Biography of John F. Pomeroy

No list of the business men of the reservation portion of Nez Perces County would be complete without a prominent mention of the esteemed gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph. Mr. Pomeroy was proprietor and operator of the livery stable in Kamiah which he recently sold out and is now proprietor of a general store where he has displayed good ability in handling his business, both in securing a fine patronage and in conducting it in such a manner that it is a financial success. In addition to this Mr. Pomeroy has a fine ranch of eighty acres adjoining the town, which is principally devoted to raising hay. It is a very valuable piece of land and was secured by him through homestead right when the reservation opened. He has refused three thousand dollars for the eighty.

John F. Pomeroy was born in Washington County, Oregon, on June 2, 1873, being the son of Frank F. and Rebecca (Jobe) Pomeroy, natives of the same county. The father was born in 1850. His parents crossed the plains from Illinois in 1849, locating in Washington County. Shortly afterwards they went to California and there were murdered in a mining camp. The mother of our subject was a descendant of early pioneers from Missouri, and her father, Noah Jobe, is still living, aged seventy-seven.

Our subject was educated in Hillsboro. Oregon, and remained iii Washington County until twenty, at which time he went to Idaho. He operated a ferry on the Clearwater for a few months and then repaired to Grangeville, where he entered the lumber business. This continued to occupy him until the reservation opened and then he went to the homestead spoken of and in 1902 to his present business in Kamiah. Mr. Pomeroy has two brothers and three sisters. Edgar, in Lapwai: Charles, in Oklahoma: Ida, wife of James Ryan, at Portland; Lulu, wife of William Pulitz, also in Portland: Nellie, attending the University at Moscow.

On April 18, 1900, Mr. Pomeroy married Miss Emma F., daughter of Frank and Dora (Spooner) Harning, natives of Oregon and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mrs. Pomeroy was born in Camas Prairie, on April 29, 1882. She has one brother, Edward, a rancher on Camas Prairie.

Mr. Pomeroy is a member of the I. O. O. F., Clearwater Lodge. No. 68, at Kamiah, and is past noble grand. He is a Democrat in political matters, though not especially active; is justice of the peace, registrar of vote and has been a delegate to the convention. Mr. Pomeroy is a descendant from a worthy pioneer family and his ancestors on both sides did much for the opening up of the western countries. He is a creditable descendant and has had his share in this same work and now is one of the substantial, reliable, and respected men of the community.

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

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