In this gentleman we have exemplified the true grit and stability that have out ridden the adversities and hardships that accumulated in his path and hue with every rising tide of trouble found a way to scale them all and bring excellent success to him in the end. He is one of the most prosperous farmers and real estate holders of this County, and is one of its leading and prominent business men.
George W. Pliter was born in Genesee County, New York, on March 22, 1853, being the son of Matthew Pliter. The father was a farmer and was born in Germany February 21, 1809. He came to this country when nine years of age. The mother died when our subject was an infant and he has no recollection of her. The family went to Michigan when George was five, where he was reared and gained his education.
When fourteen he went to East Saginaw and began to learn the blacksmith trade. He continued at tin’s trade until he was twenty-two. Then he bought and sold stock until 1878 making a good success. In 1878 he went to San Francisco, thence to Portland and later to Moscow. Next we see him at Lake Waha, where in company with John H. Wamath he operated a sawmill for four years. In the spring of 1883 he went to Seattle and the next year returned to Michigan. Later we see him in Pendleton and then raising sheep in the John Day country. It was in 1886 that he returned to Nez Perces County and again he started a saw mill near Waha Lake. He continued this until 1805, when the mill and all the contiguous property burned and was a total loss. At this juncture, Mr. Pliter lost five hundred acres of wheat by the grasshoppers; the combined blow would have defeated an ordinary man. However, he went to work, bought and sold cattle and hogs, shipping train loads of them to Kansas City and Chicago. He did well and also at his farming and now he owns a section of land thirteen miles southeast from Lewiston, and sold four hundred acres besides, this spring. He has good improvements and stock in abundance.
In 1888 Mr. Pliter married Miss Mattie Parker, who died in 1894. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Pliter married Miss Agnes L. Reed, born in Clark County, Missouri, in 1864. Her parents are dead and also her eight brothers and sisters. Mr. Pliter has the following half brothers and sisters: Frank M., William, Catherine Gilbert, Lydia Stingle, Emma Buckey. Mrs. Pliter is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a graduate of Park College, Missouri. Mr. Pliter is one of the active Republicans of the County and has done exceptionally good work in this realm. He is a warm advocate of good schools and is a heavy tax payer, thus backing up his stand for better educational facilities with the means to do the work. Mr. Pliter operates a combined harvester, there being but one other in the County.
He is an active, enterprising agriculturist and a keen and masterful business man and has done a great deal for the advancement of the interests of the County, both by individual labor and improving his property and in his creating a market in his stock buying and also in man) other ways, being progressive and up to date. Mr. Pliter had one brother, John, in the Civil war.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903