USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 102
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MARTIN JENSEN.
Martin Jensen, a capable business man of Caldwell, who was the organizer and promoter of the Caldwell Ice & Cold Storage Company and who in former years was closely associated with sheep and cattle raising interests in Idaho, was born at Lol- land, Denmark, September 29, 1863. He acquired his education in the schools of his native land and when a youth of seventeen purchased second class passage to America on a steamer, resolved to try his fortune in the new world. He paid his own way with money that he had earned and made Wisconsin his destination. This was his first sea voyage and the trip took about ten days from Glasgow to New York. He landed in June, 1881, and made his way to Wisconsin, where he worked for a year and a half on a farm. He then went into the lumber mills at Wausau, Wisconsin, where he was employed for two and a half years, and later he journeyed across the continent to Walla Walla, Washington, where for four years he devoted his time to herding sheep.
In 1889 Mr. Jensen came to Caldwell, Idaho, and entered the employ of Billy Isaac as a herder, Mr. Isaac being at the time one of the largest sheep owners in the state, Mr. Jensen continued with Mr. Isaac for three years, and in the meantime began buying sheep, which he ran with those of his employer. When he severed his connection with Mr. Isaac he was the possessor of about twenty-two hundred head of sheep and for twelve years thereafter he concentrated his efforts and energies upon the care and develop- ment of his flocks. He then sold his sheep, which at that time numbered about twelve thousand head, and then turned his attention to the raising of cattle on his ranch on the Lower Sucker creek. He was thus active as a stock raiser until 1913, when he disposed of his ranching and cattle interests and turned his attention to his present business at Caldwell under the name of the Caldwell Ice & Storage Company, handling ice, cold storage and poultry. He has one of the best built and equipped plants in the state with a capacity of about fifteen tons of ice per day and handles also a large amount of poultry and cold storage products. He gives employment to six people and operates three trucks in the conduct of the business, which has steadily grown and is now a profitable source of income. Mr. Jensen has also become a direc- tor and stockholder in the Western National Bank, with which he has been associated since its inception. He likewise owns some of the best improved business property in Caldwell, from which he derives a handsome annual rental.
In 1899 Mr. Jensen was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Orr, a daughter of Jolın Orr, a pioneer of Idaho, who came to this state when the Indians were so hostile that he was compelled to move his family from his farm to the town of Middleton, which at that time was but a small village. Mrs. Jensen was born at Rock Creek,
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MARTIN JENSEN
MRS. MATTIE JENSEN
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near Boise, and her parents are now deceased, as are the parents of Mr. Jensen. To Mr. and Mrs. Jensen have been born three children. Ernest J., eighteen years of age, volunteered for army service and was in the trenches on the western front from March 1 until August 1, 1918. He joined the colors as a private but was soon advanced to corporal. While on duty he was gassed and seriously wounded but stood the test like a veteran-another proof of the marked heroism and courage of the American forces, who turned the tide of battle and brought victory to the allied arms. Jerry L., sixteen years of age, is attending school in Caldwell, and Marie Elizabeth is a pupil in a convent at Boise.
Mr. Jensen is today a most substantial American citizen. He has never had occas- sion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization he has made steady progress. being now one of the prosperous and leading business men of his adopted city.
H. M. WEST.
H. M. West, an apiarist, who has done much to advance bee culture and honey production in Idaho, making this one of the important industries of the state, was born in Perry, Lake county, Ohio, May 2, 1885. When eighteen years of age he went to Kingsville, Ohio, there completing his education by graduation from the high school. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts and attention upon work on his father's farm until the spring of 1908, when he removed west, becoming a resident of Parma, Idaho. He is now in partnership with H. E. Crowther, of Ohio, who came to this section of the country in 1906 to enter the employ of E. A. Atwater, of Meridian, Idaho. It was Mr. Crowther's report concerning the hee industry that caused Mr. West to remove to this state. Here he took charge of the interests of the firm while Mr. Crowther returned to the east to continue in the raising of bees in Ohio. The partners in Idaho have about twelve hundred colonies of bees, producing about sixty pounds of honey to the hive. Their bees are mostly located in the Boise valley and their honey is sold to the Bee Keepers' Association.
