USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 12
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On the 26th of July, 1882, when but nineteen years of age, Mr. Bicknell was married in Ontario, Canada, to Miss Mary Nettie Stover and they have two living children:
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RICHARD F. BICKNELL
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Lillian C., the wife of Howard H. Harvey; and Myrtle May, the wife of James H. Black, who is cashier of the Overland National Bank.
Mr. Bicknell belongs to the Boise Commercial Club, also to the Boise Country Club and the Elks Club. He is a Mason of high rank, having taken all of the degrees in both the York and Scottish Rites except the honorary thirty-third degree. He is also a Shriner and he enjoys the distinction of having been made an honorary life member of Prince of Wales Lodge, No 146, A. F. & A. M., of Newburgh, Ontario, Canada. Since hecoming a citizen of the United States he has supported the republican party but has never been a candidate for office, although frequently urged to let his name stand in connection with some public position. In the year 1918 he was most favorably spoken of as a candidate for governor but declined to consider the nomination. He has most actively supported all war measures, has been a promoter of the Liberty Loan work and has accomplished effective and valuable results as a member of the executive committee of the State Council of Defense and as food administrator for Idaho. He displays ready discrimination concerning the values of life, cooperating most heartily and effectively in those things which are most worth while for the in- dividual and for the commonwealth at large.
CLINTON G. PECK.
Clinton G. Peck, vice president of The State Bank, Idaho Falls, was born in Onon- daga county, New York, in January, 1852. He is a son of DeWitt Clinton and Salome (Kinne) Peck, also natives of the Empire state, the former horn In Oswego and the latter in Onondaga county. The father followed farming in New York throughout his entire life, passing away in October, 1902, at the age of eighty-nine years, while the mother died in 1895 at the age of eighty years.
Clinton G. Peck was reared and educated in New York and in early life took up the profession of teaching. He afterward went to Wall Lake, Iowa, he and two of his brothers having a line of lumberyards in that state, conducted under the firm style of the W. H. Peck Lumber Company. Clinton G. Peck was connected with the firm for sixteen years and then on account of his wife's health came to Idaho in 1899, settling at Idaho Falls. In April, 1900, he established the Farmers State Bank and in 1903 the institution was reincorporated and became The State Bank. Mr. Peck was its cashier for a long period, while now he is vice president of the institution, having thus served for some time. In 1905 the bank, which is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, erected a modern bank building.
In May, 1878, Mr. Peck was married to Miss Frances Ferris, and they became the parents of two children: Ethel S., now the wife of B. W. Clark, a civil engineer resid- ing in Custer county, Idaho; and Charles C., who is residing upon a homestead in Mon- tana. Since coming to Idaho, Mrs. Peck has completely recovered her health.
In politics Mr. Peck is a republican and served for five years as a member of the city council and for one term as a member of the board of county commissioners. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HON. ROBERT HAMILTON DUNLAP.
Robert Hamilton Dunlap, judge of the probate court of Ada county, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1849, a son of the Rev. Samuel B. and Caroline (Easter) Dunlap, whose family numbered three sons and four daughters, of whom Robert H. was the fourth in order of birth. The father was also a native of Pennsyl- vania, horn about the year 1816, and the mother's birth occurred in Virginia. He de- voted his life to the Methodist ministry and was pastor of the Caroline Street Metho- dist Episcopal church of Baltimore, Maryland, when he passed away in 1861.
The early life of Robert Hamilton Dunlap was spent in various places, due to the itinerant custom of the Methodist ministry of that period. He was only twelve years of age when his father died and he was thus thrown upon his own resources. From that date to the present he has made his own way in the world and when a youth of fourteen he decided to follow Horace Greeley's advice: "Go west, young man, and grow up with the country." Winning his mother's consent, he made his way to Mis- Vol. 11-7
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souri and spent many years in that state, passing the greater part of the period in St. Charles county, where he engaged in farming. The year 1899 witnessed his arrival in Idaho and he has since resided in Boise, covering a period of two decades. For a time he was engaged in railroad pursuits and later hecame a hookkeeper. Subsequently he turned his attention to the real estate business, in which he engaged for several years, and in 1911 he was appointed police judge of Boise and served upon the bench of that court until 1914, when he was elected to his present office-that of probate judge of Ada county. So capably, promptly and efficiently did he discharge his duties in that position that he was reelected in 1916 and is now serving for the second term. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party and he has kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day.
