History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II, Part 104

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Reared in his native state and educated in its public schools, C. F. Smith went to Colorado on his twenty-first birthday and located at Greeley, where he devoted his attention to the raising of potatoes for twenty-seven years, making of it a life study. He went to Colorado with his blankets on his back and at first worked at digging potatoes for others in order to gain a start. Step by step he slowly but surely advanced and when he disposed of his interests in that state in 1909 he had one of the best homes and farms in the section in which he resided. He then went to Califronia with the idea of finding a suitable location and afterward came to Idaho, settling in the Deer Flat district near Appleton station along the interurban line of the Caldwell Traction Company. He selected this region as best adapted to the raising of fine potatoes and although the land was covered with nothing but sagebrush time has proven the wisdom of his judgment. He at once began pre- paring the soil for crop production and is today the owner of eighty acres of land which through his cultivation has become very arable and valuable. His son and his two sons-in-law operate this farm, together with three other places, having two hundred acres in all. In 1918 they had one hundred and ten acres planted to potatoes and gathered a crop of seventy-five carloads, or nearly four hundred bush- els to the acre. Mr. Smith rotates his crops from alfalfa to potatoes and thus keeps his land in excellent condition. He is known as the potato king of this section of the country and it was he who raised and shipped the first carload of potatoes from the Boise-Payette project. In 1919 he and his son and sons-in-law expect to ship at least one hundred and twenty-five carloads of potatoes. Many of these are of mammoth size and are equally fine in quality, thus commanding the highest market

878

HISTORY OF IDAHO

price. Mr. Smith's partners in the undertaking are his son, Irving Lloyd, and his two sons-in-law, G. H. Davis and George L. Vogt.

It was on the 5th of January, 1892, that Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Stephenson, a native of Kansas but at the time of her marriage a resi- dent of Greeley, Colorado. To them were born six children: Irving Lloyd, twenty- four years of age, who is now farming near Wilder and, as indicated, is in partner- ship with his father; Edith May, the wife of Glenn H. Davis; Alma, the wife of George Vogt; Mary, living at home; Ruth, at home; and Dorothy, who completes the family. Mr. and Mrs. Vogt are the parents of a daughter, Wilma, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two sons, Glenn Howard and Stewart Lloyd.

For ten years the family has been represented in this section of the state and throughout the entire period they have been ranked with the representative busi- ness men and progressive citizens of the region. In all that he has undertaken Mr. Smith has displayed marked thoroughness and enterprise. When he turned his attention to potato raising he studied the question not only from the standpoint of practical experience but from the scientific side as well, and there is no question relative to the production of potatoes on which he cannot speak authoritatively. -

ALBERT C. KITCHING.

The automobile industry, which has practically taken a foremost place in the in- dustrial life of the nation, is represented in Boise through Albert C. Kitching, presi- dent of the Boise Motor Car Company. Mr. Kitching was born near Greenville, Texas, February 20, 1864, and is a son of James W. and Louisa Jane (Walker) Kitching, na- tives of Missouri, their wedding ceremony, however, being performed in Texas. The father was only a small boy when he removed to that state with his parents and there he was reared, later giving his attention to farming and stock raising and being quite successful in those pursuits. Throughout the Civil war he served as a soldier in the Confederate army. The parents, who have now passed away, both died in California. They removed from Texas to Oregon in 1872 and later became residents of Saratoga, California, where they spent their last days. Of their family six sons and two daughters are living, Mr. Kitching of this review being the only one to make his home in Idaho.

He was reared in Oregon, first in Lane county and later in Crook county, spending his boyhood days upon a sheep ranch. In the acquirement of an education he attended the common schools and later better prepared himself for life's arduous duties by at- tending a business college in Portland, Oregon. He then followed the sheep business in Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming until 1913, becoming thoroughly acquainted with every phase and being quite successful in that line. In the last mentioned year, however, he came to Boise and in 1915, after carefully looking over the business situation, he be- came one of the founders and incorporators of the Boise Motor Car Company, of which he has since been president. They are distributors of the Pierce Arrow, Hudson, Reo and Dodge cars and under the able direction of Mr. Kitching the business has greatly prospered. His partner in the company is the Hon. Arthur Hodges, formerly mayor of Boise, who is mentioned at greater length on other pages of this work.