In 1913 Mr. West was married to Miss Mabel Parker, of Michigan, and they have three children: Evelyn E .; David E., who is two and a half years of age, and Hugh Clinton, who is a year old. Mr. and Mrs. West are widely and favorably known in Parma and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by the many friends whom they have won since their removal to Idaho. Mr. West is regarded as a very energetic and enterprising young business man. He has closely studied everything that has to do with bee culture and the production of honey and conducts his business along most scientific lines, productive of substantial results, the boney now commanding a good price on the market, so that the income derived therefrom is very gratifying.
ARNOLD MICKELS
Five miles east of Nampa, in the High Line district of Ada county, Arnold Mickels owned and operated a fine farm for several years. It comprised one hundred and one and a half acres of fine land, but on the 17th of October, 1919, he sold that place and removed to a twenty acre tract about five miles from Boise, where he is now living re- tired from active business. Diligence and enterprise characterized his farming activities and have made him one of the prosperous residents of his district.
Mr. Mickels was born in Wisconsin, between De Pere and Green Bay, June 4, 1862, and there pursued his education in the public schools to the age of fifteen years, when he began earning his living by working in the lumber camps of Menominee, Michigan, there remaining for between five and six years. He afterward went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and during the winter months was employed in the lumber camps, while in the summer seasons through the succeeding six years he worked in the harvest fields of North and South Dakota. On the expiration of that period he became a resident of Mis- soula, Montana, where he entered the employ of the Bonner Lumber Company on the Blackfoot river. He was with that company tor twelve years and then became connected with the Elargie estate, consisting largely of lumher and mining interests. The lumber
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business was suffering from lack of efficient management when Mr. Mickels took charge and he brought the business up to a prosperous condition.
It was in 1899 that Idaho gained Arnold Mickels as a citizen. He took up his abode at Star, where he engaged in the dairy business for about one year and then sold his interests there, settling about a half mile north of what later became his home in the High Line district, where he resided for seven and a half years. Disposing of that prop- erty, he then went to Long Valley, where he engaged in stock raising, in dairying and in the raising of timothy seed for a period of more than nine years. He owned seven hundred acres of land there, which ultimately he sold and removed to a farm of one hundred and one and a half acres about five miles east of Nampa, in the High Line dis- trict. Here he raised wheat and alfalfa and had a thirty-acre blue grass pasture. He milked sixteen cows and had about thirty head of milk stock.
In 1895 Mr. Mickels was married to Miss Clara Belle Chamberlain, of Idaho, who lived in the Jordan valley when it was a part of Oregon. They have five children: Henry F., twenty-two years of age, and Frank A., sixteen years of age, who are farm- ing with their father; Elizabeth Mary, in school; and Roger Edward and Arnold D., who are not yet of school age. Mr. Mickels and his wife are widely and favorably known in the district in which they reside. He is a staunch republican and represented Boise county in the house of representatives during the twelfth and thirteenth sessions of the Idaho legislature. He was the father of the bill to divide Valley county but it was vetoed by the government at that time and not passed until four years later by Gover- nor Alexander. Throughout his entire business career he was actuated by an enter- prising spirit that has prompted him to accomplish whatever he has undertaken. Ob- stacles and difficulties in his path have seemed but to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part, and his undaunted energy has carried him to a creditable place in the ranks of representative farmers of Ada county.
ABRAHAM MINTZER.
Abraham Mintzer is one of those citizens who have come to this country from Europe in order to avail themselves of better opportunities and bere he has found the fortune which he sought, or at least the chance upon which to build that fortune. Largely through his enterprise is due the financial success which already has accompanied his efforts. A native of Zborof, Austria, he was born in August, 1888, and attended the local schools in the acquirement of an education. Subsequently he assisted his father with the farm work, later also being to some extent engaged in merchandising.
