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 39
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JOSEPH CARMAN PENCE.
For thirty years Joseph Carman Pence has been a resident of Idaho, and has been exten- sively interested in one of the leading industries of the state-stock-raising. He was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, on the 28th of May, 1844, and is a representative of an old Pennsylvania- Dutch family that was founded in America in colonial days. Some of its members participated in the Revolutionary war, valiantly aiding in the struggle for independence. William Pence, the father of our subject, was born in the Keystone state, and in early manhood married Miss Mary Thurston, who was a native of the same county in which her husband's birth occurred. During the pioneer epoch in the history of Iowa, they emigrated to Burlington, that state, and there spent their remaining days, the father dying in
his fifty-fourth year, while the mother passed away in the fifty-sixth year of her age. They were the parents of six sons and four daughters, of whom six are yet living.
Mr. Pence of this review is the ninth of the children in order of birth. He was reared and educated in his native state, and when eighteen years of age responded to his country's call for aid in crushing out the rebellion in the south. Joining the Union army in 1862, he became a member of Company A, Nineteenth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, the siege and capture of Vicks- burg and the capture of Brownsville, Texas. Later his command was sent to Pensacola, Flor- ida, where it spent the winter of 1864-5, and in the spring went to Mobile and was engaged in the siege of Spanish Fort, which was at the close of the war. Mr. Pence received an honorable discharge, having for three years faithfully de- fended the stars and stripes. Then he returned to Iowa, where he remained until the following spring, when he started westward with a com- pany who crossed the plains with mule and horse teams.
They traveled by way of the Bozeman route, this being the second year that route was ever followed. On arriving in the northwest, Mr. Pence engaged in freighting from Fort Benton to Helena, and in 1869 went to White Pine, Ne- vada. He engaged in the cattle business in that state and in Idaho, owning as high as six hun- dred head of cattle at a time. They sold their stock directly from the ranches and were able to command a good price, the enterprise thus proving a profitable one. In 1881 Mr. Pence came to Boise and began dealing in sheep. For eight years he owned an extensive sheep ranch, having thereon as many as seven thousand head of sheep at one time. His capable management and business ability made this undertaking suc- cessful, and largely added to his capital. On the expiration of eight years he purchased a tract of land at Boise, which he planted with prunes, and his orchards have borne plentifully. In all that he has undertaken through a long business career he has met with success, owing to his careful direction, his perseverance and his enter- prise, and to-day a handsome bank account indi- cates the result of his labors. He was one of the
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organizers of the Capital State Bank, of Boise, and from the beginning has been one of its stock- holders and directors.
On the 22d of August, 1877, Mr. Pence was united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Keene, a native of Dallas, Texas, and to them were born five children, four of whom are living, namely: Ruth, Laura, Myrtle and Homer. The mother departed this life June 5, 1896, and her death was deeply mourned by her many friends. The two older daughters have since cared for the home, and Mr. Pence is justly proud of his family. Their residence is a commodious brick dwelling, which was erected by our subject in 1882. In politics he has always been Republican, taking due interest in supporting the principles of that party and in promoting the public welfare gen- erally. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is a valued member of Phil. Sheridan Post, No. 4, G. A. R. In all the relations of life and to all the duties of citizenship he is as true and faithful as when he followed the nation's starry banner upon southern battle- fields.
FRED W. GOODING.
Fred W. Gooding, ex-assessor and tax col- lector of Lincoln county and one of the most prominent and extensive sheep-raisers of this section of the state, was born in England, May 8, 1856, his parents, John and Elizabeth (Wyatte) Gooding being likewise natives of that country. Emigrating to the United States, they took up their residence in Paw Paw, Van Buren county, Michigan, where they still make their home, the father being a retired farmer of that locality. Both he and his wife are members of the Epis- copal church. They had six sons and a daugh- ter, and three of the sons are now successful sheep-raisers of Lincoln county, Idaho.