In the state of Washington, May 26, 1907, Mr. Kitching was united in marriage to Margaret Nye, née Steiner, her first husband having been Colonel M. C. Nye. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kitching are popular in the social circles of Boise, where they have many friends. In his political affiliation he is a republican but has not aspired to public office, preferring to give his whole attention to his business affairs. He finds his chief recreation in fishing and hunting and fraternally is connected with the Masons, the hon- orable and helpful principles underlying that organization ever guiding him in his conduct toward his fellowmen.

PHILIP A. SHAW.

Philip A. Shaw is a retired cattleman of Oakley who occupies an attractive brick residence, in which he enjoys all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. His success has come to him as the direct result of earnest effort intelli- gently guided. For many years he was identified with ranching and cattle rais-

ALBERT C. KITCHING

881

HISTORY OF IDAHO

ing in Cassia county but in 1916 put aside active business cares and has since lived retired. He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred at Commerce, Scott county, Missouri, March 15, 1847, his parents being Thomas M. and Isabelle (Kile) Shaw. His boyhood days were passed in his native state and his education was acquired in the schools of Missouri. After leaving home he became a telegraph operator on the Iron Mountain Railroad and was thus employed for eleven years.

In 1884 Mr. Shaw made his way to the northwest and took up his abode on Trapper creek, about seven miles southwest of Oakley, in Cassia county. Here he homesteaded a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres and built thereon a log house. It was necessary in those days to go to Bellevue or Hailey in the Wood River country to market. The country was wild and there was little to indicate the rapid strides that were soon to be made toward developing it into the rich agricultural district which it is today. He hent his energies to the development and improvement of his ranch property and shipped his products by wagon. As the years passed on he added one hundred and sixty acres to his ranch and thereon dealt in cattle. For two years he engaged in sheep raising but returned to cattle and as the years passed found his stock raising interests an important source of revenue. While in the early days he experienced many of the hardships and priva- tions incident to the settlement of the frontier, in time all these conditions passed away and his farm became one of a highly cultivated district. He built a fine frame residence upon his land and added many modern improvements which were indicative of his progressive spirit and also of the practical methods which he ever followed in the development of his farm. He remained thereon until 1916, when he removed to Oakley, having previously purchased the substantial brick residence that he now occupies.

In his political views Mr. Shaw is a democrat and has staunchly supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For thirty-six years he has lived in Cassia county, witnessing its growth and development through this period and taking helpful part in promoting the work of general progress. His success illustrates what can be accomplished through individual effort, for he started out in the business world empty-handed and through his industry and diligence has attained a substantial measure of prosperity.

JOHN L. BARDSLEY.

It is said that there is no man in the state who is better informed regarding the dairy business than John L. Bardsley, of Caldwell, or one who has worked harder for the promotion of the industry. His efforts have been far-reaching and resultant in this direction, and he has thus contributed in large measure to the wealth and upbuilding of the state. He makes his home in Caldwell, where he is at the head of the implement business of J. L. Bardsley & Company and at the same time he has valuable farming and dairy interests near the city.

He was born in Madison county, Illinois, March 19, 1868, a son of Charles and Rosa (Marcoot) Bardsley. The father, who was born in New Jersey and served in the Union army during the Civil war, has now passed away. The mother, whose birth occurred in Madison county, Illinois, is now living in Gooding, Idaho, but spends a portion of her time with her son, John L., in Caldwell. Her children include: S. J., who is an attorney and was a member of the Oklahoma legislature; William, who is engaged in farming and raising live stock at Gooding, Idaho; and Agnes H., who is the wife of James Black, of Oklahoma, and who was a successful school teacher for fifteen years.

Reared in his native state, John L. Bardsley supplemented his public school education by study in McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, to the age of eighteen years. He came to Idaho in 1889, when twenty-one years of age, and is thus num- bered among the pioneer residents of the state. For two years he devoted his atten- tion to farming and then took up a homestead near Caldwell, at once beginning the development and improvement of the property and at the same time teaching school for a year. He had previously taught school in Illinois for two years before his removal to the west, but as he brought his farm into condition he abandoned the

Vol. II-56

882

HISTORY OF IDAHO

work of the schoolroom to concentrate his efforts and attention upon general agri- cultural interests and dairying, constantly improving his herd and bringing his land more and more largely under a high state of cultivation. At the present time he has twenty-five head of Jersey and Holstein cows upon his place which he uses for dairy purposes. His farm is situated near Caldwell, where he is also identified with mercantile interests, being at the head of a successful implement business conducted under the firm style of J. L. Bardsley & Company. He owns a ranch of eight hun- dred acres on Lost river, where he is raising shorthorn cattle for beef, having there ninety head. It is perhaps as a dairyman, however, that Mr. Bardsley is best known, for he has made a close and discriminating study of that business and is particularly qualified to handle all kinds of dairy machinery and agricultural implements. His thorough understanding of the scientific processes of dairying enables him to speak with authority upon the question, and his labors in promoting this industry in the state certainly deserve public recognition. He was the first in the state to adopt the use of silos and thus provide green feed for his stock throughout the winter. He has a place in the town of Caldwell upon which he keeps six thoroughbred Jerseys on six acres of land.