Mr. Mintzer so continued until 1906, or until his eighteenth birthday, when he de- cided to seek his fortune in America. He was largely induced to take this step because a brother had preceded him by three years and had established himself in the cigar and tobacco business in New York. He joined this brother and for one year continued along that line, when he entered the manufacturing business, selling condiments to the trade for two years. Disposing of his stock, he then worked for the Heinz Company for a short time, after which he removed west in order to avail himself of the greater op- portunities offered in a newer country. He took up agricultural pursuits near Fort Worth, Texas, but sustaining an injury to his back, was forced to give up that occupa- tion and for a short time was engaged in the locksmith's business.
Upon his removal in San Francisco, Mr. Mintzer entered the cleaning and pressing business and so continued for one year, after which he removed to Chehalis, Washing- ton, and started a hide and junk business, but after one year came to Nampa and founded his present business, trading in furs, hides and junk, under the name of the Nampa Hide & Junk House. In 1918 Mr. Mintzer also entered the tire manufacturing business. He makes new tires from waste stock and these tires are sold under the name of the Mintzer tires. He uses two old automobile tires, sewing and vulcanizing them together, the product being a sound, good tire. He soon expects to install another vulcanizer and will then be able to turn out twenty tires a day. The importance of his business is evident from the fact that he was the first to ship in carload lots from Nampa both hides and junk and he has shipped as high as twenty-five carloads of scrap iron in one month, the average, however, being about ten per month. Mr. Mintzer now employs about ten people. His really extraordinary business ability has already made him one of the well-to-do merchants of his town. In 1918 he bought seventy-five acres of sage
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brush land near Collopy and has it seeded to wheat and alfalfa, besides having thereon sheep and cattle. Upon this property he has built a good substantial house.
Mr. Mintzer brought his two sisters to this country: Esther, who is now the wife of Harry Prisand, by whom she has four children, Minnie, Sophie, Anna and Philip; and Sophie, the wife of Sam Krantz, by whom she has a daughter, Lilly.
Mr. Mintzer takes the greatest interest in the growth and development of his town and district, to which he has contributed by his activities. He is a naturalized American citizen and how thoroughly American he has become is evident from the fact that he offered his services to the government in the late war. There is great credit due him for what he has achieved as he has created a prosperous business out of practically nothing.
JAMES L. BAKER.
James L. Baker, whose name is synonymous with the development of the live stock industry in Idaho and who makes his home in Caldwell, is today the owner of the only herd of Black Aberdeen Angus cattle in Canyon county. Since 1891 he has been continuously connected with live stock interests at Caldwell, where he has resided from pioneer times. He was born in Harrison county, Missouri, November 2, 1875, and there acquired his early education. He came to Idaho when it was yet a territory and for about a year resided at Mountain Home, after which he returned to Missouri. A year later, however, he again came to this state and took up his abode at Caldwell, where he has since remained, being numbered among its pioneer settlers and pro- gressive business men. He has devoted his entire attention to ranching and the raising of live stock and in 1891 shipped from Caldwell the first carload of hogs ever sent from the town. In the course of his active business career here he has shipped stock enough to fill a train of cars over a hundred miles in length and his shipments go to all stock distributing points in the United States. His firm made the largest shipment of live stock ever sent into Idaho, being shipped from Arizona and comprising one hundred and fifty-six carloads, containing more than four thousand head of cattle. In an earlier day Mr. Baker was engaged in raising range cattle but now confines his stock upon his own ranch, which is located two and a half miles from Caldwell, and on this he is extensively and profitably engaged in raising hogs, cattle and sheep, being the owner of the only herd of Black Aberdeen Angus cattle in Canyon county. These are considered the best beef cattle in the world and one of this herd was recently sold at auction for two dollars and a half per pound, the total sale amounting to thirty- three hundred and fifty dollars. These were shipped to France for the Christmas dinner of President Wilson and his peace delegates. Ten years ago Mr. Baker sold his herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle but repurchased them in the year 1918. They average about twelve hundred pounds in weight-a herd of which he has every reason to be proud.
