USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 115
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The last named was reared on the old homestead farm and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and raising stock. He was yet a youth in his teens when he became an active factor in the development of the stock raising interests of his father. Today he is the owner of seven hundred and fifty acres of excellent land and is extensively engaged in the raising of cattle for beef. The residence which he occupies was built by his father in 1893 and overlooks the beautiful valley of the Payette, being about seven miles southeast of New Plymouth. He also has a summer home-a log cabin, located in a pic- turesque spot on Squaw creek, in the mountains of Idaho.
On the 25th of June, 1902, Mr. Stuart was united in marriage to Miss Mary Carter, of Arkansas, a daughter of Josiah and Martha (Daniels) Carter. Her father is still living in Ontario, Oregon, at the age of eighty years. Her mother died while crossing the plains and her father became one of the well known pio- neer settlers of Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart have a daughter, Alta, who was graduated from the eighth grade of the grammar school at the age of twelve years. She has many interesting relics, found in Idaho, and a fine fossil specimen from Oregon. She also has the bullets taken from two hears which were killed by a friend of her father. She possesses likewise a collection of pestles which were used
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by the Indians to crush their grain, and she has an old rifle and two powder horns which were given her by an old Indian. She is very fond of these souvenirs and takes great delight in listening to the stories of which they are the visible evidence. She has the photographs of her grandparents on both sides of the family, which she prizes highly and which are most interesting mementos of bygone days. She is a girl of most attractive personality, a splendid type of the western life that thrills everyone that comes to know aught of this section of the country.
Mr. Stuart is a man of commanding figure, affable and genial, and he has a host of warm friends in his section of the state. Here he has spent his entire life, witnessing the marvelous growth and development of the region, and he has always borne his full share in the work of progress and improvement.
ANTON GORECZKY.
Anton Goreczky, conducting an extensive business under the name of the Boise Sash and Door Factory, which is one of the most important industrial enter- prises of the city, was born near Vienna, Austria, June 8, 1861. He was very young at the time of his mother's death and his father afterward remarried, but home surroundings were uncongenial and when a lad of but thirteen Anton Goreczky left home. He served a four years' apprenticeship to a cabinet maker and after- wards worked as a journeyman, visiting the principal cities of Europe, while in the meantime he was promoting his knowledge through attendance at night schools. On the 5th of March, 1878, he was drafted for military service, but not wishing to become a soldier under the Austrian government, he ran away and sailed for America, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, July 9, 1878. He subsequently removed to Calumet county, Wisconsin, where for four and a half years he was employed as a cabinet maker by Henry Woelker, during which period he practiced the closest economy as well as industry, so that at the end of that time his cash capital amounted to thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. He then determined to engage in farming and removed to Morton county, Kansas, where he preempted a homestead on which he resided for two and a half years and at the same time worked at the cabinet maker's trade. Kansas, however, suffered from a grasshopper scourge and extensive drought and he was able to make nothing off of his land. Placing the farm in charge of his father, who had come to the new world several years after the arrival of the son, the latter then removed to Trinidad, Colorado, where he was employed at cabinet making for a year. Later he went to Denver, Colorado, where he worked at carpentering and cabinet making for four years, and again he care- fully saved his earnings.
It was in February, 1891, that Mr. Goreczky arrived in Boise, where he took up the work of contracting and building, erecting many of the leading business houses and fine residences of the city. After two years, such had been his success, he was able to erect a planing mill, which he operated with profit until 1901, when a disastrous fire completely destroyed his entire plant. The characteristic courage and determination of Mr. Goreczky here came to the front and he rebuilt his mill, erecting a two-story modern brick structure with ten thousand feet of floor space. He has developed and equipped a splendid plant. His mill yard covers nearly an entire city block and has adequate switching facilities for its shipping department. Mr. Goreczky has carefully studied every phase of the business and has learned the secret of success-the accomplishment of maximum results at a minimum expendi- ture of time, labor and material. As proprietor of the Boise Sash and Door Factory he has built up a business of extensive and gratifying proportions and in addition he is the owner of much valuable city realty, together with one of the fine homes of Boise.
