Markham, Coons families among first white settlers

Folks, today we are going to look at two more pioneers that contributed in a positive way to the making of our area of the country. They came with their own distinct talents and used these talents to make a home for themselves and their family. They are Robert Coons and Lyman Markham.

Markham family

The first white man to settle in the Laclede - Seneacquoteen area was Lyman Markham. In 1864, he built the first ferry across the Pend Oreille River from Seneacquoteen to Markham that was later renamed Laclede for a French engineer who worked on the Great Northern Railroad. Lyman Markham built a log cabin in which to live and trade with the Indians.

In 1883, his brother Francis Markham and his wife Elmina joined Lyman. They had seven children, had traveled from Astoria, Oregon by train, and had arrived in Sandpoint on Nov. 2. Elmina Markham recalled that there were no wagon roads from Sandpoint to Laclede when her family arrived in the area. The family loaded into a leaky rowboat for the 18-mile trip and arrived at the ferry site well after dark. Elmina left a verbal picture of what their life along the Pend Oreille River was like. She stated that the closest white people to them were in Sandpoint. Her only neighbors were Indians and at first she had a hard time understanding them, but she eventually learned to “talk Indian.” She found the local Indians to be friendly and she established a good relationship with the women.

In 1885, Francis Markham purchased the ferry from his brother and the Markham family ran it for many years. Lyman Markham, after selling his ferry, moved to a farm about two miles up river.

Robert and Zibbie Coons

Robert Coons was born in Inkerman, Ontario, Canada in 1865. While in school he learned telegraphy and secured a job at the Grand Trunk Railroad in Canada. He worked at various places in Montana with the Northern Pacific Railroad before coming to Sandpoint.

The year after Robert arrived in Sandpoint a fire broke out in the village located on the railroad side (east) of Sand Creek. Much of the village was destroyed but due to the efforts of Robert Coons looting was prevented and some of the town was saved. As representative of the railroad he took charge and directed the operation that saved the personal property of the local citizens.

Zibbie and Robert Coons were married in 1903 when he was station agent for the Northern Pacific in Sandpoint. Zibbie had lived in town and worked at various jobs before she met Robert. She was a member of a musical group called the “Zobo Band.” She became very active in the Red Cross during World War I and she was a lieutenant in the Red Cross Canteen Service. She was an avid gardener and the azaleas, which covered the front of her house, were her pride and joy. Photographers from the Northern Pacific Railroad frequently photographed her house and yard. These photos were used back east to promote the railroad and the Great Northwest as a place to visit.  

In late 1904, Coons left the railroad and formed a partnership with Charles Foss, a pharmacist. They erected a two story brick building on First Avenue and opened the Sandpoint Drug Company. Twelve years later bad health forced him to sell his part of the drug company to Foss. By 1918, Coons had regained his health and was elected county treasurer. He remained in this position until 1932 when he went to work for the Farmin Insurance Agency. After a short illness he died in 1954 at the age of 89.  

Zibbie Coons died in 1964 and is buried along with her husband in Lakeview Cemetery in Sandpoint.