Mr. Baker married Miss Lilly H. Goodwin, of Ridgeway, Missouri, and they have become the parents of two daughters, Marie L. and Pauline, both teachers in the schools of Caldwell. The family is prominent socially, while Mr. Baker's position in live stock circles is one of leadership. He deserves much credit not only for the success he has attained but also for the fact that he has done much to improve the grade of stock raised in this section, his own example stimulating the ambition and efforts of others.
HENRY DALRYMPLE.
Henry Dalrymple, a ranchman who has been a resident of Ada county since 1889, at which time he removed to Idaho territory from Cloud county, Kansas, was born in the latter district on the 13th of October, 1870. He is a son of Henry Hamilton Dal- rymple, a veteran of the Civil war, who served in the Union army. He was born in the state of Illinois, while the mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Connors, was likewise a native of that state. The father was of Scotch descent and passed away when his son Henry was but nine years of age, he being thus left an orphan, for his mother had died two years before. Following the death of his first wife Henry H .. Dalrymple had married again but lived only a year after his second marriage. He
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passed away, leaving a widow and an infant son, Ervin Dalrymple, now a resident of Cloud county, Kansas. By his first marriage there were four sons and three daughters and with the exception of Henry Dalrymple of this review all are living in Kansas and are prosperous farming people of that state.
When nineteen years of age Henry Dalrymple left Kansas and came to Idaho, where he worked for seven years for William Bubb on the same farm where his widow, Mrs. Amelia Eisley, now resides. This is located a mile or more east of South Boise. Later Mr. Dalrymple worked for David Gekeler for two years and for a time was engaged in carpenter work in Boise, while subsequently he spent seven years as a ditch rider on the Ridenhaugh ditch. For the past twenty years he has been farming on his own account. For several years he cultivated rented land but in 1917 purchased the Gus Carlson farm, situated ten miles west of Boise, an excellent tract of fifty acres, well improved. He paid one hundred and eighty dollars per acre for this property but holds it at a much higher figure today owing to the substantial advance in real estate in this section.
On the 31st of August, 1905, Mr. Dalrymple was united in marriage in Boise to Miss Edith Knox, a daughter of the late George D. and Amanda Knox, the latter now living. Mrs. Dalrymple was born in Mitchell county, Kansas, April 19, 1877, and came to Idaho with her parents when a maiden of twelve years. To Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple have been born three children. Ray Dawson, who was born October 21, 1906, died of an operation for appendicitis on the 19th of April, 1919. The others are: Dorothy Edith, born March 9, 1908; and Henry E., born September 9, 1912.
Mr. Dalrymple is identified with the Woodmen of the World and at one time was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows but is not a member at present. In politics he is a republican hut is apt to vote independently of party ties, suporting at local elections the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office. He has never sought nor desired political preferment, as he has given his attention rather to his farming interests, in which he has won substantial success. He has made a specialty of the production of alfalfa and keeps dairy cows and hogs. His ranch interests are well managed and success in substantial measure is rewarding his labors.
CHARLES M. MILLINER.
Charles M. Milliner, conducting a profitable business under the name of the Milliner Transfer Company, was born near Peoa, Summit county, Utah, December 18, 1877, and is a son of George and Sarah A. (Cossey) Milliner, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales. The father came from his native country to the new world in 1852, making his way at once to Utah, and he is now living on a farm a short distance from Caldwell at the age of sixty-nine. The mother came to the United States when eleven years old and she also survives.