In 1891 Mr. Goreczky was married to Miss Mary Sutty, who was born in the same town in which her husband's birth occurred. They have become parents of two children: Oscar, now bookkeeper and general manager for his father; and Elsie.
Mr. Goreczky has always been a republican where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot, nor does he feel that he must bow to the dictates of party at any time. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Woodmen of the World and his religious faith is that of the Roman
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Catholic church. His life illustrates what can be accomplished through individual effort and determination, for starting out in the business world when a lad of but thirteen years without capital or influential friends to aid him, he has steadily worked his way upward and his business and property holdings are the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift.
Z. SANFORD GWALTNEY.
Z. Sanford Gwaltney, president and manager of the Idaho Electric Supply Company of Boise, came to this state from Salt Lake City in 1915 and on the 21st of September, 1917, purchased a controlling interest in the company of which he has since been pres- ident and manager. His life story had its beginning at Fort Branch, Gibson county, Indiana, March 30, 1885. He is a son of James H. and Serelda (McDonald) Gwaltney, both of whom were natives of that state and have now passed away.
Z. Sanford Gwaltney was reared in Gibson county and studied electrical engineer- ing in Purdue University of La Fayette, Indiana, in which he remained a student for two and a half years, leaving that institution in 1906, when twenty-one years of age. He afterward spent five years in Wichita, Kansas, where he was treasurer of the United Electric Company. Later he lived for three years at Salt Lake City, where he was manager of the Salt Lake Electric Supply Company, and in 1915 he came from Utah to Boise. The Idaho Electric Supply Company, Ltd., was incorporated in 1908 and the business has since been carried on under that name save that the word "Lim- ited" was dropped September 21, 1917. The capital stock is fifty thousand dollars. This is the largest concern in Idaho dealing in electric supplies. The officers of the company are: Z. S. Gwaltney, president; E. A. Boyd, vice president; R. L. Walker, sec- retary; and G. M. Jeffery treasurer. They conduct both a wholesale and retail business in automobile and electric supplies and their trade extends over a wide territory for they handle a most extensive line and their business methods are such as commend them to the patronage and support of the general public.
On the 12th of March, 1918, Mr. Gwaltney was married in Boise to Miss Virginia O. Turner, a native of Virginia. Mr. Gwaltney belongs to the Boise Commercial Club. He Is also a Mason belonging to Idaho Commandery, No. 1, K. T., and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and an Elk loyal to the teachings and purposes of those organizations. He is actuated in all that he undertakes by a progressive spirit that never stops short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose, and the determination and energy which he has displayed in the conduct of his business affairs has placed his house in a position of leadership in its line in the state.
FRED M. HARRINGTON.
Fred M. Harrington, interested in live stock raising and farming, was born in Shenandoah, Iowa, in 1875 and is a representative of one of the old American families. His great-great-grandfather in the paternal line was a soldier of the War of 1812. His grandfather, Gamaliel Harrington, was a Baptist minister who rode the circuit according to the old-time practice of the ministry and covered a large area near Shiocton, Wisconsin. He attained the notable old age of eighty- three years.
His son, Jerry Harrington, father of Fred M. Harrington, was born in Warren county, New York, in 1837 and in 1856 removed with his parents to Wisconsin, settling first at Calumet, where they lived for four years and then removed to Shiocton. At the time of the Civil war he became an infantryman of the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was attached to the famous Iron Brigade, and thus he served until honorably discharged because of disability on account of illness. He was sent home it was thought to die, but nature triumphed over disease and, recovering his health, he enlisted in the spring of 1864 in the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry and was with his command on Sherman's flank during the march to the sea. He was one of the men who aided in the capture of Jeff Davis. This was preceded by a detachment of Michigan cavalry and of the Fourth Wiscon- sin Cavalry mistaking each other for southern soldiers and firing, with the result
Z. SANFORD GWALTNEY
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that several of the Michigan boys were killed. After this the two commands joined forces and were together at the capture of the president of the Southern Confederacy. Mr. Harrington also participated in the battle of the Wilderness and the battle of Gettysburg and was one of the few survivors of the battle of Bull Run. He died in 1907, his death being a great blow to his son Fred, for they had always been the closest companions. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Cynthia B. Torrey, was born in Massachusetts and became a resident of Wisconsin when eighteen years of age. On the 1st of January, 1866, she became the wife of Jerry Harrington and her death occurred on the 10th of December, 1916.
