Biography of Jefferson D. Triplett

A good substantial man and a loyal citizen of our free land, a pleasant and accommodating neighbor, and an industrious farmer, we are constrained to grant to the subject of this article a representation in the history of Nez Perces County.

Jefferson D. Triplett was born in Putnam County, Missouri, on December 9, 1862, being the son of John and Mary (Bridgefarmer) Triplett, natives of Kentucky. The father was born in 1820 and his parents were natives of Kentucky and of English and Irish extraction. The mother was born in 1819 and her parents were also natives of Kentucky and of Irish lineage. When three years old Jefferson went to Arkansas with his parents, and there grew up and was educated in the district schools.

At seventeen, he left home and railroaded, and later spent four years on the Northern Pacific. Returning home, he labored in a saw mill for two years and then came to Idaho and filed on a forty on the reservation, about one and one half miles southwest from Gifford. He rents one hundred and eighty acres in addition and raises much flax and barley. Mr. Triplett has eight brothers, George, in Spokane; William, farmer in Missouri; John, a trader in Arkansas; Mack, engineer in a saw mill, and Richard, a farmer, both in Arkansas; Dock, Jasper and Columbus, in Nez Perces County.

At Leland, on February 9, 1890, Mr. Triplett married Miss Ella Florence, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Luther) Williams. Mr. Williams was born in West Virginia and died September 14, 1900, aged seventy-three. His wife was born in Illinois and died March 1, 1899, aged sixty-three. Mrs. Triplett was born in Illinois and has the following brothers and sisters: Charles W., in Lewiston, and George A., in Asotin County. Washington, twins: John E., a Methodist preacher in Prosser: William M., in Asotin County; Lowe L., near Gifford: Martha, wife of M. Duty, a retired farmer in Illinois; Mary, wife of John Black, at Gifford; Lulu, wife of E. Carter, near Gifford. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Triplett: Fred, born January 18, 1891; Edith, born July 17, 1892; Nellie, born November 30, 1893, Hazel, born in December, 1895; Marion, born in October, 1897; George, born in April, 1900.

Mr. Triplett is a Democrat and has been a delegate to the conventions and was constable in the Potlatch country. He is active for good loads, excellent schools, and progress and development generally.

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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903