An illustrated history of the state of Idaho, containing a history of the state of Idaho from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future; illustrations and biographical mention of many pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day, Part 114

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Idaho > An illustrated history of the state of Idaho, containing a history of the state of Idaho from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future; illustrations and biographical mention of many pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day > Part 114

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Mr. Watson of this review was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the little log school-house in that then new country. He began life on his own account as a school-teacher and farmer, and in 1858, hoping to better his financial condition on the Pacific coast, he crossed the plains with oxen to California and engaged in placer mining on the American river,

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in Placer county. After remaining there for about eighteen months and not meeting with the success that he had anticipated, he removed to San Joaquin county, where he purchased a band of sheep and engaged in sheep-raising. He pros- pered in that industry, but at the time of the gold excitement in Idaho he sold out and made his way to the Salmon river country, where he secured a good claim and met with gratifying success in his mining ventures. Later he came to Camas prairie and obtained a farm, which was located eight miles west of Grangeville, operating that land until 1885, when he sold out and took up his abode on his present farm, two miles south of Grangeville. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich land, lying at the base of the foot- hills and overlooking the town of Grangeville and the entire Camas prairie. There he and his wife have a pleasant home of their own and are spending the evening of their life in peace and contentment.

In 1849 Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Maria E. Shaul, a native of Indiana, and to them were born two daughters, but one was taken from them by death. The other, Mallinda Alice, became the wife of Cyrus Overman and resides on Camas prairie. Mrs. Watson is a valued member of the Methodist church and is a most estimable lady.

Mr. Watson has always given his political sup- port to the Democracy and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, but has never sought office, holding no public positions save that of school trustee. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend, and he does all in his power to promote its interests. His life has been one of industry and integrity and he justly merits the esteem and confidence accorded hini by the residents of Idaho county.

STEPHEN KELSEY.

Few men are more familiar with the pioneer history of this section of the great republic than Stephen Kelsey, who before the days when the emigrants flocked to the gold-fields of California crossed the plains to Utah in company with the colony which went with President Brigham Young to Utah. They made their way over the hot and arid plains and through the mountain passes until they reached the Salt Lake country

on the 22d of July, 1847, and on the 24th of the same month they arrived on the present site of Salt Lake City, so that that date has since been celebrated as pioneer day. Mr. Kelsey was then but seventeen years of age. He was born in north- eastern Ohio, December 23, 1830, his parents being Stephen and Rachel (Allen) Kelsey, rep- resentatives of industrious and well-to-do Ohio families. The father was twice married, and by his first union had five children. By the second marriage there were six children, five daughters and our subject.

Stephen Kelsey attended school in Ohio and when seventeen years of age volunteered to go with Brigham Young to the far west, his duty being to drive a team of horses belonging to the train. There were one hundred and forty men and three women in that resolute company of pioneers who first braved the dangers of the long journey across the plains. They were in constant danger of Indian attack, and had some thrilling adventures with the red men, who fre- quently stole their horses. There were great herds of buffalo upon the plains, so numerous that some of the party would have to ride ahead and open a track among the animals in order that the train could pass through. When they first arrived at the place designated for their set- tlement the ground was very hard to a depth of two feet or more, and their first work was to build a dam across City creek in order to turn the water over the land and soak it until it could be plowed. This work was accomplished and potatoes were planted, but it was then so late in the season that the tubers only grew to the size of marbles. The pioneers made adobe brick and built a fort to protect themselves from the In- dians; other companies followed later in that year, about two thousand people arriving in the Salt Lake district. The first three pioneer women were Brigham Young's wife, Clara Decker, Heber C. Kimball's wife, and the wife of Lorenzo Young, a brother of Brigham Young.