When Fred M. Harrington was but a year old his parents returned from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Shiocton, Wisconsin, and there he attended the graded schools until sixteen years of age, after which he assisted his father in farm work to the age of nineteen. At that time he was married and entered the live stock business and farming and also engaged in the produce business on his own account in Wisconsin, where he remained until March 13, 1908. He then came to Caldwell and here entered the butchering business, in which he continued for five years, being associated with W. Grant Ward under the name of the Idaho Meat Company. At the same time they were engaged in shipping live stock and farming. Mr. Ward owns forty acres just east of Caldwell and Mr. Harrington forty acres south- west, just outside of the city limits, and together they own and cultivate four hundred and eighty acres in Owyhee county, on which they raise stock and hay, at all times raising a large number of cattle. In the spring of 1913 they disposed of their interests in the butchering business and under the firm name of Baker, Ward & Harrington they are engaged in buying and shipping live stock, making ship- ments mostly to Seattle, although a portion of their shipments go to Alaska.
On the 24th of February, 1895, Mr. Harrington was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Kransus, of Appleton, Wisconsin, and they have had four children: Irene, who is director of the dining hall of Reed College, Portland, Oregon; Hazel, the wife of Alois A. Davis of Berros, California; Dora, deceased; and Clara, a student.
Mr. Harrington is an athletic man. He is more than six feet in height, weighs two hundred and twenty-five pounds and has always greatly enjoyed foot- ball, baseball and boxing. He was for five years a member of the city council and is interested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of his section of the state. His business activities have been carefully and wisely directed, and his success is the direct and legitimate outcome of his labors.
B. C. BERTLESON.
Since 1909 B. C. Bertleson has been the owner and occupant of his present farm property, which is situated nine miles southeast of New Plymouth. He was born in New York city, August 7, 1869, his parents being J. C. and Carrie (Skaan- ing) Bertleson, who were natives of Denmark. They were driven out of Schleswig- Holstein by the Germans, for Mr. Bertleson was a soldier in the Danish army when Germany conquered that country. They came to America and after six years re- turned to Denmark, where they resided for ten years, when once more they emi- grated to the new world. They made their way across the country to Nebraska, where Mr. Bertleson homesteaded and there followed farming for fifteen years. In their family were seven children, five of whom were daughters, the brother of B. C. Bertleson being Pete Bertleson, who came west with him in 1888 and passed away at Los Angeles, California, in 1905. Two of the sisters are yet living, one being a resident of Missouri and the other of Seattle, Washington. Both are married.
B. C. Bertleson attended the schools of Denmark and of Nebraska. He became a resident of Idaho in 1901, settling in the Payette valley, where he purchased the Nicholas ranch, which he later sold and then made investment in his present place of two hundred acres in 1909. This is pleasantly situated nine miles southeast of New Plymouth, in the midst of a rich and productive district. Here Mr. Bertleson is engaged in sheep raising and has about eighteen hundred head. He likewise has about twenty head of other stock. He came to Idaho after first going to Oregon and has never regretted his determination to become a resident of this
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state, for here he has found good business opportunities and in their utilization has won for himself a creditable position as a representative farmer and stockman of Payette county.