On the 8th of November, 1877, Judge Dunlap was married to Miss Caroline Ada Pearce, a native of Missouri, who passed away May 27, 1918, after a happy married life of forty-one years. She left a son and four daughters: Bertha, the wife of John Baird, of Meridian, Idaho; Bessie; S. Ben, who is probate judge of Canyon county; Ruth H., the wife of Adolph Nelson, of Astoria, Oregon; and Carrie Ada, a young lady who is in the service of the Northwestern Hospital Association of Portland, Oregon. Bessie Dunlap acts as her father's housekeeper.
Judge Dunlap is a very prominent and active member of the Methodist church, do- ing everything in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He is also a prominent Odd Fellow, having taken all branches of the work. He was formerly state adjutant in the patriarchs militant and has a fine record in the organization, His record is indeed a creditable one, for he has not only had to provide for his own support but has had to essentially formulate and shape his own character from the age of fourteen years, when he left his mother's home, two years after his father's death, to seek the opportunities of the west. The ideals which he has ever held before him have made for honorable manhood and for progressive citizenship.
STEPHEN UTTER.
Stephen Utter, clerk of the district court and ex-officio auditor and recorder of Ada county, has continuously been in office since 1910-a record that needs no comment, for reelection has attested public opinion concerning his official service. Mr. Utter is a native of New York city. He was born November 1, 1864, of the marriage of John and Maria (Farrington) Utter, who were likewise horn in the Empire state and were representatives of two of its old and honored families. The father died during the infancy of the son, and Mrs. Utter afterward became a resident of Boise, living with her son Stephen, the older of two children. The younger brother, John D. Utter, is a prosperous farmer of Ada county.
Through the period of his boyhood Stephen Utter was a pupil in the public schools of Rhinebeck, New York, in which town he remained until he had reached the age of twenty years, when the condition of his health made it imperative that he seek a change of climate and he removed to Pueblo, Colorado, there becoming one of the organizers of a company to engage in the manufacture of crackers. He was elected the first secre- tary of the company and so continued until the plant and business were sold to the National Biscuit Company in 1890.
It was in the fall of that year that Mr. Utter removed to Boise and soon after- ward he made investment in one hundred and eighty acres of land three miles from the city, after which he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the further develop- ment and improvement of that place until 1905. It was at that date that he was called to public office in an election to the position of assessor, in which capacity he served for two terms. In 1910 he was elected county clerk and auditor and has since discharged his duties in that connection, having been reelected in 1914 without opposi- tion at the primary. In 1914 he had received a majority of twelve hundred and seventy- seven and four years later, such was his increased popularity owing to his capability and efficiency in office, he was reelected over his democratic opponent by a majority of fifteen hundred.
On the 19th of September, 1915, Mr. Utter was married to Miss Amy Fouch, a native of Parma, Idaho, who had served under him for several years as deputy county asses- sor. Her maternal grandfather was one of the founders of Parma. To Mr. and Mrs.
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Utter have been born a daughter, Dorothy, whose hirth occurred April 27, 1917, and a son, Stephen Utter, Jr., horn August 24, 1919.
Fraternally Mr. Utter is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled various offices. His business and official activity in the west have closely connected him with Boise and its best interests and it is known that his aid and support can at all times be counted upon to further plans and measures for the general good.
MRS. ANNA M. MOODY.