In Reynolds county, Missouri, near Salem, Mr. Bardsley was united in marriage in 1887 to Miss Josie Parker, and they have become parents of nine children: Hattie Agnes, the wife of George Robinson, of Caldwell; Charles M., who is in the employ of an automobile company in Caldwell; Homer Logan, who was a member of the Engineers Corps during the great war and was wounded in the battle of Chateau Thierry, after which he was promoted to top sergeant for his gallantry and bravery and has recently returned home; Bonnie, who is attending high school; Fannie, Lydia and Marie, who are pupils in the grades; and Johnnie Bud and Walter, aged six and four years respectively.

Mr. Bardsley's interest centers in his home and he counts no personal effort or sacrifice on his part too great if it will promote the welfare and happiness of his wife and children. He has ever recognized his obligations and duties of citizenship and for two terms served Caldwell as a member of the city council, while for one term he served as deputy assessor. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been prominent in the organization for many years. This, and his activity as a dairyman, have made him widely known throughout Idaho, where he has an extensive circle of friends.

JOHN F. WEIRMAN.

John F. Weirman is a farmer whose fine ranch of forty-one acres is situated two and a half miles west of Boise. On coming to Idaho from Nebraska in 1912 he pur- chased his present property. He was born about thirty miles north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of March, 1863, and is a son of John P. and Catherine (Fisher) Weirman, who were also natives of the Keystone state, both born in 1825, and both are now deceased. The mother passed away in Philadelphia when her son John was about twelve years of age, she being then fifty years of age. The father died in Nebraska, May 20, 1904. at the age of seventy-nine.

John F. Weirman was the youngest of three children, having one sister and one brother. The sister is Mrs. Susan F. Rowland, now a widow living in Philadelphia, and the brother was Charles F. Weirman, who was born August 20, 1854, and died in 1893, leaving a widow and three children.

When John F. Weirman was a lad of thirteen years he removed to Woodford county, Illinois, with his father and brother, the mother having already passed away in Pennsylvania. A few years later he and his father went to Marion county, Kansas, and when he was twenty-one years of age they returned to Illinois; but he soon afterward went to Nebraska, where he resided until 1912, when he came from that state to Idaho. He has followed farming throughout his entire life save for a year and a half when he drove a stage. While in Nebraska he prospered through the advance in real estate prices and through his operations as a dealer in cattle and hogs. He won a substantial sum of money there, which he brought with him to Idaho. He had just sold a farm in Nebraska for more than nine thousand dollars .. After reaching Idaho he purchased forty-one acres of choice improved land on the Bench, paying four hundred dollars per acre for this property, or more than sixteen

883

HISTORY OF IDAHO

thousand dollars. Today, however, he would not sell this for less than five hundred dollars per acre.

It was on the 14th of April, 1904, that Mr. Weirman was married to Miss Sarah Margaret. Riley, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, July 3, 1869, a daughter of Robert Harrison and Sarah Ann (Amlong) Riley and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Weirman have a daughter, Wilma Garnet, who was born January 24, 1906, and is now attending the Franklin school.

Mr. Weirman maintains an independent attitude in politics. His wife is a mem- ber of the Royal Neighhors. He is an Odd Fellow and Mrs. Weirman is a member of the Daughters of Rehekah. In the front yard of their home is a magnificent silver poplar whose branches extend out over a large part of the lawn. The tree itself has an interesting history. Mr. Weirman purchased the land from M. F. Eby, a pioneer, who had homesteaded it. It is said that on one occasion when Mr. Ehy returned to his ranch from a mining property which he owned, he carried with him a small, green, silver poplar walking stick which he casually stuck down on the brink of a small irrigation ditch. To his surprise the stick sprouted and grew. That was thirty-five years ago and today it is one of the most beautiful shade trees to be found in this section of the state. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Weirman is a most hospitahle one and this worthy couple have gained the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact.