After Mr. Kelsey arrived in Salt Lake City he was converted to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the same season he volunteered to return to the states with Brig- ham Young to assist other emigrants across the plains the following spring. After his return to Utah he engaged in farming, and in 1850 made

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a trip to the gold-mining districts of California, where he washed out in two months, with a little rocker, about five hundred dollars worth of gold- dust. This was at Weavertown. On his way back to Salt Lake City, however, the party with which he traveled was attacked by Indians, and for four hours they fought desperately for their lives. They barely escaped, and in the encounter lost many of their horses. In the fall of 1850 Mr. Kelsey settled with his uncle, Daniel Allen, twelve miles south of Salt Lake City and there he married Lydia Snyder, who has since been to him a faithful companion and helpmeet, sharing with him in all the joys and sorrows, the adver- sity and prosperity of life. She has been one of the brave pioneer women of Utah and Idaho and has greatly aided her husband in making a home.

In 1864 a company was formed to come to what is now Bear Lake county, Idaho, then sup- posed to be a part of Utah. General Charles Coulsen Rich was the president of the company, his sterling character making him a brave and trusted leader. Mr. Kelsey and his wife volun- teered to go, and others of the company were Hezekiah Duffie, Joel Ricks, Thomas Sleight and Joseph Rich, the last named now the judge of the district court. They settled at Paris, but most of the first company of emigrants are now deceased. They were allotted land and began farming, but it was a very hard country to settle and they endured many hardships and met many difficulties during the first few years. Grass- hoppers and frosts injured their crops, but through all President Rich's faith never faltered, and he encouraged his people to persevere in their labors until ultimately their labors were bountifully rewarded and the country was made to blossom as the rose. When the land was sur- veyed, the settlers entered their farms from the government, and to-day Mr. Kelsey is the owner of a valuable property of one hundred acres, on which he raises hay, grain and stock, and also has a pleasant residence in Paris.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born twelve children, eleven of whom are living, name- ly: Electa Abigal, now the wife of Frederick Slight; Lydia, wife of Samuel Payne; Sylvia, wife of John Skinner; Alice, wife of Samuel Nate; Mary, wife of Edward Johnson; Bess, wife of C. Chapman; Viena; Minerva; Zina; Robert; and

Easton. The family are all well-to-do and com- fortably situated in life. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey are respected members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and he has been an active worker in the church, serving as elder, while at the present time he is acting high priest. He well deserves mention among the honored pioneers, and deserves great credit for what he has done in the way of opening up the great northwest to the influences of civilization and advancement. Gladly do we inscribe his name on the pages of Idaho's history, for he is ac- counted one of her leading citizens.

HON. JOHN L. UNDERWOOD.

Hon. John L. Underwood, postmaster at Montpelier, Idaho, successful business man, prominent citizen, veteran of the civil war and influential Republican, is widely and favorably known throughout the state. He was born in Broome county, New York, January 15, 1832, of parents who traced their ancestry to good Eng- lish families. Jonas Underwood, his grandfather, was a native of Fishkill, New York, and held a commission in the Revolutionary army. He died at Deposit, New York, in his eightieth year. His wife, who was of the New York family of Pine, survived him only a few days. Philip Under- wood, son of Jonas and father of John L. Under- wood, was born in Deposit, New York, in 1803, and married Angeline Peters. In 1855 he located. with his wife and family, near Polo, in Ogle county, Illinois, where he bought a farm and lived to attain the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. His wife died, at about the same age, a few years later. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a local preacher and evangelist. They had eight children, of whom seven are living. John L. Un- derwood, the second of the eight in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of the state of New York. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company H., Fourteenth Regiment Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, to do his part in putting down the slave-holders' rebellion, and was mustered into service November 6, following. He served in the command of General U. S. Grant and par- ticipated in the fighting at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and intermediate points and in the Red river campaign. At Shiloh

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he was wounded by the bursting of a shell, and was made a prisoner of war by the Confederates, being held at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, six months, when he was paroled. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, late in 1864, he was honorably discharged from service.

In 1865 Mr. Underwood went to Montana, and engaged in freighting between Helena and Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1866 he settled down in Montana as a stockman. In 1875 he disposed of his local interests and began driving and ship- ping cattle east from Montana and Idaho. Con- tinuing this enterprise, he located at Paris, Bear Lake county, Idaho, in 1879. He operated there and at Soda Springs until 1885, when he came to Montpelier and, still pushing his business of sending cattle east, he opened a meat market.

