Biographies
"P"
CHARLES W. PELHAM
Since 1897 has resided in Kootenai county and throughout the entire
period has been identified with the development of its lumbering
interests, is now engaged in handling timber and in logging. He was
born in Bluffton, Indiana, October 16, 1878, his parents being James
Franklin and Florence (Wright) Pelham. The father was a representative
of one of the old New York families, for whom Pelham Bay and Pelham
Manor were named. Mrs. Florence Pelham was a sister of M. D. Wright,
one of the pioneers of Idaho, who assisted in the organization of
Kootenai county and was one of the first office holders and foremost
citizens. He became largely interested in lumber at Coeur d'Alene and
did much to develop the natural resources of the state along that line/
James F. Pelham came to Idaho at the time of the gold excitement at
Prichard creek in 1883 and for four years lived at Rathdrum, after
which he returned to Indiana.
In the common schools of Indiana Charles, W. Pelham received his
education and in his boyhood days came west with his parents, but
afterward returned to Indiana and there remained until nineteen years
of age, or in 1897, when he came to Kootenai county and here entered
into active connection with the lumber industry in the employ of his
uncle, M. D. Wright. He worked as a timber cruiser and in the tie camp
in the Pend d'Oreille country, his uncle establishing the first sawmill
in that country between Athol and Granite. There he worked as
superintendent for his uncle in connection with extensive lumber
interests for twelve years. In 1909 Mr. Pelham went through the Coeur
d'Alene Indian reservation, platting every section, showing all the
timber, its accessibility and also figuring the cost of operating.
Accordingly when the reservation was opened in 1910 he became a
locator. He located one-third of the homesteaders who came to the
district although there were thirty-one men engaged in the business.
His plats have been used by some of the large lumber interests of Coeur
d'Alene and by Kootenai county in determining assessments. Mr. Pelham
is now engaged in logging and in the timber business, buying and
selling timber lands. There is no one more thoroughly familiar with
this line of business than Mr. Pelham.
Mr. Pelham was united in marriage to Miss Sada F. Hall, of New
Hampshire. In politics Mr. Pelham leans to the democratic party, yet
largely maintains an independent course. He is interested in civic
affairs and is a most public-spirited citizen. He belongs to the
Chamber of Commerce and cooperates heartily in all of its activities
for the general good. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks.
[Source: History of
Idaho: the gem of the mountains, Volume 4; Edited by James Henry
Hawley; Publ. 1920; Transcribed and submitted to Genealogy Trails by
Andrea Stawski Pack.]
 FREDERICK POST
No history of Post Falls would be complete without extended reference
to Frederick Post, whose life record is also inseparably interwoven
with the development of the northwest. His labors were indeed a
valuable asset in the upbuilding and growth of this section of the
country and the town of Post Falls will ever stand as a monument to the
memory of one who recognized and utilized the natural resources of the
district through the continuous development and improvement of the
state. He was born in Herburn, Germany, September 16, 1821, a son of F.
W. and Ida E. (Schneider) Post. He acquired a good education in the
schools of Germany, to the age of fourteen years and then went into the
mines. When twenty years of age he joined the army, with which he was
connected for seven years, and during the latter part of his military
service held the rank of lieutenant. At the close of his army career he
was made overseeing officer of the German Engineering Mining Company.
Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, however, he decided to try his fortune on this side of the
Atlantic and in
1850 came to the United States, settling first in Kendall county,
Illinois, where his
business enterprise was manifest in various ways. He successfully followed
farming, engaged in the operation of lime kilns, also handled a stone
quarry and became well known as the owner of saw and flour mills. He
likewise constructed a water power plant at Black Hawk cove, which
still bears his name. He continued a resident of Illinois for
twenty-one years and in 1871 left the Mississippi valley for the
northwest. After reaching Idaho he purchased two hundred and
ninety-eight acres from an Indian chief where the village of Post Falls
now stands. Here he built a dam across the Spokane river and erected
the first sawmill of the district. He also platted Post addition to
Spokane and he built the first sawmill and flour mills at Spokane,
recognition of his connection with the development of the district
coming to him in the bestowal of his name upon one of the thoroughfares
of the city. He was the organizer and promoter of the Spokane Water
Company and thus became connected with various prominent and important
industries and business enterprises which featured largely in the
development of this section of the country.
As the years passed Mr. Post made large investments in city lots and
other real estate in Post Falls and his property holdings were very
extensive. He retired from active business in 1898, having in the
intervening years accumulated a handsome competency as a result of his
unfaltering enterprise and sound business judgment. His religious faith
was that of the Presbyterian church and he gave to the congregation at
Post Falls the lots upon which the church edifice was erected and was
also a most generous contributor to the support of the church.
On the 7th of August, 1848, Mr. Post was united in marriage to Miss
Margaret Hilt, a daughter of Philip and Catherine Hilt, natives of
Germany, in which country Mrs. Post was also born and reared. Of their
family of children only one is now living, Alice, who is the wife of A.
M. Martin, a very prominent and influential citizen of Post Falls, who
has been closely identified with civic as well as with commercial and
other business affairs. He is interested in the power company and the
water company and has other industrial and financial connections at
Post Falls.
 It
was Mr. and Mrs. Martin who gave to the city beautiful Evergreen
cemetery. Mrs. Martin has been very active in the Ladies' Aid Society
of the church and in connection with the civic interests and the social
life of Post Falls. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born six children,
Julia M., Frederick, Clair W., Marguerite, Alice Marion and Dean. The
son Clair passed away Saturday, June 7, 1919, being the first soldier
of the World war to be laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery. The funeral
was held in the Presbyterian church and was largely attended, many
being present from surrounding cities. Clair W. Martin had enlisted in
the Aviation Corps of the United States army and in the discharge of
his duties contracted tuberculosis. He continued his work while ill but
finally was obliged to give up and go to the hospital.
The disease by that time had advanced so far that recovery was
impossible and amid the heartfelt sorrow of many friends as well as the
immediate family the brave soldier boy was laid to rest. A friend wrote:
"Valiant and strong, and with patriotic intent,
You sallied forth, your services you lent;
You strove for that freedom so dear to all;
To vanquish the enemy who tried to enthrall.
"Heroically, willingly, you served with your might,
Determined to stand for only and ever the right.
No slacker were you, nor thought you of doom—
Onward! your watchword through sunshine and gloom.
"God be with you our hero from us departed,
Who has left us for a while, broken-hearted.
Willingly you sacrificed your young manhood
And for freedom right undaunted you stood.
"Now sleep for awhile, yea. peacefully rest,
Soon you'll awaken in the home of the blest;
Though now we have sorrow, our sorrow is vain,
For in heaven we know we will meet you again."
It was on the sixtieth anniversary of his marriage that Frederick Post
passed away on the 7th of August, 1908, and his wife, who was born
December 20, 1827, survived for about three years, her death occurring
on the 7th of February, 1911. For thirty eight years Frederick Post had
been a resident of the northwest and had therefore seen his state
emerge from pioneer conditions to take on all of the advantages and
opportunities of the older east. His labors were indeed a potent force
in bringing about this result and Post Falls and Spokane bear testimony
to his valuable contribution to the world's work in the upbuilding of
the great Inland Empire.
[Source: History of
Idaho: the gem of the mountains, Volume 4; Edited by James Henry
Hawley; Publ. 1920; Transcribed and submitted to Genealogy Trails by
Andrea Stawski Pack.]
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