Fred W. Gooding was eleven years of age when he arrived in Michigan with his parents. He acquired the greater part of his education in that state, and in 1878 went to California, where he engaged in farming in Tehama and Colusa counties. Subsequently he returned to Michigan and a little later pursued a business course in the Northern Indiana Normal College, at Valparaiso. In the spring of 1882 he came to Idaho and en- gaged in the wholesale and retail butchering busi- ness in Ketchum until the spring of 1888, when
he turned his attention to the sheep-raising in- dustry. He then purchased sixteen hundred head of sheep. In the fall of that year he purchased two thousand more. The winter of 1889-90 was an unusually severe one, many of the sheep died and many sheep-raisers lost everything they had. Mr. Gooding not only suffered heavy losses, but was in debt. However, he sustained a most cred- itable reputation for honesty in business affairs, and was thus enabled to secure credit and make a new start. He had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at a place now called Good- ing,-named in honor of the Gooding brothers, -and in the fall of 1890 he again purchased more sheep. Since that time he has prospered, and has had as many as thirty thousand sheep on his ranch at one time. His farm is excellently equipped for the purpose used, and he and his brothers are regarded as among the most intelli- gent, progressive and prominent sheep-raisers of the county. Mr. Gooding now has eleven hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he raises large quantities of alfalfa hay for his sheep. He man- ages his business interests carefully and system- atically, and his diligence, enterprise and honor- able dealing have brought him a most desirable prosperity.
Mr. Gooding also owns a pleasant residence in Shoshone, where he and his family reside. He was married in 1884 to Miss Mary L. Griffin, a native of Oregon and a daughter of Joseph Grif- fin, one of the pioneers of that state. They have two children,-Edward and Alta. Mrs. Gooding and her daughter are valued members of the Episcopal church, and the family is highly es- teemed in the community. In the fall of 1894 Mr. Gooding was elected county commissioner of Logan county, and that winter Blaine county was created out of portions of Logan and Alturas counties, and Mr. Gooding was appointed con- missioner of the new county of Blaine; but be- fore the expiration of his term Lincoln county was created and he was appointed assessor and tax collector, to which position he was elected by popular vote in the fall of 1896. He was the nominee of the Republican party and received an overwhelming majority, which indicated the faithfulness and ability with which he has dis- charged his duties during the first term, and also stood in evidence of his popularity as a citi-
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zen. He has been an active member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fraternity, has filled all the highest offices therein, is a member of the grand lodge of the latter organization and is favorably known in its circles throughout the state.
CHARLES O. STOCKSLAGER.
One of the leading representatives of the bench of Idaho is Judge Charles O. Stockslager, now presiding over the courts of the fourth judicial district. He maintains his residence in Hailey, and in that city and throughout this section of the state is widely known as a jurist of marked ability, whose "even-handed justice" has won him "golden opinions" from the bar and from the general public.
A native of Indiana, he was born in Harrison county, February 8, 1847, and is a son of Captain Jacob Stockslager, whose birth occurred in Vir- ginia and who won his title in gallant service in the American army during the hostilities with Mexico. He was married in the Old Dominion to Miss Jane W. Newell, also a native of Virginia, and later they removed to Indiana, becoming owners of a farm near the homestead of William Henry Harrison. When a young man Captain Stockslager engaged in boating on the Ohio river for several years, then devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, and subsequently car- ried on merchandising. He also served his coun- ty as sheriff for several terms and was a loyal and progressive citizen, who lived an honorable and upright life and won the regard of all with whom he came in contact. He was called to his final reward at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife died at the age of seventy-six years. They were parents of four children, three of whom are living. Two of the sons loyally served their country in the civil war. The eldest, S. M. Stockslager, was a captain in the Thirteenth In- diana Cavalry, has since been a member of con- gress and is now engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D. C. Thomas, the second mem- ber of the family, enlisted when only sixteen years of age, in the company of which his brother was captain and served as a private until the close of the war.