CLYDE E. HURD.

About five miles south and two miles west of Fruitland, in Payette county, is situated the home farm of ninety acres owned by Clyde E. Hurd, who took up his abode thereon in 1904. He is one of Idaho's native sons, having been born at Washoe, when Payette county was a part of Ada county, his natal day being Feb- ruary 15, 1882. His father, F. E. Hurd, was born in Illinois and in 1881 came west to Idaho accompanied by his wife, who in her maidenhood was Phyanna Clement and was born in Michigan. They made the long journey across the plains after the primitive manner of travel at that time and took up their abode on the Washoe hot- tom, between the Snake and Payette rivers. There the father homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, which he devoted to general farming. There was nothing on the land hut sagebrush when it came into his possession. The rabbits and coyotes were numerous and destroyed crops and the small farm animals. The Indian still lived in the district and there was every evidence of frontier life. The soil was as yet untouched by the plow and it was some time before they could make it profitable to farm. F. E. Hurd worked in the vicinity of Boise and Emmett in order to keep the wolf from the door. His father, F. F. Hurd, came to ldaho in 1882 and homesteaded near Payette, on the Payette river, after which he worked with his son, F. E. Hurd. He died upon the old homestead property and his wife, who in her maidenhood was Permila Walters, is now living at the advanced age of more than eighty years with her son, Dr. R. B. Hurd, in Payette. F. E. Hurd, the father of Clyde E. Hurd, sold his homestead and purchased a part of his father's land and thereon still resides with his wife, having occupied that place for the past thirty years. He carries on general farming and to some extent engages in dairying but is practically living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. To him and his wife were horn five children: Clyde E., of this review; Claude A., thirty-six years of age; Glenn F., aged thirty; Earl C., aged twenty-five; and Stella G., the wife of Robert L. Jimerson, who follows horticultural pursuits near Weiser. Earl C. was married in 1916 to Miss Marian E. Arment, a native of Iowa, and they reside upon a farm adjoining that of his brother Clyde. They have two children, Frank Grant and Jocelyn. Claude A. does general farming and dairy- ing, having fifty acres of land, and in addition to the cultivation of his fields he raises a few horses and has twenty head of cattle.

The father, F. E. Hurd, was a constahle in the early days of Payette and at that period it took a real man to fill the job, as in the execution of the duties of the office it required great fearlessness and bravery.

Clyde E. Hurd was reared under the parental roof upon the old homestead and while acquiring a public school education devoted his vacation periods to work upon the farm. He purchased his present place of ninety acres in 1904 and has an

884

HISTORY OF IDAHO

excellent farm property near Fruitland. It was unimproved when it came into his possession and still is without irrigation facilities, but it is believed that water can be secured in 1920. He now raises cattle, having eleven head upon the place, and he has fifty acres of his land planted to grain. When a child he lived upon the farm which he now occupies, as his father worked on the ranch for Lash Bellar, who was at that time the owner of the property. The poplar grove which surrounds the home is over forty-five years old and is supposed to be the oldest grove in the state. The trees are over one hundred feet in height and, measuring one of the trees, Mr. Hurd found it to have a circumference of eleven feet.

In 1912 Clyde E. Hurd was married to Miss Effie Adams, of Oklahoma, and they have one son, Clyde E., Jr.

NEPHI LARSEN.

Nephi Larsen, who is engaged in ranching on Rock Creek in Twin Falls county, was born in the Cache valley of Utah, April 7, 1866, and is a son of Lars and Ellen M. Larsen. His boyhood days were passed in Utah to the age of eleven years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Rock Creek, in Twin Falls county, Idaho. In the latter district he grew to manhood, spending his youthful days upon the old home farm with his brother, Hans P. Larsen, until he had reached the age of twenty- eight years. The two brothers then began operating the ranch and gave their attention to its further development and cultivation for some years. In 1901 Nephi Larsen he- came a partner of his brother-in-law, Christian Peterson, in the purchase of the farm upon which Mr. Larsen now resides. In 1909 they divided the property, Mr. Larsen taking his present place of fifty-seven acres, also forty acres near the schoolhouse and forty acres on the tract near Hansen, together with eighty acres of grazing land in Rock Creek canyon. Mr. Larsen homesteaded the land and has greatly improved the farm, converting it into one of the fine places of the district. In 1900 he engaged in shipping horses to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in 1892 he trailed a bunch of horses through to Dakota. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of agricultural life in this section of the country. He has witnessed the transformation of wild and arid land into productive fields that annually bring forth large harvests and he has borne his full share in this work of development and improvement. His excellent farm property is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift.

