that the enlisting officers did not draw the lines so closely, and he was enrolled among the boys in blue of Company I, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry. He participated in the siege and cap- ture of Vicksburg, under General Grant, and was later, with General Sherman, in the memorable Atlanta campaign, taking part in the thirty-days fighting before the city was reached and captured. Then came the celebrated march to the sea, and later he participated in the grand review in Wash- ington, the most brilliant military pageant ever seen in the western hemisphere, the victorious army marching through the streets of the capital city that was the seat of a government whose power and supremacy they had established by the force of arms. Mr. Neal then returned to Wisconsin, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, after two years and nine months of faithful service. He participated in many a hard- fought battle, including the terrible battle of At- lanta, but had the good fortune to return to his home with only a slight flesh wound. The record of the boy soldier was a most brilliant and credit- able one, and he had just completed his twentieth year when mustered out.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Neal engaged in farming in his native state, and also followed that occupation in Dakota, where he took up wild land from the government, transforming it into richly cultivated fields. He also erected and conducted
a hotel in Larimore, North Dakota, for ten years, and there established a furniture and undertaking business, meeting with success in both lines of endeavor. His excellent business methods, strict integrity and careful management brought him prosperity, and he continued his active connec- tion with the business interests of that state until failing health caused him to seek a different loca- tion, and he found the needed change of climate in Lewiston. Here he purchased property and built a good residence and store, opening a furni- ture and undertaking establishment. He has won an enviable reputation in business circles, and his reliability, reasonable prices and earnest desire to please his patrons have secured him a good trade. He studied embalming in the Minneapolis School of Embalming, and, having had an experience of twenty years in the business, is a careful and accomplished funeral director.
In 1879 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Neal and Miss Ella Forest, a native of Canada. Four children have blessed their union, namely: Jolın T., Olive E., Thomas F. and Mabel W. The parents are active and prominent members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Neal is now serving as elder. He is a worthy member of R. B. Hayes Post, No. 2, G. A. R., at Lewiston, and while in Dakota filled all the offices of the post with which he was connected there. He is also a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges in Lewiston, and is highly esteemed in social, church and business circles, being true and faith- ful to every duty and in every relation of life. He is as loyal to the best interests of his country as when he followed the starry banner over the bat- tle fields of the south and valiantly fought for the preservation of the Union.
JAMES COLSON.
One of the respected pioneer farmers of Salu- bria is James Colson, who came to Idaho in 1864, and has since been engaged in stock-rais- ing. He was born in Ripley county, Indiana, October 23, 1834, a son of John and Polly (Allen) Colson, the former of whom was a farmer in Ken- tucky, moving to Iowa in 1850, where he was successful as a business man and land-owner. He died at the advanced age of seventy years. To him and his wife were born eight children, three of whom survive.
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James Colson was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the public schools, remaining at home until 1853, when he crossed the plains to California, locating in Siskiyou county. Here he engaged in mining, but met with only moderate success, notwithstanding the fact that he took out in one day four hundred dollars, which, with a great deal more, he lost in unprofitable mining enterprises. After three years spent in California he returned to his home by steamer and in 1860 went to Colorado, where he mined a year, then removed to Idaho in 1864, and during his many journeys never met with any misfortune. He resided two years at Idaho City and a similar length of time at Weiser, and in 1868 located in Salubria valley, on one hundred and sixty acres of land, and since then has been successfully engaged in raising cattle, horses and hogs. In politics Mr. Colson is a silver Repub- lican, but has never sought office, preferring to give his entire attention to his business.
On July 3, 1856, our subject was married to Miss Margaret Ann Taylor, a native of Ohio, and of this union ten children were born, of whom five are now living, namely: Anthony M., Daniel S., Frank, Charles and George. Mr. and Mrs. Colson are consistent members of the Methodist church, of which he is one of the pillars. Thor- oughly reliable in all his dealings, Mr. Colson possesses the high regard and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.
JAMES J. ROGERS.
The life of James J. Rogers has not been one of unvarying monotony, circumscribed by the habits, thoughts and customs of some narrow community, but contains many interesting inci- dents that come with travel and extensive inter- course with the world. Born on the Atlantic coast, he has visited foreign lands, has viewed many of the interesting scenes of our own coun- try, and is now located in the beautiful city of Boise, which nestles in one of the loveliest valleys of the Pacific slope. There he is successfully engaged in the practice of law, and in the political affairs of the state he is no unimportant factor.
A native of Maryland, he was born in the city of Baltimore, on the 24th of July, 1862, and is of Irish lineage. His parents, Joseph P. and Eliza- beth (Donahue) Rogers, were both natives of Bel-
fast, Ireland, and in 1858 crossed the Atlantic to Baltimore, where the father devoted his energies to bookkeeping. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious belief both he and his wife were Catholics. His death occurred on the 14th of April, 1895, when he had reached the age of six- ty-two years, and his wife passed away on the 22d of February, 1878, at the age of thirty-nine years. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are residents of either Illinois or Iowa.
During his childhood James J. Rogers re- moved with his parents from his southern home to New York city, and in America's metropolis he spent his early boyhood. He there attended the public schools, and after the removal of the family to Peoria, Illinois, he was a student in the Christian Brothers' College of that city for sev- eral years. On putting aside his text-books he entered the theatrical profession, and played with several companies in the south and southwest. In 1882, however, he abandoned the histrionic art and entered the Washington University, at St. Louis, Missouri, where he pursued a special course in painting, and for some time thereafter engaged in portrait-painting and decorating. He has traveled extensively and has gained that knowledge and culture which only travel can bring. He has visited China and Japan in the Orient, our new possessions in the Pacific,-the lately annexed Hawaiian islands,-the cold regions of Alaska, and many points in the United States that are of interest to the traveler. For six years he resided in Nevada, and two years in Utah and Montana, and on the 12th of February, 1892, arrived in Boise. Here he entered upon the study of law in the office of Hon. J. H. Rich- ards, and was admitted to the bar in 1895, after which he began the practice of the profession as a partner of his former preceptor. He is now alone, occupying a suite of rooms in the Sonna Block, and at the bar is meeting with success. He is also a very active and influential factor in politics, and was one of the founders of the Populist party in Idaho. He served as secretary of the first state central committee, and also held that office in 1894 and 1895. The following year he was elected to the house of representatives of Idaho and was recognized as one of the most effective debaters and active workers in that assembly.
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