A well known real-estate and insurance agent of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is James H. Harte, who was born in Connecticut, near the city of Hartford. July 25, 1854, his parents being Walter and Elizabeth (Gibson) Harte, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, in which state the father died when about fifty-five years of age, while the mother still makes her home there.
Mr. Harte of this review pursued his education in the public schools of Plainville, and Hartford. Connecticut. He then entered upon his business career as a clerk in a drygoods store in Hartford, where he remained for four years, after which he conducted operations along the same line until 1878. He then enlisted in the regular army as a member of Company C, Second United States Infantry, and after serving for five years was honorably discharged, November 8, 1883, at Fort Spokane, having in the meantime attained the rank of first sergeant.
After leaving the army Mr. Harte served for three years as bookkeeper for the post trader at Fort Spokane and then came to Coeur d’Alene, in the winter of 1886. For one year he was engaged in general merchandising in this town, and since the spring of 1888 has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
In 1885 was celebrated his marriage to Miss Amelia R. Brooks, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and they have one child, Margaret. In his political affiliations Mr. Harte is a Republican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, thus being qualified to give an intelligent support to the party of his choice. He was made a Knight of Pythias in May 1890, at the institution of the lodge at Coeur d’Alene, and was its first chancellor commander. In June 1892, at the institution of the grand lodge of Idaho, at Moscow, he was elected grand keeper of the records and seals, which position he has since acceptably filled. He takes an active part in all the work and interests of the order and is a gentleman of pleasing address and manner who wins friends wherever he goes and always commands the respect of those with whom he is brought in contact.