Judge Stockslager spent his boyhood days un- der the parental roof, devoting his energies to the
work of the fields, the duties of the school-room and the enjoyment of those pleasures which usu- ally occupy the attention of the American youth. Having acquired his preliminary education in the common schools, he entered the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, and later, having deter- mined to enter the legal profession, read law in the office of Ritter & Anderson, prominent attor- neys of Columbus, Kansas. In 1874 he was ad- mitted to the bar and at once began practice, con- tinning an active member of the profession in that state until 1887. During that time he was elected and served as clerk of the district court, as county attorney and as mayor of the city of Galena, Kansas, and in all those positions proved a capable and faithful officer.
In 1887 he was appointed by President Cleve- land receiver of the United States land office, at Hailey, Idaho, and came to the territory to fill that position of trust. Since that time he has been a resident of the city which is now his home, and in 1890, at the first state election, he was, by popular ballot, chosen judge of the fourth judicial district. Four years he sat upon the bench, and so ably did he discharge his duties that in 1894 he was re-elected, and in 1898 he was again selected for that position. He has a broad and comprehensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence, a mind free from judicial bias. While in active practice he was regarded as one of the most prominent representatives of the pro- fession. Thoroughly versed in the science of jurisprudence and equally at home in every branch of the law, his defenses were able, logical and convincing. His arguments showed thor- ough preparation, and he lost sight of no fact that might advance his clients' interests, and passed by no available point of attack in an opponent's argument. On the bench his rulings are ever just, incisive and incapable of misinterpretation. With a full appreciation of the majesty of the law he exemplifies that justice which is the inherent right of every individual, and fearlessly discharges his duties with a loyalty to principle that knows no wavering, and has the sincere respect of the entire Idaho bar.
Judge Stockslager was married in 1876 to Miss. Ingobo Chrisman, and to them were born a son and daughter, Rosco N. and Ingobo. After five years of happy married life the wife and mother
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was called to her final rest, and her death was deeply mourned by many friends as well as her immediate family. The Judge remained single until 1883, when he married Miss Carrie F. Bryce, of St. Louis, and to them have been born two sons, Leslie B. and William M. Mrs. Stocks- lager is a leading member of the Baptist church of Hailey, while Judge Stockslager is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and for many years was an active member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Their genial qualities render them popular in social circles, and the best homes of the locality are open to them.
ALONZO L. RICHARDSON.
Thirty-eight years have passed since Alonzo L. Richardson came to Idaho,-then a sparsely pop- ulated territory of the extreme northwest, its splendid resources undeveloped, its advancement a development of the future. For many years he has been closely identified with the work of progress, and is now filling the position of clerk of the United States court in Boise.
A native of Missouri, Mr. Richardson was born in Franklin county, that state, on the 19th of December, 1841, and is a representative of one of the old families of Virginia. His ancestors located there in 1750, and there occurred the birth of Daniel Richardson, the great-grand- father of our subject. He removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky and subsequently to Mis- souri, being a pioneer of those states. The father of our subject also bore the name of Daniel Rich- ardson and was a native of Kentucky. He mar- ried Dorcas Caldwell, a native of Missouri, and in 1843 started with his family to cross the plains to Oregon, being in the second emigration to that far distant territory. Gold had not then been dis- covered in California, and the tide of emigration had not set toward the Pacific coast. The hard- ships and dangers of such an undertaking were many, and to. add to the difficulties the father was taken ill and died at Fort Hall, Idaho, then a Hudson Bay station, when only thirty years of age. Mrs. Richardson continued on her way to her destination, and some time after her arrival in Oregon City she married Sidney W. Moss, now one of the oldest living pioneers of that place.