In 1901 Mr. Bertleson was married to Miss Ada Zufelt, a daughter of Harmon and Minerva (Johnson) Zufelt, who were pioneers of Arizona, where Mrs. Bertle- son was born. By her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Lloyd C., Warren C., Jay G., Lorena, Mona Letta and Ada Della, all yet under the paren- tal roof.
Mr. Bertleson has been keenly interested in irrigation problems and in the question of bringing water into the arid districts and in 1915 and 1916 was a director of the Farmers Cooperative ditch, while for the past eight years he has been a director of the Enterprise ditch and is now commissioner of the Canyon county drainage district, No. 1.
CHARLES F. ADAMS.
Charles F. Adams, identified with the commercial interests of Boise as the sec- retary, treasurer and general manager of the Idaho Candy Company, was born in Tipton, Iowa, July 23, 1886, a son of Francis W. and Ella R. (Reichert) Adams. The father, who devoted his life to merchandising, passed away in 1904, but the mother survives and now makes her home in Spencer, Iowa. Charles F. Adams was one of three children and has a sister living, Laura, now the wife of J. H. McCord, a banker of Spencer, Iowa.
In his native town Charles F. Adams was reared and be supplemented his public school education by a course in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1906, winning the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Civil Engineer. For a year he was in Cedar Rapids, where he followed civil en- gineering, and in 1907 he removed to Hollywood, California, where he occupied the position of bookkeeper in a bank for six months. He afterward spent a year and a half as bookkeeper and teller in the National Bank of California in Los Angeles and in May, 1909, he left California for Idaho, becoming a resident of Boise, where he conducted a real estate business until August, 1910. He then purchased an in- terest in the Idaho Candy Company, a large concern of which he has since been the secretary, treasurer and general manager. The business has been developed to extensive proportions, being now represented on the road by four traveling sales- men, and the trade is today the largest in their line in the state. Their methods measure up to the highest standards of commercial ethics and, recognizing the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement, they have put forth every effort to please, not only in the standard of their manufactured products but also in the treatment accorded patrons.
On the 8th of June, 1910, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Eva Ambrose, of Nevada, Iowa, of whom he had been a schoolmate. They have one son, Charles Ambrose, who was born April 30, 1911. In his fraternal relations Mr. Adams is a Royal Arch Mason and he also has membership with the Elks, with the Boise Com- mercial Club, with the Country Club and with the Sons of the American Revolution, for among his ancestors in the paternal line were those who fought for American independence. His interests and activities have ever been broad and varied and his support can be counted upon for any measure or plan that looks to the benefit and upbuilding of his adopted city.
ELMER C. LOOK.
A highly improved farm property is that owned and conducted by Elmer C. Look, who has forty acres in the Fargo district near Wilder, whereon he is suc- cessfully engaged in sheep raising. He was born in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, December 7, 1884, and is a son of W. H. and Emily (Harvey) Look, both of whom were natives of Maine, in which state their ancestors had lived for several genera- tions. The great-grandfather of Elmer C. Look in the maternal line was Governor Carver, the first governor of Massachusetts and one of the passengers on the May-
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flower. In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Look removed from the Pine Tree state to Minnesota. There the father engaged in farming until 1906, when he removed with his family to Idaho, settling on an eighty acre tract of land in the Fargo district of Canyon county. He sold that place in 1909 and now lives in Caldwell, where he is connected with the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he was the organizer. It is called the Canyon County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company and has over five million dollars worth of policies in force, a business that has been developed within ten years, the average cost per year being a dollar and sixty cents per thousand dollars. To Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Look have been born five chil- dren: John, Lee and Margaret, who were born in Maine; and Grace and Elmer C., who are natives of Minnesota.
