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 44
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Residence of C. W. Moore, Boise, Idaho. The first house in the United States heated by natural hot water.
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has been largely concerned in farming and stock - raising, but has now turned over that line of busi- ness to his sons. He carries forward to success- ful completion whatever he undertakes and his labors have been crowned with success.
On the 3d of July, 1865, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Moore and Miss Catharine Minear, of West Virginia, one of the pioneer members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Boise, and a lady most highly esteemed for her many graces of character. Their union has been blessed with six children,-three sons and three daughters,-namely: Alice, wife of Dr. H. L. Bettis; Laura B., wife of J. W. Cunningham; Crawford, Anna L., Marion P. and Raymond H. The sons, Crawford and Marion, are now en- gaged in stock-raising. The family residence is one of the most commodious and beautiful homes in the county, surrounded with large and well kept grounds which furnish a fitting setting to the palatial dwelling.
Since attaining his majority, Mr. Moore has exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. He be- longs to no secret or social organizations save the Pioneer Society of Idaho, of which he is now president. He has been very successful in his business life and as a citizen is regarded as of the highest worth.
JOHN L. WEAVER.
Among the distinguished citizens of Boise is Hon. John L. Weaver, who is now serving as adjutant-general of the state. For many years a prominent representative of the Christian minis- try, honored and respected in every class of so- ciety, he has for some time been a leader in thought and action in the public life of the state and his name is inscribed high on the roll of fame, his honorable and brilliant career adding luster to the history of Idaho.
General Weaver was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, May 26, 1856, and is descended from Swiss, French and Scotch ancestors, who early became residents of America. Many years ago the Weaver family resided in Pennsylvania, but the grandfather of our subject removed to Indiana during the pioneer epoch of that com- monwealth, and Robert F. Weaver, father of
the General, was born in Switzerland county. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Miss Jane Banta, who was also a native of that county. Industrious and enterprising, he became one of the substantial farmers of the Hoosier state, where he made his home until his death, which occurred when he had attained the age of seventy-seven years. His wife has also departed this life. They were Universalists in religious faith, and their sterling worth won them the re- gard of all. Of their family of ten children, seven are yet living.
General Weaver, who is the youngest, acquired his literary education in colleges of Indiana, and later began reading law. Having largely mastered the principles of jurisprudence, he was admitted to the Indiana bar and practiced in that state until his removal to Des Moines, Iowa, where he was ordained as a minister of the Christian church, in January, 1890. He filled the pulpit of the Christian church in Perry, Iowa, for a time, then accepted a call from the church in East Des Moines, and in the years 1892-3-4 was engaged in evangelistic work. On the expiration of that period he came to Boise and accepted the pas- torate of the Christian church in this city. He is a forceful, earnest and convincing speaker. His addresses are always logical and instructive, showing careful thought and deep research, and whether in the pulpit or on the political platform his words have that strength and eloquence which arise from the speaker's belief in the thoughts hc is presenting.
With a just appreciation of the duties of citi- zenship, General Weaver has studied closely the political problems which affect the welfare of the nation, and for many years gave an unwavering support to the men and measures of the Repub- lican party ; but, when he could no longer agree with that organization on account of the atti- tude which is assumed on the money question, he withdrew from its ranks and in 1896 became an advocate of W. J. Bryan in his candidacy for the presidency. He has since affiliated with the Democratic party, and in 1898 was appointed by Governor Stuenenberg to the position of adju- tant-general of Idaho to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of General B. W. Figgins, who went with the Idaho volunteers to Manila and is now engaged in service in the Philippines.
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General Weaver entered upon his duties May 16. 1898, and has entire supervision of the military forces of the state. His conscientious purpose and fidelity insure a faithful performance of duty, which his strong mentality will also render ca- pable.
On the 19th of February, 1880, General Weaver married Miss Ida M. Jayne, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Celey Jayne, of that state, who was killed while serving as an officer in the Union army during the civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have three daughters: Lucile, Lot- tie J. and Rachel Mary. Mrs. Weaver has for ten years been supreme chief of the Rathbone Sisters of the World, the ladies' department of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. She was a delegate from Iowa to the World's Columbian Exposition, in Chicago, being also a delegate to the National Congress of Women. General Weaver belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is past grand high priest of the encampment and past brigadier-general of the patriarchs militant. He is a gentleman of marked ability, of scholar- ly attainments and superior mental culture, and, while commanding the respect of those with whom he has come in contact in public life, in private he has won the love and warm regard of many friends by his many admirable traits of character and good qualities of heart and mind.
WILLIAM H. REDWAY.
Business enterprise and success at Caldwell, Idaho, have an able representative in the subject of this sketch, William H. Redway, dealer in hardware and groceries.