Alonzo L. Richardson was only two years of
age at the time of the removal to the Pacific coast. He was reared and educated in Oregon City, and in 1861 removed to Pierce, Idaho. The following year he went to Florence, this state, during the mining excitement there, and in 1863 went to Idaho City. For a number of years he was engaged in placer mining and owned a num- ber of good claims, but the money easily won is soon spent and he did not save much from those investments. In 1863 he went to Montana on a prospecting tour, but returned the same winter, traveling through the snow by way of Fort Lem- lin to Boise, where he arrived at the Christmas season. Continuing his journey to Idaho City, he was there employed in a lumber yard for three years, and in 1866 was made manager of a saw- mill. The following year he located in Boise and entered the employ of a lumber company, acting as bookkeeper during a part of the time he was connected with that firm. In 1872 he was ap- pointed clerk of the supreme court of the terri- tory, and the same year received the appointment of clerk of the district court, holding both posi- tions for fifteen years, or until the state was ad- mitted to the Union, in 1890. He was then ap- pointed clerk of the United States circuit court by Judge Sawyer and clerk of the district court by Judge Beatty, and has since ably and effici- ently filled both these offices: His long connec- tion with such position has given him a thorough knowledge of the requirements thereof, and his faithfulness and thoroughness have won him the fullest confidence and good will of the bench and bar of the state of Idaho. He is also interested in various mines.
In 1872 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Richardson and Mrs. Caroline Ą. Yarington, a native of Pennsylvania. They have two children, May and Harvey L., and by her former marriage Mrs. Richardson had one daughter, Estella B. Yarington.
The family hold a membership in the Episco- pal church, of which Mr. Richardson has served as vestryman for a number of years. In poli- tics he is a stalwart Republican and gives an un- wavering support to the men and measures of that party. Widely known in Masonic circles throughout the state, he has taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of Boise, has held a number of offices in these or-
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ganizations, was secretary of the commandery for a number of years, and is past junior warden of the grand lodge of the state. He has a wide acquaintance among the prominent men of Idaho, and his genuine worth has made him pop- ular in all circles. He has watched the entire de- velopment of the state since the days when its mountainous regions and beautiful valleys were the haunts of red men, and has borne no unim- portant part in the development of the rich re- sources of the state-a work that has placed Idaho among the foremost of the common- wealths of this great western district.
DAVID T. MILLER.
In both the military and political service of his country David Truxton Miller has won dis- tinction by his loyalty to the public good, his fidelity to the trust reposed in him. On southern battle-fields he has followed the stars and stripes to victory, and in the civic department of the na- tion's service he has labored to promote the prin- ciples which underlie good government and form the foundation upon which all stable pros- perity must rest. He has inscribed his name high on the roll of Boise's distinguished citizens, and is now serving as deputy collector of internal revenue there.
Born in Ohio, on the 2d of May, 1843, Mr. Miller is of English and Irish lineage, his ances- tors having come to America in 1728. Repre- sentatives of the family participated in the war for independence, and in one of the battles of the Revolution the paternal great-grandfather of our subjest sustained a gunshot wound in his thigh. Although he carried the ball to the day of his death, he attained the ripe old age of eighty years. His son, David Miller, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Alexander, Virginia, and became the father of John Wesley Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania, and on arriving at years of maturity married Matilda Ford, a na- tive of Washington county, Ohio. They became the parents of eight children, five of whom are living. Throughout his entire life the father en- gaged in the manufacture of iron, thus providing for his family. He lived to the advanced age of ninety years, and his wife was eighty-nine years of age at the time of her death.
David T. Miller, whose name introduces this
sketch, spent the first ten years of his life in New- ark, Ohio, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, a location being made at Sigourney, where he pursued his education in the public schools. Later he became a student in the Iowa State University, but left that institution in December, 1863, in order to enter his country's service as a member of Company G, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The civil war was then at its height and thousands of brave men on both sides had sacrificed their lives for the cause which they were following. It required great courage for volunteers to go to the front and take the place of those who had been shot down in battle, for the country now realized that the war was no holiday affair, but an awful actuality that carried death, destruction and sorrow with it. Prompted by an unfaltering patriotism, how- ever, Mr. Miller donned the blue. He was with Sherman throughout his brilliant campaign and on the celebrated march through Georgia to the sea, and thence through the Carolinas, and with the victorious army participated in the grand re- view in Washington, "where wave after wave of bayonet crested blue" swept through the streets of the city. Through all his service Mr. Miller was never off duty for a single day, and though often in the thickest of the fight was never wounded or disabled. In July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and with a military rec- ord of which he may justly be proud he returned to his home.
