Portions of Nez Perces County are among the most excellent fruit producing sections in the northwest, and the enterprising gentleman mentioned above has a fruit farm among the best in this favored region. He is located about two and one-half miles northeast from Lewiston, owns land that is well irrigated and produces under his skillful husbandry an abundance of fruit of the best kind and all varieties.
Mr. Oderkirk was born in Granby, New York, on December 8, 1858, being the son of Isaac and Caroline (Weatherwax) Oderkirk, natives of New York and now living in Canada. The father was born in 1832 and the mother in 1830. Our subject was taken by his parents to the province of Ontario, Canada, when young, and there he received his education in the excellent schools of that province, attending mostly at Tanworth.
He made several trips to his old home and at the age of twenty-six he settled in North Dakota, taking land near Wheatland. He farmed and raised stock for seven years, then sold out and went to Park Rapids, in Minnesota, where he operated a hotel for six years and prospered. His next move was to come west, and the fertile region of Lewiston attracting him, he purchased his present good place. To the culture of fruit he has given himself with good success since that time.
On June 6, 1883 Mr. Oderkirk married Miss Annie, daughter of William and Jane (Stafford) Hawley, natives of Canada. Mrs. Oderkirk was born in Sheffield. Canada, September 2, 1860, and she has four brothers, George, Perry, John and Frank. Mr. Oderkirk has the following brothers and sisters; Venus, Eugene, Isaac, Stephen and Irvine. To Mr. and Mrs. Oderkirk there have been born the following named children, William M., Vera A., Isaac V., Jennie, Ray and Cora, all at home. Mr. Oderkirk is a member of the K. of P., and of the M. W. A. He had one uncle in the Civil War.
Mr. Oderkirk is an advocate of good schools and Churches and is now doing service on the school board of his district. He is a Democrat in politics, but is not partisan, and prefers to choose the best men and the sound principles regardless of party.
Source: An Illustrated History of North Idaho: Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho; Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903