Almost from the day of his advent in Idaho, he has been known as an active Republican who knew how to deal telling blows in behalf of his party. He became popular personally, as the people came to know him, and it was inevitable that he should be singled out for public service. He was a member of the constitutional conven- tion that framed the constitution of the state, and was elected to the first Idaho state senate, and re-elected to succeed himself. As a senator he endeared himself to the people by his cham- pionship of the bill to organize the State National Guard and the bill providing for the establish- ment of the Soldiers' Home at Boise. Later he served two terms as United States commissioner. At Montpelier he has been justice of the peace, and has ably filled the office of postmaster, al- most continuously since his first appointment, during President Cleveland's first administra- tion, under the administrations of Cleveland, Harrison and Mckinley. He was reappointed early in President Cleveland's second term of office, but declined the position, though he se- cured it for his brother-in-law, Marcus Whitman, and he has the distinction of having been the second postmaster appointed under President McKinley. Mrs. Underwood is his deputy, and the consensus of opinion among Montpelier folk is that they have a post-office which is in every way a model.

Mr. Underwood is prominent among Idaho Odd Fellows and Mrs. Underwood is a member of the Women's auxiliary order of the Daughters

of Rebekah, of which she is past presiding officer. He was a charter member and first commander of W. H. L. Wallace Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is widely known and influential in Grand Army circles throughout the state. Mr. and Mrs. Underwood are very active and useful members of the Presbyterian church of Mont- pelier, and he has served the organization in the capacity of trustee, an office which Mrs. Under- wood holds at this time. Mrs. Underwood was Miss Lizzie M. Whitman, daughter of E. C. Whitman, of Como, Whiteside county, Illinois, and a distant relative of Rev. Marcus Whitman, the lamented missionary, who was killed by the Indians, in Oregon, in 1847. They have had four children, of whom two daughters, Florence and Esther, are living.

HON. FREDRICK H. TURNER.

Hon. Fredrick Hugh Turner, merchant, Idaho Falls, and grand master of the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Idaho, has represented his district ably in the state senate, and is in all respects one of the leading business men and most distinguished citizens of southeastern Idaho.

Mr. Turner was born at Jonesville, Wisconsin, October 31, 1858, a son of John and Margaret (Jehn) Turner. His father was an English bar- rister, born in London, who came to the United States in 1838, and located as a pioneer in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he became a prominent farmer and land-owner and there died in 1885, aged eighty-four years. He was an influential Republican and was one of the county commis- sioners of Rock county, Wisconsin, and held other important local offices. Fredrick Hugh Turner's mother, Margaret Jehn, was a native of Wales. She died in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1891, at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Turner were members of the Episcopal church and were of the most exalted personal character. They had eight children, of whom Fredrick Hugh Turner was the fifth in the order of birth. He was educated at Milton Academy. Wisconsin, and at the Wisconsin State Normal School, at Whitewater, and for ten years devoted himself to the work of a teacher. He taught two years in Wisconsin and eight years afterward in Idaho, where he was for some years principal of

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the schools at Soda Springs. In 1890 he opened a large general store at Idaho Falls and has had great success as a merchant, drawing the trade from all the country round about and from many distant points.

He is widely known as a stanch and active Republican and on the ticket of his party was elected a member of the Idaho state senate in 1896. He gained much influence on the floor of the senate and did effective work on a number of important senatorial committees, in all ways acquitting himself so admirably as a representa- tive of the people that his service was highly appreciated by the best citizens, without regard to party affiliations.

The high honor to which Mr. Turner has risen in Odd Fellowship he has attained because of his complete knowledge of the work of the order and his great proficiency in it and because of his ardent devotion to the order in all interests. He has filled all the chairs in both branches of the order, is past deputy grand master of the grand lodge of the state, and in 1899 was chosen grand master of the grand lodge. He was in- fluential in holding the location of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows' Orphans' Home at Idaho Falls, and he was active in the super- vision of its construction from the moving of the first shovel of earth until the building stood complete, a fine three-story and basement brown sandstone structure, forty by fifty feet, and he is one of the board of trustees which has its interests in charge. The object which Mr. Turner and his associates had in view in erecting the Odd Fellows' Orphans' Home was to provide a com- fortable home for orphan children of worthy Odd Fellows who might leave them unprovided for financially, and this object is being carried out in a way that reflects credit on all connected.