Mrs. Anna M. Moody, now with the purchasing department of the state of Idaho, and formerly county treasurer of Ada county and a resident of Boise, has made her home in Idaho since 1898, when she took up her abode in Canyon county, there remaining until 1904. She is a native of Missouri and was educated in the schools of Franklin county, that state, supplementing her public school course by two years' study in the College of Washington at Washington, Missouri. She afterward took up the profes- sion of teaching, which she followed for seven years, five years in Missouri and two years in Missoula, Montana, in which place she remained for four years. While teaching she acted as western correspondent of the St. Louis Globe Democrat. When a girl in her teens back in Union, Franklin County, Missouri, she had held positions of various kinds in the office of the Franklin County Record, there learning to set type, write news items and do other work in connection with newspaper publication. After taking up teaching she also acted as newspaper correspondent, and as western correspondent, of the Globe Democrat while residing at Missoula, Montana, she traveled extensively over northern Idaho and northwestern Montana in search of material for her communications to that paper. While thus engaged, on one of her trips to northern Idaho, she entered the Helena-Frisco mine in Shoshone county, heing the first woman ever to enter that mine. As stated, she became a resident of Boise in 1904 and was elected to the office of treasurer of Ada county on the republican ticket in 1914. In 1916 she was reelected by a much larger majority, having no oppo- sition at the primary.
In Washington, Missouri, on the 7th of August, 1895, Mrs. Moody was married and she has three children, two sons and a daughter: Willis Austin, twenty-two years of age, who was a member of the United States Navy; Helen Edna, who was graduated from St. Theresa's Academy in June, 1918; and Bruce Edward, a youth of eighteen years, attending the Mt. St. Charles College at Helena, Montana.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. Mrs. Moody belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps of Boise, also to the Yeomen Lodge, No. 1120, of Boise, to the Catholic Woman's League, to the National Council of Women Voters and to the Good Citizenship Club. She was also a charter member of the National Mothers Congress. She is interested in all vital questions and problems of the day and keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress along those lines which lead to individual uplift and community benefit.
SAMUEL L. TIPTON. .
Samuel L. Tipton, city attorney of Boise, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, September 15, 1863, and is the younger of two sons whose parents were William and Martha (Strayer) Tipton, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state, where they spent their entire lives, save for a brief period passed west of the Mississippi river. The Tipton family is of English descent, the ancestral line being traced back to Gabriel Tipton, who came from England prior to the war for independence and settled in Pennsylvania. He was the great-grandfather of Samuel L. Tipton, another of whose great-grandfathers was James Magaw, who served with the rank of captain in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, James Tipton, was a boy in Harrison county, Ohio, when the War of 1812 broke out and he played the fife for the mustering of troops. William Tipton devoted his life to the occupations of farming and tanning. He removed from Ohio to Kansas prior to the Civil war but after a few years re- turned to his native state. While in Kansas he took part in the stirring incidents
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and events which resulted in making Kansas a free state. He passed away in 1912 at the notable old age of eighty-eight years, while his wife died in 1918 at the age of eighty-five. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter, these being: John Tipton, now living in Indianapolis, Indiana; Mrs. Eva Heckler, a resident of Strasburg, Ohio; and Samuel L., of this review.
The last named was reared upon his father's farm in Harrison county, Ohio, and acquired his early education chiefly in the schools of Scio, that state. He became a teacher when a youth of seventeen and divided his time between teaching and attendance at school for about six years. He paid his own way through Scio College with funds earned as a teacher and was there graduated with the class of 1884. He afterward became superintendent of the public schools of Scio, remaining in that position for four years with eight teachers under his direction. During all this period he was devoting the hours not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom to the study of law and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, in 1889. In 1890 he became a practicing lawyer of Indianapolis, Indiana, and in 1891 sought the opportuni- ties of the far west, removing to Boise, Idaho, where he arrived on the 24th of June. Opening an office, he practiced law in this city with success. No dreary novitiate awaited him here. His ability was soon recognized and he early demonstrated his power in successfully solving involved and intricate legal problems. From 1908 until 1912 he served as assistant United States attorney and for one term filled the office of city attorney of Boise through an election in the '90s. Again he was called to that office by Mayor S. H. Hays, so that he is the present incumbent in the position. This was a compliment to him and an indication of his ability and high standing at the bar for Mr. Tipton is a republican In his views, while the mayor is a democrat.