At the graded schools of his native town Charles M. Milliner pursued his education to the age of twenty years. He remained with his father upon the home farm until 1901 and then accompanied him on the removal to Idaho and farmed with him on a ranch located a mile and a quarter from Caldwell. On the 6th of January, 1902. how- ever, he and his father removed to the old McIntyre place, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of land about four miles east of Caldwell, on the Boise river. There Charles M. Milliner devoted his attention to farming for another five years, at the end of which time he was married and removed to Caldwell, where for three years he was variously employed. He then purchased an interest in the Martin Wing Transfer Company and conducted the business for six years under the name of the Milliner Transfer Company. In 1916 he bought out the Westcott Transfer Company, merging it with the Milliner Transfer Company. It was Mr. Milliner who introduced the use of trucks in connection with the transfer business, for when he first became connected with the business there was in use in Caldwell but one small truck. He is now ac- corded a very extensive patronage, necessitating the use of a number of trucks and the employment of a considerable force of men. He is the agent for the Continental Oil Company and employs one team for exclusive use in oil delivery in the city. He is also distributor for the following Boise companies: the Davidson Wholesale Company, the Falk Wholesale Company and the firm of Oakes & Company, all of which ship goods to this point which he redistributes and ships to the respective destinations. He has handled more sugar for these firms, reshipping to their branch houses and patrons, than
CHARLES M. MILLINER
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any other transfer company of the state and has handled as high as thirty carloads of miscellaneous goods in a year. He is also agent for the Lion Coal Company of Ogden, Utalı, and he handles large shipments of wool, amounting in 1918 to many carloads.
It was on the 24th of December, 1906, that Mr. Milliner was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Wells, who was born in Missouri but was reared in Kansas, and they have two sons: Charles Ernest, eleven years of age; and George A., a lad of nine. From early manhood Mr. Milliner has been identified with the business interests and development of Canyon county and in his present connection has built up a business of extensive proportions, resulting from his close application, his undaunted enterprise and his progressive methods. His patrons know that he is to be depended upon at all times, for he is thoroughly systematic and reliable and these qualities have brought him a very large and gratifying business.
WILLIAM L. EAMES.
William L. Eames, a stockman residing at Almo, Cassia county, was born at Plain City, Utah, March 21, 1866, and is a son of Henry and Emma (Beecroft) Eames. He remained at the place of his nativity to the age of eighteen years and then with his brother Henry came to Almo, Idaho. Here Henry Eames took up a farm and William L. assisted his brother in the development and improvement of the property. On at- taining his majority he, too, secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres and the first building which he erected thereon was a little log house. He at once started to improve the ranch and concentrated his efforts upon its cultivation until 1894, when he joined his brother Henry in the conduct of a merchandise business at Almo. Later he took up the live stock business, in which he is now engaged, making a specialty of Hereford cattle, his herd now numbering two hundred head. He also has two hundred and fifty acres of fine ranch land and in 1901 he erected his present at- tractive and commodious brick residence. His ranch is improved with all modern equipments and indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods. In the fall of 1912 he took his family to Raymond, Alberta, Canada, and there resided for two years, after which he returned to Idaho.
On the 22d of September, 1896, Mr. Eames was married to Miss Georgiana R. King, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and a daughter of Thomas O. and Dorcas (Debenham) King. They have two children, Ottella and Bertha, both of whom are attending the State Normal School at Albion. It is the desire of the parents to provide them with the best possible educational opportunities and thus qualify them for life's practical and responsible duties.
Mr. Eames has ever been keenly interested in the cause of education and has served on the school board for a number of years. He belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is serving on the committee to build a church and amusement hall at Almo. In politics he is a republican and was elected secretary of the first Republican Club of Almo. His aid and influence are always on the side of progress and advancement and he stands loyally in support of all those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
HON. HYRUM SEVERSON.
Hon. Hyrum Severson, a farmer and merchant miller of Jefferson county, was born in the Salt Lake valley of Utah, July 2, 1869, a son of Halvor and Matia (Evans) Severson, who were born, reared and married in Norway. They crossed the Atlantic as converts to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1866 to become residents of the Salt Lake valley of Utah, where their remaining days were passed, the mother's death occurring there in 1896, while the father departed this life about 1902. Their family numbered ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom seven are yet living.
Hyrum Severson was reared upon his father's farm in the Salt Lake valley, ten miles from Salt Lake City, the father having taken up a homestead in Salt Lake county when he first came to the United States in 1866. Upon the father's death in 1902, his son Hyrum purchased the greater part of the old home property. He first came to Idaho
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