He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, De- cember II, 1858, son of A. G. Redway, an hon- ored pioneer of Idaho, whose history is referred to at length on another page of this work. Wil- liam H. was very small at the time the family came west and settled on the Idaho frontier, and here he was reared, his education being received in St. Michael's school at Boise and St. Mark's school at Salt Lake City, both institutions under the supervision of the Episcopalian church. After completing his studies at Salt Lake City he re- turned to Boise and accepted the agency of the L'tah, Idaho & Oregon stage line, which business occupied his time and attention for three years.
During that period he was in what was known as the Wood river excitement, engaged in mer- cantile business for eight years. Selling out his business on Wood river, he moved to Salt Lake City, where he became bookkeeper for a large dry-goods house. In 1892 he came to Caldwell and bought out the mercantile firm of the M. B. Gwinn Mercantile Company, and has since been in business at this place, keeping a large and carefully selected stock of goods and controlling a large trade, his success being gained through honorable and upright methods. Mr. Redway ranks to-day as one of the most prosperous and popular merchants of the town and stands high also in the business circles of the state.
October 25, 1891, he married Miss Edith Ja- cobs, daughter of an honored pioneer of Idaho, who came here in 1863 and who was one of the prominent merchants of Boise. Mr. and Mrs. Redway have three little daughters, Mary E., Annie L. and Helen E.
Both he and his wife are members of the Epis- copal church of Caldwell, and he maintains fra- ternal relations with the I. O. O. F. and K. of P.
ISAAC F. SMITH.
Isaac F. Smith, of Weiser, who is serving as clerk of the district court and ex-officio auditor and recorder of Washington county, was born in Butte county, California, on the 28th of July, 1854. His father was born in Ohio. July 27, 1823. and married Miss Josephine C. Whitaker. In 1849 they crossed the plains with ox teams to California, bringing with them their firstborn, Walter W. Smith, who is now a resident of Washington county, Idaho. The father engaged in mining on Feather river for a time, and in 1854 removed to Nevada and thence to Utah, re- maining in the latter territory for nine years. In 1880 he took up his abode in Weiser, Idaho, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in the home of our subject, in 1896, when he had reached the age of seventy-three. He was an honorable and worthy citizen, re- spected by all who knew him. His wife had died in Silver City, Nevada, at the age of forty- one years.
Isaac F. Smith, the younger of their two chil- dren, was educated in the public schools of Vir- ginia City, Nevada, and in Oakland, California,
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and has been prominently identified with the de- velopment of the mineral, mercantile and agri- cultural resources of this section of the country. He engaged in mining in Utah for six years, was a clerk in a general mercantile establishment at Rush Lake, and in 1880 came to Weiser, since which time he has been one of the leading pro- moters of many of the best interests of Wash- ington county. He first entered from the govern- ment one hundred and sixty acres of land four miles northwest of the town, built a residence and made other substantial improvements, and still owns the property. From 1885 until 1890 he was employed as a salesman in the store of Mr. Haas, and in the latter year was called to public office, being nominated by the Republican party for the office of clerk of the district court and ex-officio auditor and recorder of Washing- ton county. He discharged his duties so accept- ably during his first term that he was renomi- nated and again elected, and for the third time has been elected to that position,-a fact which indicates in an unmistakable manner his fidelity to duty, his promptness and ability, as well as his personal popularity.
In 1877 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Hunt, a native of Ogden, Utah, and a daughter of Marshall Hunt, then residing in that city. They now have six children: Isaac F., Harriet H., Walter F., Isadore, Bert and Hazel. Mr. Smith's name is enrolled among the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Masonic fraternity, and he also holds mem- bership in the Episcopal church. He is now a silver Republican, differing from the main branch of his party on the money question. He keeps well informed on all the issues of the day and is therefore able to give an intelligent and earnest support to the principles in which he so firmly believes. In Weiser he has a nice home, and he and his family enjoy the high esteem of all who know them.
WILLIAM N. NICHOLS.
Among the earnest men whose depths of char- acter and strict adherence to principle excite the admiration of his contemporaries, Mr. Nichols is prominent. He is now the esteemed and ca- pable chairman of the Owyhee county board of
commissioners and resides at Silver City. At present he is connected with various mining and business interests and is the possessor of an am - ple fortune; but the time was when his means were very limited, and to his own well directed efforts his success is attributable.
Mr. Nichols was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on the 9th of May, 1853, and is of German line- age. His father, L. H. Nichols, was a native of Buffalo, New York, and married Miss Anna Bell Newell, of Pennsylvania. They removed to Wis- consin, where they made their home for many years. In 1853, however, the husband and father crossed the plains to California, where he en- gaged in mining for some time and then returned to the Badger state. In 1858 he again crossed the plains, his destination being Pike's peak. He was a regular physician and served his country as a surgeon during the civil war. After the close of hostilities he returned to his Wisconsin home, where he resumed the practice of his pro- fession. He died in 1887, at the age of seventy- seven years, and his wife passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. They had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom three are now living.
William N. Nichols, the fourth in order of birth, was educated in the public schools and in the State University of Wisconsin. He came to Silver City, Idaho, on the 18th of June, 1873, and here engaged in bookkeeping and mining for a number of years. He was at South mountain during the "boom" times at that camp, after which he opened an assay office in Silver City and acquired a successful business and won an enviable and wide reputation for the accuracy and reliability of his work. He was also agent for the California, Oregon & Idaho Stage Com- pany at Silver City for a number of years, and has held many positions of trust and responsibil- ity during his residence in Owyhee county. In 1878 he was elected a member of the territorial legislature, and in 1894 was elected county com- missioner. So ably did he discharge his duties that he was re-elected in 1896 and is now serving as chairman of the board. He is a most progres- sive and enterprising officer, and has exercised his official prerogatives to advance many inter- ests and make many needed reforms. In 1897 he sold his interest in the Alpine group of mines to
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the Trade Dollar Mining Company, but still re- tains large mining and other business interests, from which he derives a handsome income. His capable management of his business affairs and his enterprise and sound judgment have been crowned with success, and he is now accounted one of the substantial citizens of the community.
On the Ist of July, 1880, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Ora B. Justice, and the hospitality of their pleasant home is enjoyed by many friends. Mr. Nichols has been a life- long Republican, and now belongs to the silver wing of that party. He is a most reliable and capable public officer, who takes a deep interest in promoting the welfare of county and state. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed, and he is greatly respected by all who have been at all familiar with his honorable and useful career.
C. M. SCOTT, M. D.
In viewing the mass of mankind in the varied occupations of life, the conclusion is forced upon the observer that in the vast majority of cases men have sought employment not in the line of their peculiar fitness but in those fields where caprice or circumstances have placed them, thus explaining the reason of the failure of ninety-five per cent. of those who enter commercial and pro- fessional circles. In a few cases it seems that men with a peculiar fitness for a certain line have taken it up, and marked success has followed. Such is the fact in the case of the subject of this biography. Dr. Scott is one of the most capable physicians in his section of the state, and as pro- prietor of the Payette Valley Pharmacy, he has shown that he is endowed with that commercial instinct and foresight which enable one to enter into competitive business relations, and by the pursuit of honorable business methods gain prosperity.
A native of Kentucky, he was born in Bran- denburg, May 6, 1854. His father, Captain Will- iam Scott, was born in the same state, and mar- ried Indiana Roberts. He was a steamboat pilot and was engaged as pilot on General Grant's boat during the siege of Vicksburg. Although born and reared in the south. he strongly opposed the institution of slavery and advocated the cause of freedom. When the troubles between the two sections of the country precipitated the nation
into civil war, he took his stand as a stanch Union man and was an ardent admirer and sup- porter of President Lincoln. Captain Scott died in the forty-seventh year of his age, and his wife died at the age of forty-five. They left three sons,-one a fruit-grower in Anaheim, Califor- nia, the second a successful lawyer of Seattle, Washington, and the third the Doctor.
Dr. Scott acquired his early education in Ken- tucky and afterward attended school in Indiana, for the family, on account of their anti-slavery views, were obliged to leave Kentucky, and went to the Hoosier state. Determining to devote his energies to the practice of medicine, he fitted himself for the profession by a course in Rush Medical College, in Chicago, and was graduated in the class of 1883. He then practiced for a year in Nebraska, and from 1884 until 1890 en- gaged in practice in Los Angeles, California, whence he came to Idaho in the latter year, ar- riving just the day before the state was admitted to the Union. He opened an office in Payette, and at once began practice, meeting with excel - lent success from the beginning. As he has dem- onstrated his power to cope with disease and shown marked skill in the application of the principles of medical science to the needs of suf- fering humanity, he has gained a liberal patron- age and has won rank among the leading physi- cians in this part of the state. In 1895 he opened the Payette Valley Pharmacy, which he con- ducted until the spring of 1899, when he sold the business.
In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Scott and Miss F. M. Elwood, a native of New York. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Master Mason in York Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M., of York, Nebraska, in 1884. In the line of his profession he is associated with the American Academy of Railway Surgeons and with the Idaho State Med- ical Society. In politics he is a Republican, is an active worker in the local ranks of his party and has served as city trustee. His time, however, is principally given to his business affairs. De- voted to the noble and humane work which his profession implies, Dr. Scott has proved faithful, and has not only earned the due reward of his efforts in a temporal way, but has proved himself worthy to exercise the important functions of his
4. 8. Eurom
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calling, through his ability, his abiding sym- pathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his fellow men. In manner he is most genial, courteous and friendly, and he is popular with all classes.
FRANCIS E. ENSIGN.
Holding marked prestige among the promi- nent members of the Idaho bar is Francis Ed- ward Ensign, who is now engaged in the practice of the legal profession in Hailey. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which is uniformly accorded him; but through forty-five years' connection with the west his has been an unblemished career. With him success in life has been reached by sterling qualities of mind and a heart true to every manly principle. In his varied business interests his reputation has been unassailable and in offices of public trust he has displayed a loyalty that classed him among the valued citizens of the commonwealth. He has nearly reached the sev- entieth milestone that marks earth's pilgrimage, but is still concerned with the active affairs of life, and in the courts of his district displays a strong mentality undimmed by time and a power of ar- gument that wins him many notable forensic vic- tories.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Ensign was born in Painesville, March 4, 1829, and is descended from English ancestors who came from the "merrie isle" to the New World, locating in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1630, only two years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. A little later the Ensigns became pioneer settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the first settlers of Pitts- field and one of the incorporators of the town. When Benedict Arnold, then in command of American forces in the Revolutionary war, at- tempted the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, he vol- unteered and aided in taking that British strong- hold, bringing away with him a number of mus- kets which were greatly needed by the colonial troops. He also participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. He spent the latter part of his life in Ohio and reached an advanced age. In religious belief he was a Congregationalist.
Orrin Ensign, the father of our subject, was born in Dalton, Massachusetts, and when a young man removed to the Buckeye state, locat-
ing on a farm on the Grand river, near Paines- ville. There he married Miss Nancy Peppoon, who was descended from French Huguenot an- cestry. Her grandfather, having been expelled from France on account of his religious views, joined the English army and was commissioned captain. Later he came to America and took up his abode in Connecticut. The father of our sub- ject was an industrious farmer and he and his wife spent their married life on the old Ohio homestead, where they died when about seventy years of age. They, too, belonged to the Congre- gational church, and in politics Mr. Ensign was a stanch Whig. He always declined to fill po- litical offices, but was president of the temperance society of the county. In the family were six children, but only two are now living. The eld- est son, William O. Ensign, was the war com- missioner for northwestern Ohio during the civil war.
Francis E. Ensign, whose name introduces this review, was only six years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Will- iams county, Ohio, which was then an almost unbroken wilderness, the little log cabins of the white settlers being widely scattered, while In- dians were still there in considerable numbers. He received his elementary education in a log school-house, which stood in the midst of the timber, and afterward studied in the Western Re- serve Collegiate Institute, at Austinburg, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, also spent one year in Ober- lin College. Failing health forced him to aban- don his hopes of completing a collegiate course, and he went to sea, spending a year before the mast. This proved very beneficial and with re- stored health he landed at San Francisco, Febru- ary I, 1854. He worked for two months on a dairy farm, milking cows and digging ditches. The farm was then situated several miles from the city, but the corporation limits now extend far beyond it. In the ensuing month of May Mr. Ensign went to the French Gulch placer mines in Shasta county and thence to Siskiyou county, engaging in mining on McAdams and Indian creeks, also in Scott valley, for about four years. During the first three years thus passed he was satisfactorily successful, but lost all through high floods in the winter of 1857-8.
In the meantime Mr. Ensign had studied law
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and in 1858 was admitted to the bar, beginning practice at Yreka, where he followed his pro- fession for eight years. During six years of the time he was district attorney of Siskiyou county and was a most efficient and acceptable officer. He also acquired a wide reputation as a moun- tain climber, having several times made his way to the top of Mount Shasta. He was the first to discover its volcanic nature, of which he was assured by little jets of smoke issuing from crevasses, and later this was confirmed by a prominent scientist, who also saw the smoke.
In 1866 Mr. Ensign left California and came to Idaho, practicing law for twelve years in Sil- ver City. In 1868 he was elected a member of the territorial council and was chairman of the judiciary committee at the fifth session of the leg- islature. In 1872 he failed by one vote of being nominated for delegate to congress bv the Demo- cratic territorial convention. He was three times elected district attorney of the third judicial dis- trict of Idaho, including all the southern por- tion of the state south and east of Boise and Alturas counties, holding the office for six years, from 1872 until 1878. In the latter year he re- moved to Boise, where he practiced law for three years, and in 1881 he came to Hailey, then in Alturas county, to accept the position of attorney for the then new town, also hoping that the change of climate would prove beneficial to his family. Since that time he has been actively en- gaged in the practice of law in Hailey and has been connected with all of the most important litigated interests tried in the courts of his dis- triet. He has also figured prominently in con- nection with political affairs. In 1889-90 he was chairman of the Democratic territorial commit- tee, and after the adoption of the new state con- stitution in 1890 he was nominated by the Democ- racy as one of its candidates for justice of the supreme court, receiving the largest vote of all the candidates of his party for that office. In 1892 he was again nominated for that position, but shared the fate of the rest of the ticket. In addition to his law practice he also has extensive mining interests, which contribute not a little to his income.
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