In 1909 Mr. Larsen was married to Miss Olive Atkins, a daughter of Thomas M. and Shettie (Roberry) Atkins and a native of Utah, where her parents were connected with farming interests. Mr. and Mrs. Larsen have one child, Margaret S. Mr. Larsen votes with the republican party, being a stalwart advocate of its principles and policy. He has never sought or desired office, however, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, and his close application and industry have gained him a well deserved reputation as a representative farmer of Twin Falls county.

GEORGE W. FRY.

George W. Fry is now living retired from active business cares but for a long period was connected with the farming and live stock interests of Ada county and has done much to improve the grade of sheep raised in this section of the state, heing the first to introduce Shropshire sheep into this neighborhood. Mr. Fry is a native of Iowa, his hirth having occurred at Oakdale, February 18, 1855. His parents were George and Annie (Beal) Fry. The father was horn in Strassburg, Germany, and when thirteen years of age came to the United States, settling in Iowa, where for many years he worked at the carpenter's trade, continuing active in that business to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-one years of age. His wife was a native of France but they were married in Georgetown, Indiana, and their son George was but seven weeks old when the mother was killed by lightning.

George W. Fry had reached the age of seventeen when his father died and was thus early thrown upon his own resources. In fact during his youth he worked-a barefoot boy-in order to provide for his own support, and he utilized as far as possible the opportunities of attending school, thus qualifying himself for life's prac-

NEPHI LARSEN

887

HISTORY OF IDAHO

tical and responsible duties. When he had reached the age of twenty-four years he wedded Mary Robinson, of Monroe, Iowa, the wedding being celebrated on the 28th of February, 1879. Her parents were Joseph and Indiana (Funk) Robinson, the former for many years a farmer of Monroe county, Iowa. The latter was named in honor of her native state of Indiana, and both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fry have become the parents of two sons: Otto J., thirty-eight years of age; and Russell, aged twenty. The elder son wedded Bessie Baker and they have one child, Horner, a lad of nine years. The younger son lives at home and cultivates a portion of his father's farm, having now nine acres planted to cantaloupes and watermelons.

It was in the year of his marriage that Mr. Fry came to ldaho, making his way to Boise, after which he was employed at breaking horses by John Hailey and also did some farming on what was known as the Peck ranch. He afterward leased from John Hailey the property that is known as the Moore ranch, being sold by Mr. Hailey to C. W. Moore a year after Mr. Fry took up his abode upon that place. With the transfer of the property Mr. Fry became foreman for Mr. Moore and so continued until 1882, when he and his wife returned to the old Fry home in Iowa, where they remained until 1885. But the lure of the west was upon them and in that year they removed to Cornucopia, in eastern Oregon. When another year had passed they returned to Idaho and for a year Mr. Fry was employed by Mr. Place. He next homesteaded his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated five miles northwest of Eagle. His nearest neighbor was at that time a mile distant. The country was all wild and undeveloped and the land bore nothing but a crop of sage- brush. Mr. Fry then set to work to develop his place. He built a house, for which he hauled the lumber a distance of thirty miles, from Walker's Mills on Dry Buck, and in the meantime he and his family lived upon the Moore place. After the house was completed he cleared twelve acres of land and during the second year in which the family lived upon the land he raised his first crop of corn, the yield being about thirty-five bushels to the acre, and this he sold at a dollar per bushel. By the third year he had cleared twenty-five acres, which he planted to alfalfa, and he also added a few head of stock to his place hut he sold most of his hay to the sheepmen. In 1901, in connection with the operation of his farm, he conducted a dairy for a year in Boise, his family, however, remaining upon the farm. From the time when they located upon their ranch Mr. Fry and his family were only absent from the place two nights in a period of seven years, when he received his patent for the property. He could have received the patent in five years, but the government gave him the benefit of seven years' residence hy remitting all payments of taxes. In 1902 he purchased twelve hundred head of ewes from William Howell and the following year sold them at a fine profit. He afterward purchased another twelve hundred head from Andy Johnson, which he kept for two years and then sold. It was Mr. Fry who introduced Shropshire sheep in this neighborhood, purchasing a carload, on which he made a good financial return, and the introduction of these sheep did much to improve the breed of sheep raised in Ada county.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II, Part 104

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1024