October 31, 1881, Mr. Turner married Miss Harriet Elizabeth Sanderson, daughter of John Sanderson, a native of New York, she herself being a native of Kansas. They have four chil- dren, named Dotta, Fredrick G., Walter H. and Adelbert C.

EDWARD BURGOYNE.

Edward Burgoyne is one of the leading busi- ness men and the leading merchant of Mont- pelier, Idaho, and was one of the fifteen heads of families who came to the spot in the spring

of 1864, volunteers in response to the call of the authorities of their church, to settle Bear Lake valley and spread the peculiar doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was born in South Wales, February 22, 1835, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Strong) Burgoyne, who were natives of Wales and lifelong Episco- palians. Thomas Burgoyne was a prosperous blacksmith. He died in 1845, his wife two years , earlier, and Edward Burgoyne was doubly or- phaned at the tender age of ten years. He was educated in Wales and there learned and worked at the trade of a weaver of cloth until 1861, when with his wife, who was Miss Mary Eeynon, he came to the United States. The young couple were converts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and their destination was Utah. They landed at New York, after a rough voyage of twenty-seven days on board a sailing vessel, and came west to Omaha, Nebraska, and thence to Cache valley, where Mr. Burgoyne began weaving cloth. He set up and operated the first carding machine and loom in that part of the country, and devoted himself to wool- carding in the summer and to the manufacture of cloth in the winter, making kersey for men's wear and linsey for women's wear. He was thus employed until he came with the colony of fifteen and their families to Bear Lake valley. They arrived in 1864, and Mr. Burgoyne built a willow shanty, and with his family occupied it until fall, when he erected as good a log house as he could. This he improved from time to time and lived in it until 1881. He suffered the privations and dangers which made the early life of that little colony in that new, cold, pest-infested and Indian- menaced land almost tragic, endured everything resignedly, and worked untiringly, and at length reaped the reward of well doing. He acquired much real property, including farm lands and an interest in the town site of Montpelier, where he has been concerned in the erection of many houses and the sale of many lots, and is one of the most extensive owners of town property. He began merchandising in 1880, and in 1881 built his present residence, which is one of the largest and most comfortable in Montpelier. His first store was a little room, sixteen by sixteen feet, and he bought his first stock of goods in Salt Lake City. By close attention to business, and

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by honesty and liberality toward all, he has built up an extensive trade, which is now both whole- sale and retail, his rapidly growing business re- quiring a large two-story building which he has erected expressly for its accommodation.

Mr. Burgoyne is a useful and influential citizen whose public spirit has never been found wanting. There has been no worthy public interest to which he has not lent his aid, both moral and financial. He has been especially efficient in building up the interests at Montpelier of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In Wales, before he came to America, he did much effective missionary work, in season and out of season, for the extension of the Mormon faith. Mr. and Mrs. Burgoyne have had six children. Of these three are living and are all residents of Montpelier,-Edward Lorenzo, Sarah Jane (Mrs. Milford Williams), and Martha Ellen (Mrs. Fred. Cruickshank).

JOHN C. CALLAHAN.

In any community, east or west, the man who is for any considerable time kept in public office is one who has proven himself zealous and effi- cient in the discharge of duties devolving upon him in official position. It is the old story, many times repeated, of "faithfulness in small things." These reflections have been encouraged by con- templation of the successful career of one of the prominent officials of Kootenai county and the first judicial district of Idaho.

John C. Callahan was born in Massachusetts, January 28, 1859, a son of John and Hannah (Tuohey) Callahan, natives of Ireland, who came to the United States, he at twenty-one, she at seven, and were married in Massachusetts and lived there until 1861, when they removed to Iowa. There they remained for thirty years.

