Elbridge C Rider the oldest settler in the Calispell valley, resides three miles southwest of Usk, Stevens county, where he is engaged in general farming and stock breeding. He is a New Englander, having been born in Bucksport, Maine, September 1, 1837, the son of Stephen and Rebecca (Elridge) Rider. They were natives of Maine, where they died, leaving four children. Our subject attended the public schools of Bucksport, and acquired a good business education, and on reaching his majority, in 1858, he went to California, via the Isthmus of Panama. He at once engaged in mining which he continued until 1885. That year he went to the Coeur d'Alene country, Idaho, followed mining one year and then located in Stevens county. The first enterprise to engage his attention was the cutting of one hundred tons of hay. He was the first white settler in this vicinity, squatting on land, and putting up wild hay. He experienced no difficulty with the Indians, as they were his friends, and he traded with them to a considerable extent. When the land upon which he had located was surveyed he purchased a farm of the railroad company, at one time owning two hundred and eighty acres. This he subsequently disposed of, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, mainly meadow land, and on which he now resides. At the period in which he came to the country there were no roads, and he was compelled to raft his provisions down the Pend d’ Oreille river and lake, as well as all kinds of farm machinery. Mr. Rider is a Republican, and has always manifested a patriotic interest in the welfare of his party. From "History of North Washington" Published 1904 Transcibed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com) * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents.