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 74
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enough of a practical politician to have any de- sire for office. He believes he will best serve his personal interests by giving his attention entirely to his large and growing business. He is a Knight of Pythias and is popular in social and business circles, and has proved himself a public- spirited and progressive citizen, devoted to all worthy interests of Genesee.
ARCHIBALD GAMMELL.
Archibald Gammell, county assessor and tax collector of Latah county, now residing in Mos- cow, is a native of Nova Scotia, his birth having occurred February 23, 1835. He is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, of Presbyterian faith. William Gammell was the progenitor of the family in the New World. He crossed the Atlantic to Nova Scotia about 1776, since which time three generations of the family have been born there. Industry, uprightness and reliability are the chief characteristics of the Gammells, and they are also noted for longevity, most of the name having attained the age of eighty years or more. John Gammell, the grandfather, and William K. Gammell, the father of our subject, were both born in Nova Scotia, and the latter married Miss Martha Millen, a native of Ireland. They had seven children, but three are now de- ceased. The mother departed this life in her eighty-first year, and the father survived her only twenty-eight days. They were about the same age, and had celebrated their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary. In religious belief they were Pres- byterians, and their upright lives exemplified their faith.
Archibald Gammell is now the eldest of the surviving members of the family. He was reared on his father's farm, educated in the common schools, and entered upon his independent busi- ness career as an employe in a woolen factory. He also learned the miller's trade in a flouring mill, and in 1875 removed to Petaluma, Califor- nia, where he was engaged in the draying busi- ness for three years. He met with moderate success in that undertaking, and in 1878 came to Idaho, securing a farm on American ridge, in the Potlatch country, in Latah county. Here for twenty-one years he has carried on agricul- tural pursuits and has greatly improved his property, now raising large crops of wheat, bar-
ley, corn and flax, together with an abundance of fruit for home consumption. His wheat crops have yielded as high as thirty-eight bushels to the acre, and through his well directed efforts he has become one of the prosperous farmers of this rich section of the county and one of the most progressive, practical, and influential agricultur- ists.
In 1868 Mr. Gammell married Miss Agnes Brenton, a native of Nova Scotia, who shares with him his pleasant home. In politics he has always been a zealous Republican, and in 1898 he was elected on that ticket to the office of assessor and tax collector, which position he is now filling in a most satisfactory manner. The assessment of the county in 1898 reached the sum of two million seven hundred thousand do !- lars. In his social relations Mr. Gammell is a Mason, having taken the preliminary degrees in Eureka Lodge, No. 17, F. & A. M., in Nova Scotia; the Royal Arch degrees in Keith Chap- ter, No. 3, traveling thirty miles in order to become initiated into the mysteries of capitular Masonry. He is a worthy exemplar of the teach ings of this ancient and beneficent fraternity, but his remoteness from the lodge makes it impossi- ble for him to take an active part in ritualistic work. He and his estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Tuliaetta, and now attend the services of that denomination in Mos- cow. They have many friends in the county where they have so long resided and are highly esteemed by all with whom they have come in contact.
TIMOTHY REGAN.
Among the pioneers of Idaho is Timothy Re- gan, of Boise, who came to the territory in 1864, and has since been largely instrumental in de- veloping the rich mineral resources of the state. He is a native of Rochester, New York, born November 14, 1843, and is of Irish extraction. His parents, Morgan and Mary (Burk) Regan, were both natives of the Emerald Isle, whence they emigrated to the state of Maine, in 1831, bringing with them their two infant daughters. At a later date they removed to New York, thence to Chicago and afterward to Wisconsin, where the father secured a tract of land and in- dustriously carried on agricultural pursuits until
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his death, which occurred in 1878, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife, surviving him some time, departed this life in 1897, at the age of eighty-four years, in Wisconsin. They were de- vout members of the Catholic church and were people of the highest respectability. Nine child- ren were added to their family in America, of whom seven are still living, one being a resident of Boise, namely, Timothy. Philip, who for many years was a leading grocer of the city, died February 9, 1899.
Timothy Regan, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin, and was reared on his father's farnı, early becoming familiar with all the duties of field and meadow. When nineteen years of age he started out in life for himself. Leaving home, he made his way to New York, whence he sailed for California, going by way of the isthmus. After reaching the golden state he traveled by wagon to Humboldt, Nevada, and on to Silver City, Idaho, where he engaged in mining in the employ of others for a short time. He then en- gaged in teaming and in furnishing supplies to the miners. He also conducted a hotel, and as time passed his financial resources gradually increased. Having acquired some capital he in- vested his money in various mines and found this most profitable.' He is regarded as an expert in his judgment of ore, and his knowledge in this particular, combined with sound judgment in all business transactions, has brought to him most gratifying success. He is the owner of the cele- brated Oro Fino mine, from which were taken seventy tons of ore, that yielded eight hundred dollars to the ton. He also owns the Golden Chariot mine, and formerly owned a mine at De Lamar which he sold to the De Lamar Mining Company for eighty-seven thousand five hundred dollars. These mines all have seven thousand feet on one, or the mother, lode. He sold the Oro Fino mine to an English company for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but after mak- ing a large payment, this company, through mis- management, allowed it to revert to the original owner.
As he has met with success in his mining ven- tures, Mr. Regan has extended his field of oper- ations into other lines of business and has been the promoter of many industries, which have
largely promoted the material interests of Boise. He was one of the organizers of the Hot and Cold Water Company, which supplies the city with both hot and cold water from artesian wells, many of the best buildings and residences being heated with this natural hot water. This enter- prise has proved of great value to Boise, as have others with which Mr. Regan is connected. He is a stockholder and director of the Boise City National Bank, one of the strongest and best financial institutions in the state, now occupying a splendid bank building, which was erected by the company. He is a stockholder in the Wei- ser Land and Improvement Company and in many other enterprises, and his capable manage- ment and wise judgment in business affairs have proved of great benefit in the control of many of these interests.
In 1878 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Regan and Miss Rose Blackinger, of Buffalo, New York, and to them have been born two sons, William and John, who are now attending college in Santa Clara, California. They have a beautiful home at the corner of Fourteenth and Bannock streets, surrounded with well kept grounds, tastefully adorned.
Mr. Regan is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, having taken the first three degrees in Silver City Lodge, of which he is past master. He has also taken the royal arch and knight templar degrees, and now belongs to the lodge, chapter and commandery of Boise. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, but has never sought the honors or emoluments of public office, pre- ferring to devote his time and energies to his business interests, in which he has met with sig- nal success. His life has been one of untiring activity, and has been crowned with a degree of prosperity attained by comparatively few men. He is of the highest type of a business man, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose hardy genius and splendid abilities have achieved results that are the won- der and admiration of all.
GEORGE E. ERB.
In the last half century, especially, it is sel- dom that one wins prominence in several lines. It is the tendency of the age to devote one's en- tire energies to a special line, continually work.
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ing upward and concentrating his efforts toward accomplishing a desired end; yet in the case of George E. Erb it is demonstrated that a leading position may be reached in more than one line of action. He is an able educator, a successful stock-dealer and business man and a recognized leader in political circles. By reason of his prominent connection with the public life and interests of Lewiston, and on account of his repu- tation, which extends far beyond the confines of the city, he is well entitled to representation in this volume.
Mr. Erb was born in Lafayette county, Mis- souri. April 26, 1866, and is of German descent. His father, Maximum Erb, was born in Ger- many, and when a young man crossed the At- lantic to the United States. He served through- out the Mexican war as a loyal defender of his adopted land, and then took up his residence in Missouri, becoming one of the enterprising farmers of that state. He married Miss Mary A. Ferguson, and died in 1878, at the age of fifty- six years. The widow with her five children, four sons and a daughter, crossed the plains to Oregon in 1884, and she has since resided near Weston, that state.
George E. Erb, the eldest son, attended the public schools until thirteen years of age, but after that had no opportunity to acquire further education in the school-room. Study, reading, experience and observation, however, have made him a well informed man, and his literary tastes and attainments have gained himn entrance into the cultured society circles. He began his busi- ness career as a stock-raiser in Oregon, and in 1889, when but twenty-two years of age, he walked to the city of Lewiston to try his fortunes among this enterprising people. He had no capital, but was energetic, progressive and will- ing to work, and he soon secured a position at manual labor. His real worth of character was recognized by the Rev. John D. McConkey, rec- tor of the Episcopal church, who took a deep in- terest in the young man and acted as his tutor for a few months, thus enabling him to satis- factorily pass an examination and secure a teach- er's certificate. His appetite for learning has never been satiated, and through the passing years he has continually added to his store of knowledge, until he is now a man of scholarly
attainments. After securing his certificate, he successfully engaged in teaching for four years, and then had the honor of being elected county superintendent of schools and ex-officio probate judge, which office he filled most ably until the close of the term. He was then for three and a half years the deputy district-court clerk, having charge of all the legal business of the court. He had the honor of serving one term, for the year ending June 30, 1897, as mayor of the city of Lewiston. On the expiration of that period he became extensively engaged in the butchering business, including the packing and curing of meats and dealing in live-stock, as a member of the firm of Dowd, Shaw & Company. After a year this firm sold out and Mr. Erb has since been engaged in stock-raising, in connection with his brothers-in-law, the Dowd brothers. They have one fine ranch of seven hundred and twenty acres, on which are three excellent artesian wells. On it are six hundred head of cattle and from! three to four hundred head of horses. Mr. Erb is also the special right-of-way agent of the Ore- gon Railway & Navigation Company for the counties of Idaho and Nez Perces. He has also acquired valuable interests in some promising mining properties in the celebrated Buffalo Hump mining district of central Idaho.
On the 14th of June, 1893, Mr. Erb was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Dowd, a daughter of Michael Dowd, one of the honored pioneers of Idaho, who was engaged in mining at Pierce City and afterward in farming and stock-raising in Nez Perces county, Idaho. Mrs. Erb was one of the first white children born in Pierce City. By her marriage she has become the mother of a son and daughter,-Charles Frederick and Mary Ernestine.
Mr. Erb is a prominent member and the grand vice-chancellor of the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity for the state of Idaho, and adjutant of the First Regiment of the Idaho Uniformed Rank of that order, in which he stands very high. He is also a member of the Rathbone Sisters and of the Woodmen of the World. In politics he has always been a stanch Democrat since casting his first vote, and has done effective service for his party. As chairman of the Democratic county central committee, he ably managed the cam- paign in this part of the state, and did effective
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work in the interests of Democracy during the last campaign. He was appointed by Governor Steunenberg a member of the board of trustees of the State Normal School, in January, 1897, to serve for a term of six years. His deep interest in the cause of education well qualifies him for the position. In his own home he has a fine li- brary and some of his most pleasant hours are spent with the companionship of the master minds of both this and past ages.
ALFRED EOFF.
Alfred Eoff, the able and widely known cashier of the Boise City National Bank, possesses the undaunted spirit and business enterprise which have developed and are developing the marvelous resources and wealth of the western states and territories. All credit is due the brave and fear- less frontiersman who paves the way for the on- coming tide of civilization, and, by his industry and zeal opens a thousand avenues for com- merce and progress. In such a work Mr. Eoff has largely aided and in the history of Idaho he well deserves representation.
Of Dutch ancestry, the forefathers of Alfred Eoff settled at an early day in Wheeling, West Virginia, and one of the streets of that city is named in honor of the family. James Eoff, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia (ere that state had been divided) and in 1840 removed to the prairies of Illinois, in company with his father. When grown to maturity he married there Miss Jane Ayres, and of their five children Alfred is now the only survivor.
He was born in the village of White Hall, Illi- nois, June 11, 1845, and received his education in the schools of Chicago. In 1862, when he was seventeen years of age, he joined an uncle in Col- orado, and within a short time he became con- nected with the Ben Holliday Stage Company. Later he was made cashier of the Wells-Fargo & Company's Bank at Salt Lake City, which posi- tion he filled for six years. He was then offered the place of assistant cashier of the bank in San Francisco, owned by the same corporation, and accepted the position, which he retained until 1885, when he came to Idaho for the purpose of organizing the Boise City National Bank, of which he has since been cashier and manager.
As early as 1866 Mr. Eoff had come to this
state as the agent for the Wells-Fargo Company, also serving as their paymaster from Denver to Salt Lake City, until the road was completed. To his marked business ability is due much of the success of the Boise City National Bank, now recognized as one of the leading banking institu- tions of the northwest.
Idaho has just cause to be proud of her fine commercial facilities and of the able, far-seeing financiers who stand at the head of these vast business enterprises-the banks of the state. The one with which Mr. Eoff is connected as cashier was organized in the fall of 1885, and on the Ioth of the following April its doors were opened for business. At that time its capital stock was fifty thousand dollars; in 1891 this was raised to double the amount; and it has been authorized to increase its capital to five hundred thousand dol- lars. In 1898 the profits and surplus of the bank equaled its original capital, and this has been accomplished in spite of the fact that great finan- cial depression has characterized the money mar- kets of this country much of the time covered by the existence of the bank. In the winter of 1891-92 the fine building occupied by the bank was erected, which, with its furnishings, cost up- ward of fifty thousand dollars; but about half of that amount has been since realized from the renting of offices. The first year the deposits in the bank amounted to one hundred thousand dol- lars, which sum has been gradually increased un- til it has now reached five times the original amount. A dividend of ten per cent has been regularly paid and forty per cent has been added to the surplus,-a truly wonderful showing! Among those prominent in the organization of the bank were Henry Wadsworth, cashier of the Wells-Fargo Bank at San Francisco; A. H. Boomer, manager of the California & Oregon Stage Company; Edward A. Hawley, of Hawley Brothers Hardware Company, of San Francisco; and James G. Walker, a wholesale liquor mer- chant of the same city: H. B. and B. M. East- man, of Boise; and Joseph Perrault, surveyor- general of Idaho. The first officers were Henry Wadsworth, president; Alfred Eoff, cashier; and Joseph Perrault, assistant cashier. There have been no changes since, save that W. S. Bruce is now the assistant cashier.
During the civil war Mr. Eoff volunteered his
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services in aid of his country, was assigned to Company C, First Colorado Infantry, and was sent against the Indians, who were proving a constant source of danger to the white settlers of the state and of the northwest in general. He is now a member of George H. Thomas Post, No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically he is an ardent Republican.
One of the handsomest residences in Boise is the recently completed home of Mr. Eoff. He was married in 1882 to Miss Victoria Louise Marsh, who was born in Canada, is a lady of superior education and social attainments, and is a consistent member of the Episcopal church. In all his business and social relations Mr. Eoff is popular and influential. His marked financial and executive ability has gained him pre-emi- nence in commercial circles, while his pleasant personality and unquestioned integrity have won for him the respect of all.
WILLIAM B. ALLISON. .
One of the most prominent pioneer citizens of Salubria valley, an organizer of Washington county, and now (1898) its assessor, is William B. Allison, an enterprising and leading stock- raiser in the beautiful valley of Salubria, where he has a rich and finely improved farm of five hun- dred and twenty acres, through which runs a splendid stream of water.
Nr. Allison was born at Glasgow, Columbia county, Ohio, on August 22, 1845, and is of Scotch ancestry, his parents, Alexander and Sarah (Glover) Allison, having been natives of Scotland. In 1837 the father emigrated to America, and was married in Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania, where he followed the blacksmith's trade, having learned the same in Scotland. He re- moved to Illinois in 1854, and a year later to northwestern Iowa, and in 1863 he and his fam- ily. consisting of his wife and three children, crossed the plains and located in Boise valley, where he took up a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, becoming one of the pioneers of that valley. He found a ready market for the products of his farm in the mining camps, and in those early days received a very remunerative price for anything he could raise. The cost of threshing grain was at that time twenty-five cents a bushel, and everything else equally high. I11
1868 Mr. Allison removed to Salubria valley, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of rich land, one mile north of where the town of Salubria now stands, built upon this land, int- proved it and became a successful, industrious and capable farmer. Being a lover of liberty, he identified himself with the Republican party when it was organized, and became one of its faithful adherents. Among other of the early enter- prises of the territory aided by him was the founding of the Statesman, at Boise, to which he liberally contributed. In his religious faith he was a Presbyterian. His death occurred at his home in Salubria, in 1882, at which time he had attained the age of sixty-nine years. The wife to whom he was first married departed this life in 1854. His second wife, who crossed the plains and endured the hardships of pioneer life with him, still survives him and has attained the grand old age of ninety years. All the children are living in Salubria.
William B. Allison was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Iowa, and in 1863, when in his eighteenth year, he was one of the drivers of a freight train across the plains, the rate per pound for freight at that time being thirty-three cents to Salt Lake, the time consumed in driving from Omaha being ninety days. After coming to Idaho our subject freighted all over the territory, and crossed the plains three times with oxen, without accident or misfortune. In 1868 he came to the Salubria valley and took up one hundred and sixty acres of rich land, upon a part of which is now built the town of Salubria, and on this property he built his log house, with a dirt floor and roof, and in this humble way began his farm life. He en- gaged in raising cattle, horses and hogs, and from time to time, as by his industry he secured means, he added to his farm until now he has five hundred and twenty acres, stocked with a fine grade of Hereford cattle, Berkshire hogs and good horses. In 1891 he erected a larger and more comniodious house on his farm, and there he and his family enjoy the comforts of life which his unaided efforts and intelligence have pro- vided.
Mr. Allison was a strong adherent of the Re- publican party up to the time of the St. Louis convention in 1896, when he decided that the
IMBallantines
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"G. O. P." had left him, and he allied himself with the silver or bimetal forces of his state. He was elected a member of the Idaho territorial legislature and introduced the bill creating the county of Washington. He was also elected a member of the second session of the state legis- lature, and became acquainted with all the rep- resentative men of the state. In 1896 he was elected assessor of Washington county, an office he has filled in a most satisfactory manner. So- cially he is a member of the Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F. of the state.
On the 18th of November, 1868, Mr. Allison was married to Miss Ruhannah Hedgecock, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Jos- eph Hedgecock. Of this union five children have been born, namely: Minnie; Loutitia, now Mrs. Henry Mossman; Alexander, who is married and resides with his father, aiding him in conducting the farm; William B., Jr, and Joseph.
JAMES W. BALLANTINE.
One of the foremost representatives of the mercantile interests of the Wood river valley is James W. Ballantine, of Bellevue. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born February 15, 1839, and in his life has manifested many of the sterling traits of his Scotch ancestry, who emigrated to the United States in 1825. His parents were Nathaniel and Sarah (Wallace) Ballantine, natives of Scotland, in which country they were reared and married. Crossing the Atlantic to America, they took up their residence near Can- onsburg, Pennsylvania, where the father en- gaged in merchandising. They were Presby- terians in their religious faith, and were people of the highest integrity of character, respected by all who knew them. For more than forty years Nathaniel Ballantine was a successful busi- ness man of Pennsylvania, and lived to be seventy-eight years of age, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy. They had eight children, four of whom are living.
James W. Ballantine is the eldest living of their sons. He was educated in the public schools of his native state, and received his business training at the store and under the direction of his father, whom he assisted in the conduct of a mercantile establishment until President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers to aid in suppressing the
rebellion in the south. Mr. Ballantine at once responded, enlisting in April, 1861, and assisted in raising Company E, of the Ninth Pennsy !- vania Reserve Corps, of which he was elected first lieutenant. He was afterward chosen captain of Company K, of the same regiment, in which position he served until the expiration of his term. He then assisted in raising the One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment of Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, of which he was elected lieutenant colonel, continuing to act in that capacity until the close of his second term of enlistment. For three years he was with the Army of the Potomac and participated in all of its hard-fought battles and glorious victories. He was wounded by a gunshot in the thigh and was also captured at the second battle of Bull Run, but after two months he returned to his com- mand, with which he continued until the close of hostilities. He was always a valiant soldier, fearless and true, and because of his meritorious service on the field of battle was brevetted major by President Johnson.
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