On the 10th of December, 1895, Mr. Tipton was married to Miss Gertrude McClin- tock, of Idaho City, and they have three children, Marion, Doris and Kenneth, all of whom are graduates of the Boise high school, while Mary has been a student in the State University of Idaho.
Mr. Tipton belongs to the Benevolent Order of Elks and along professional lines has connection with the Ada County, the Idaho State and the American Bar Associations. He is a hard working lawyer, preparing his cases with great thoroughness and care and never entering the courts without being thoroughly qualified to meet the attack of opposing counsel. He displays keen powers of analysis as well as strength in argu- ment, and the logic of his deductions seldom fails to impress court or jury.
ROSS J. COMSTOCK.
Ross J. Comstock is the president of the First National Bank of Rexburg, which is the oldest banking institution in Madison county. He was born in Green City, Sullivan county, Missouri, July 22, 1875, his parents being Charles B. and Flora (Ross) Comstock, who were natives of Indiana and in 1857 removed to Missouri, where the father engaged in the banking business until 1900. He then retired from active busi- ness life and established his home in California, where he is still living at the age of seventy-four years, but his wife passed away in January, 1915, at the age of sixty- three.
Ross J. Comstock was reared and educated in his native city and since the age of thirteen years has been providing for his own support. He is truly a self-made man. Having started out when a youth barely in his teens, he has always depended upon his own resources and by dint of untiring perseverance and undaunted energy has worked his way steadily upward. Each step in his career has been a forward one. He worked in a creamery for two years and then turned his attention to the banking business, with which he has now been connected for twenty-seven years. He has thoroughly learned the business and step by step has progressed in banking circles. In 1900 he came to Rexburg and organized the Rexburg Banking Company in connection with others. He was chosen cashier and has since been an active factor in the development and conduct of the bank, which in 1904 was nationalized, becoming the First National Bank of Rexburg. Mr. Comstock continued to act as cashler until 1909, when he was made president and has since served in that capacity. The Rexburg Banking Company was capitalized for twelve thousand one hundred dol- lars in 1'902 this was increased to twenty-five thousand dollars. When the bank was nationalized the capital stock was increased to fifty thousand dollars and today the
ROSS J. COMSTOCK
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bank has a surplus of sixty thousand dollars and deposits amounting to six hundred thousand dollars-facts which indicate the steady and substantial growth of the business. In 1904 a modern bank building was erected, which was rebuilt in 1918. The present officers are: Ross J. Comstock, president; H. J. Flamm, vice president; and R. J. Comstock, Jr., cashier. In addition to his financial interests at Rexburg, Mr. Comstock is the president of the First National Bank of Ririe and is a director of the Fremont County Bank, and has farming interests in Madison county. He is likewise president of the Crystal Lake Irrigated Lands Company, which irrigates ten thousand acres of land in Jefferson county.
On the 12th of April, 1893, Mr. Comstock was married to Miss Jennie M. Davis, a daughter of John E. and Fannie M. (Pfeiffer) Davis, who were natives of Ohio and Missouri respectively, the father becoming a pioneer of the latter state. He served all through the period of the Civil war and throughout his remaining days gave his attention to agricultural pursuits in Missouri. He died in that state in April, 1917, and his widow yet makes her home in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have been born five children. Ross J., Jr., cashier of the First National Bank of Rexburg, was born in Green City, Missouri, July 19, 1894, and for a year was a pupil in the schools of that state, after which he attended the graded schools of Rexburg and spent three years in All Hallows College of Salt Lake City. He entered the bank with his father on completing his education, starting in a humble capacity and mastering each phase of the business, and he thus worked his way steadily upward until in June, 1916, when he was made cashier. He was married June 17, 1917, to Gladys M. Bas- sett and they have one son, R. J. (III). The other children of the family are Mar- guerite, Ada, Elma, Jennie and Claire.
Mr. Comstock is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He has led a busy, useful and upright life, and his career has at all times been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He has been actuated by a laudable ambition that has prompted close application and indefatigable energy, and today he occupies an enviable place in the financial circles of Madison county.