Mr. Callahan received a common-school edu- cation in Iowa, and in 1881 engaged in the hotel business in that state. He continued it in Minne- sota and in Montana, where he lived for seven years. In 1891 he came to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, bringing with him his wife and son. He was employed in different ways until 1896, by which time he had become so well known and popular as a citizen that he was elected assessor and collector of taxes of Kootenai county, on the silver Republican ticket, by a majority of

eighty-two, and in 1898, upon a Democratic, silver Republican, Populist fusion ticket, he was elected clerk of the district court of the first judicial district of Idaho, by a majority of four hundred and eighty. Until 1896 he was a Re- publican "of the straight sect," but at that time he became a silver Republican, in deference to what he believed to be the best interests of the state. A man of liberal information and of broad and generous views, he is regarded as a citizen of great public spirit and usefulness. He was made a Knight of Pythias in Acme Lodge, No. 10, of Miles City, Montana. In 1881 he married Miss Carrie Soules, a native of Elgin, Illinois, and they have a son named Fred L.

SAMUEL J. RICH.

A representative of the legal fraternity and a well known business man of Idaho Falls, Samuel J. Rich has spent his entire life in the west and is thoroughly identified with its interests and progress. He was born in Centerville, Davis county, Utah, May 1, 1860, his parents being Charles C. and Emeline (Grover) Rich, natives of Kentucky and New York, respectively, and pioneers of Utah of the year 1847. In 1864 they removed from Utah to Bear Lake county, Idaho, Mr. Rich being the pioneer and first white set- tler in Bear Lake valley.

In the common schools of Bear Lake county, Idaho, Samuel J. Rich acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by a two- years college course in Provo City, Utah. On completing his literary education he took up the study of law, in 1886, and after familiarizing him- self with many of the principles of jurisprudence was admitted to the bar in 1889. The following year he was appointed county attorney of Bear Lake county, serving until 1893, and at the same time was identified with the industrial interests of that locality. In connection with others of the family he built the first roller mill in Bear Lake county, and was the general manager of the en- terprise until his removal from the county, in 1893. In the fall of that year he took up his residence in Cache county, Utah, and was elected county attorney in 1894, serving two years.

In January, 1899, Mr. Rich came to Idaho, lo- cating at Blackfoot, where he engaged in the practice of law until March, when he was ap-

gg Rich

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pointed receiver for the Idaho Canal Company, with headquarters at Idaho Falls. He is also the owner of a large ranch on Snake river in Bing- ham county, and is engaged in the cattle business and is also engaged in mining, having mining interests in both Utah and Idaho. He is a man of marked executive force, of sound judgment and indefatigable energy, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In this connection it should be mentioned that the canal system of the Idaho Canal Company is the most extensive in the state, and probably in the entire west, there being more than one hundred miles of canal, constructed at a cost of three hundred thousand dollars.

In April, 1884, Mr. Rich was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna Page, of Payson, Utah, the wedding being celebrated in Salt Lake City. They now have an interesting family of six chil- dren, namely: S. Grover, Page, Wanita, H. Walker Smith, Roscoe Clarence and Irene. In his po- litical views Mr. Rich has always been an ardent Democrat and has figured conspicuously in Idaho and Utah politics, exerting a wide influ- ence in state politics. He is a successful lawyer of pronounced ability, and the important nature of the legal business entrusted to his care indi- cates his talent and his success.

CALVIN R. WHITE.

Calvin R. White, one of the best known pio- neers of Idaho, now residing in Boise, was born near Boston, Massachusetts, July 27, 1836, his parents being Samuel B. and Sarah (Richardson) White, natives of the Bay state. The father was for many years connected with the Boston & Lowell Railway, and died in the city of Boston when about seventy-six years of age. He was a son of Samuel White, also a native of Massa- chusetts, in which state his death occurred when he had passed the psalmist's span of life of three- score years and ten. The mother of our subject died in Winchester, Massachusetts, in 1880, when about seventy-four years of age.

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An illustrated history of the state of Idaho, containing a history of the state of Idaho from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future; illustrations and biographical mention of many pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day, Part 114

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1014