He then resumed his interrupted education by pursuing a two years' course in the State Normal School of Iowa, after which he engaged in teach- ing and also read law in the office of Judge Cory, of Ottumwa, Iowa, being admitted to the bar in 1870. He then began practice in Ottumwa, con- tinuing a member of the bar of that place until 1891, when he came to Boise and opened a law office in April. He soon won a liberal clientage, and also became active in the movements calcu- lated to advance the interests of the city. He was very prominent in an effort to build a railroad from Boise to Butte, Montana, but on account of the financial panic which occurred this project had to be abandoned.
In his political views Mr. Miller has always been a stalwart Republican and is widely recog- nized as one of the influential and capable work-
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ers in the ranks of the party in Idaho. In 1892 he received the nomination of his party for repre- sentative to the state legislature, made an excel- lent canvass and was elected. Further honors awaited him, for after the assembling of the ses- sion he was chosen speaker of the house, in which capacity he served in a most creditable manner. His knowledge of parliamentary law, his absolute fairness and freedom from all par- tisan or personal bias, his uniform courtesy and urbanity, all combined to make him one of the most able speakers that has ever occupied the chair in the lower house. In the fall of 1896 he made a vigorous canvass in behalf of President McKinley, and his logical, instructive and enter- taining addresses did not a little in turning the tide of favor for the Republican candidates. Recognition of his services came through his ap- pointment to the position of deputy United States collector of internal revenue, and on the Ist of December, 1897, he entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office. The business of the office has been largely increased during his in- cumbency, and he is now taking in many thou- sands of dollars annually for the government.
On the 2nd of October, 1872, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Mary Griswold, and with their two children, Maud and Sidney, they occupy a very pleasant home in Boise, where they enjoy the warm regard of many friends. Mr. Miller is widely and favorably known throughout the state, his abilities well fitting him for a posi- tion of leadership in political, professional and social life. The terms progress and patriotism might be considered the keynote of his character, for throughout his career he has labored for the improvement of every line of business or public interest with which he has been associated, and at all times has been actuated by a fidelity to his country and her welfare.
ALBERT K. STEUNENBERG.
Numbered among the successful and rep- resentative citizens of Caldwell, Canyon county, is Albert K. Steunenberg, brother of the present governor of Idaho. He is cashier of the Commercial Bank of Caldwell, which institution was established in January, 1894. During the five years of its existence the bank has flourished, largely owing to the fine
executive ability and genius as a financier which are marked qualities of Mr. Steunenberg. The capital stock of the bank is twenty-five thousand dollars, and an annual dividend of ten per cent is paid to stockholders. The volume of business transacted has materially increased from year to year, and entire satisfaction has been expressed by every patron of the bank with the manner in which their affairs have been handled. The bank transacts a regular banking business, and sells exchange throughout the United States and Europe. The organizers of the Commercial Bank were John C. Rice, W. S. Badley, S. S. Foote, Robert Aikman, Jacob Plowhead, S. F. Chaney and A. K. Steunenberg. The officials of the bank then elected and still serving in their respective capacities were J. C. Rice, president; Jacob Plowhead, vice-president, and A. K. Steunenberg, cashier.
The subject of this article is a native of the state of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Knox- ville, September II, 1863. His parents, B. and Corinne (Keppel) Steunenberg, were both na- tives of Holland, and were married in that land of dykes and windmills. The father was a shoe- maker by trade and worked at that calling for several years. He enlisted in the United States service during her war with Mexico, and has always been a loyal citizen of the land of his adoption. For some years he lived in Holland, Michigan, and later he made his home in Keo- kuk, Iowa, and Knoxville, Iowa. He is still a resident of Knoxville, and has attained the sev- enty-fifth year of his age. His wife died many years ago, in June, 1876, when she was forty- six years old. Their ten children all survive and are occupying respected positions in the several communities in which they dwell.
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