JOSEPH KEEFER.
Joseph Keefer, the president of the Twin Falls National Bank, occupies an envia- ble position in financial and business circles in Idaho. He was born in Ontario, Can- ada, August 3, 1866, and is a son of Joseph and Lizzie Keefer. When he was but a year old he was taken by relatives to Sidney, Nebraska, and his boyhood was there passed, his education being acquired in the public schools of Nebraska and of Greeley, Colorado. He was a resident of the latter place for three years and then came to Idaho, settling first at Pocatello, while later he removed to Shoshone. No substan- tial inheritance enabled him to start out well in the business world. He had to de- pend upon his industry and determination to gain a start and for a short time he worked with a grading outfit. Later he was connected with a transfer and coal busi- ness and afterward operated a stage line at Shoshone Falls. Subsequently he became proprietor of the Columbia Hotel, of which he had charge for seven years, and on the expiration of that period he became actively engaged in sheep raising, to which he devoted twenty-one years of his life. His interests in that connection steadily de- veloped and he became one of the prominent sheepmen of the northwest, having thousands of sheep, at times running as high as fifty thousand. He never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose, for he realized that when one avenue of opportunity seemed closed he could reach out along other lines that would enable him to attain the desired goal. As he prospered in his sheep raising he also extended bis efforts to the banking business at Shoshone and was thus engaged for eight years, being president of the Lincoln County National Bank. He afterward went to Salt Lake, Utah, while subsequently he made a trip to Colorado and was engaged in feeding sheep in that state. He later went to Sycamore, Illinois, but returned to Salt Lake, whence he came to Twin Falls. Here he established his present business, being now president of the Twin Falls National Bank and also the president of the Lincoln County National Bank and of the Jerome Bank. He thoroughly understands every phase of the banking business and the opportunities for development along that
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line, not only the development of the bank itself but of the community in which it is situated through its cooperation in business affairs. Mr. Keefer was the organizer of the Twin Falls National Bank. He purchased the Rogerson Hotel, which he re- built and is now conducting, at the same time maintaining his banking business on the first floor of the building. He likewise owns the drug store adjoining on the left and is thus prominently and closely associated with the business development of Twin Falls. His bank building is one of the finest in the state, being supplied with all modern equipment, and the business of the bank has rapidly and substantially developed.
In 1893 Mr. Keefer was married to Miss Maude Gladden, a daughter of William and Henrietta (McClure) Gladden and a native of Ottawa county, Kansas. Her par- ents came to Idaho in 1880, settling at Bellevue, where the father engaged in busi- ness as a carpenter and contractor. He is now living in Spokane, Washington, at the age of seventy-eight years, but the mother passed away at Downey, Idaho. To Mr. and Mrs. Keefer has been born a son, Norvin.
Mr. Keefer belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. In matters of citizenship he stands at all times for those things which make for public welfare. Honored and respected hy all, he occupies a most enviable position in business and financial circles, not alone by reason of the success which he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business policy and progressive methods which he has always followed.
EMERY A. OWEN.
Emery A. Owen, county attorney of Bonneville county and a resident of Idaho Falls, was born at Vining, Clay county, Kansas, May 24, 1887, and is a son of Frank R. and Elizabeth (Nelson) Owen, who were natives of Illinois. The father was a farmer and in 1886 went to Kansas, where he purchased and improved a tract of land, continuing its cultivation until his death in December, 1905. The mother is still liv- ing and now makes her home in Denver.
Emery A. Owen was reared and educated in Clay county, Kansas, where he at- tended the high school. He then pursued a five years' university course and was graduated from the University of Denver in 1910. He afterward became a law student in the same school and completed his law course with the class of 1913. He prac- ticed in Denver for a year and in 1914 he came to Idaho Falls and was admitted to the har on the 9th of May, since which time he has followed his profession in this city. On the 3d of November, 1916, he was elected county attorney of Bonneville county and has since occupied that position, having been reelected in 1918.
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