The last named was reared in his native state, where he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops, for his time was devoted to farm work when he was not busy with the duties of the schoolroom. After coming to Idaho with his parents he secured a relinquishment claim of eighty acres from his brother in 1907 and has since resided upon this property, which is located in the Fargo district near Wilder. Today it is all under cultivation but when he located upon the tract it was covered with brush and there was no water available. There was a long and weary wait of three years before the land was of any real value, which was not until water was secured for irrigating purposes. But at length the irrigation project was put through and with the addition of water the soil responded readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Look in addition to developing his land is engaged in raising sheep and now has one hun- dred and thirty head upon his place. His is a splendidly improved farm property. He has two wells on the farm and a fine water system. There is a substantial resi- dence and good barns and outbuildings. There is both hard and soft water on the place and he has a septic tank under ground for the sanitation of all offal water. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and in addition to his sheep he keeps a small herd of cattle. He likewise acts as agent for the Canyon County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company and thus adds in no small measure to his income.
In 1910 Mr. Look was married to Miss Mildred Crowe, of Minnesota, a daughter of F. M. and Etta (Day) Crowe, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Minnesota but now residents of Wilder, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Look are widely and favorably known in the locality in which they make their home, their circle of friends being almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Look is a most progressive citizen, and his enterprise and ambition have carried him into important business relations.
JOHN HILLMAN.
While death has called John Hillman, there are many who remember him as a substantial citizen and representative agriculturist and stock raiser of Madison county. He was born at Herriman, Utah, in February, 1858, and is a son of Ira K. and Emma (Baker) Hillman, who were natives of Missouri and of England respectively. The father went to Utah with the early representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and there operated a farm throughout his re- maining days. His wife passed away in 1888.
John Hillman was reared and educated in Utah and became pump man and engineer at the Ontario mine at Park City, Utah. He was thus engaged for many years. About 1885 he removed to Bingham or Oneida county, Idaho, settling in that district which is now Madison county. He filed on land fourteen miles from Rexburg and there left his family while he went to Montana and worked as an engineer in connection with mining interests until about 1900. He then 're- turned to the farm, which he continued to cultivate throughout his remaining days. He passed away in June, 1915, and thus was terminated a life of usefulness and activity that had commanded for him the respect and goodwill of his fellowmen. In addition to the development of his land he made a specialty of raising thorough- bred horses. His farm property embraced six hundred acres of land, a part of which was irrigated, and the success which he had achieved enabled him to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances.
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On the 23d of October, 1881, Mr. Hillman was married to Miss Ellice Hawley, a daughter of C. B. and Mary Ann (Allred) Hawley, who were natives of Canada and of Missouri, respectively. The father was a farmer and raiser of horses and other live stock in Utah until 1884, when he came to what is now Madison county, Idaho, purchasing land at Sunnydell. This he continued to cultivate throughout his remaining days, his life's labors being terminated in death in May, 1909. His wife passed away in October, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Hillman became the parents of six children. Maude is now the wife of Willard Tarbet, a sheepman residing at Rex- burg, Idaho. Genevieve is attending school in California. John I. is principal of a high school at Jerome, Idaho. Benjamin I. is operating the old home farm at Sunnydell. Clarence L., of Rexburg, who is now acting as deputy sheriff, enlisted for service in the United States army in May, 1917, and was mustered out eighteen months later or in November, 1918. Errol Hawley, who also enlisted for military service in May, 1917, remained with the army for seventeen months and was then mustered out in Virginia in September, 1918. He had spent six months in France, held the rank of sergeant and is an expert rifleman.
Politically Mr. Hillman was a republican, giving earnest support to the party and its principles. Mrs. Hillman is a member of the Unitarian church and since her husband's death she has removed to Rexburg, where in 1919 she built a fine home that she now occupies.
M. J. DEVERS./
M. J. Devers is occupying a fine home in the Devers addition to Caldwell, which he platted. He has for many years heen classed with the progressive farmers of his section of the state and has also been closely associated with the development of irrigation interests. He was born in Pennsylvania, February 22, 1864, and is a son of Andrew Devers, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States on a sailing vessel and was six months en route. He located at Scranton, Pennsylvania, and there passed away in 1889 at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Bridget Flynn, was also born in Ireland and they were married before com- ing to the new world. She passed away at Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1913 at the notable old age of ninety-four years.
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