USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 15
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On the 29th of September, 1909, Dr. Springer was married to Miss Neva Rice, who was born and reared in Idaho, a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of the state, Frederick G. Rice, who passed away in May, 1909. Mrs. Springer is well known in the social activities of Boise. Dr. Springer belongs to the Boise Commercial Club and his public-spirited devotion to the welfare of the capital is manifest through his active co- operation with that organization. He votes with the republican party and fraternally is a Scottish Rite Mason of the thirty-second degree and also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and
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along strictly professional lines with the Ada County Medical Society, the Idaho State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, thus keeping in touch with the trend of modern professional thought, research and scientific investigation.
CLARENCE E. CROWLEY.
Clarence E. Crowley, who for nine years has been an able attorney at law of Idaho Falls, having in 1911 been admitted to the bar, was born in Ogden, Utah, February 13, 1881, and is a son of S. G. Crowley, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was but five years of age when his parents removed to Idaho Falls, where he pursued his early education, while later he attended the high school of his native city. He afterward spent two years in filling a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tennessee and Kentucky. Upon his return he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed from 1900 until 1908, being principal of the schools at Iona throughout that entire period. He developed the school system from a common mixed school with two teachers to a graded school with five assistant teachers and his contribution to the educational progress of the region was most valuable and marked. He also farmed through the summer seasons and assisted in the building of the canals which have done so much for the development of the region.
His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, called him to public office, electing him to the position of collector and assessor of Bingham county, in which capacity he served in 1909 and 1910. In the meantime he began reading law under the direction of local attorneys and devoted his leisure time to the mastery of Kent, Black- stone and other commentaries from 1905 until 1911, when he was admitted to the bar. He has since been engaged in active practice and he possesses a large law library, with the contents of which he is widely familiar. He is now accorded a liberal clientage which connects him with much of the important litigation heard in the courts of his district. He is also connected with several different corporations and he has controlled farming interests until a recent date and now owns considerable town property.
On the 7th of August, 1901, Mr. Crowley was married to Miss Mary E. Olmstead and to them have been born eight children: Clarence E., Jr., who is seventeen years of age; Victor L., a youth of sixteen; Ariel L., who has reached the age of fourteen; Byron, who is twelve years old; Newell S., a lad of ten; and Madge, Oliver and Afton, who are eight, six and three years of age respectively.
Politically Mr. Crowley is a republican and at one time was a candidate for the office of district judge but was defeated by Judge Gwinn. His religious faith is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he is one of the council of seven of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Quorum of Seventy. He has been a teacher in the Sunday school and throughout his life has been an active church worker, doing all in his power to promote the growth of the church and extend the moral development of the community.
BENJAMIN F. WILSON.
Benjamin F. Wilson, a resident of Burley, where he is filling the position of county auditor of Cassia county, was born at Eden, Utah, July 15, 1872, a son of Robert and Anna (Blood) Wilson, both of whom were natives of Lincolnshire, England. The father came to the United States in 1847, when twenty-one years of age, and made his way across the country to Salt Lake City, Utah, after having crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel which was three months upon the briny deep before reaching the harbor of New Orleans. From the Crescent city he made his way up the Mississippi river, landing at Nauvoo, Illinois, and thence crossed the plains to California, attracted by the discovery of gold there in 1849. He afterward removed to St. George, Utah, where he followed farming, and subsequently became a resident of Salt Lake City. He assisted in the settlement and colonizing of the state at various points, residing for a time at Eden, Utah, and afterward at Five Points, near Ogden. In 1882 he came to Idaho and home- steaded at Oakley, Cassia county. Here he bent his energies to the development and improvement of a farm, upon which he continued to reside throughout the remainder
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of his life, passing away in 1899, when he had reached the age of seventy-five years. The mother survived until 1912 and was seventy-three years of age at the time of her demise.
Benjamin F. Wilson was reared in Utah to the age of ten years and then accom- panied his parents to Oakley, Idaho, where the family were among the first settlers. He pursued his education in the schools of his native state and in the Brigham Young University and in the Latter-day Saints University. He also attended the University of Utah and thus acquired a liberal education. For a time he engaged in teaching school at Vineyard, Utah, and later he became superintendent of the city schools at Oakley, Idaho, remaining in charge for five years. He was principal of the North Oakley school for seven years and also had charge of other schools, devoting fifteen years in 'all to the profession of teaching, in which connection he proved most capable, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He was then appointed rural mail carrier out of Burley and spent a year and a half in that connection. On the 5th of November, 1918, he was elected to his present office, becoming the auditor of Cassia county, in which position he has made an excellent record by the thorough and efficient manner in which he discharges his duties. He is prompt and systematic in performing every task that devolves upon him and all who know aught of his official career speak of him in commendable terms. His political allegiance is given to the republican party.
In 1905 Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Rebecca Hawkins, a native of Utah and a daughter of Eli B. and Elizabeth (Humphrey) Hawkins. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have become the parents of three children: James F., Ronald B. and Karl J. The family occupies a nice home at Burley.
HON. HAL N. COFFIN.
Hon. Hal N. Coffin is now living retired in Boise after long years of active connec- tion with banking interests and with official service, in which connection he reached the position of state treasurer. He was born at Annapolis, Parke county, Indiana, March 13, 1849. His father Hon. William G. Coffin, a native of North Carolina, became one of the pioneer settlers of Parke county, Indiana, and his dominant qualities brought him to a position of leadership in public affairs. He represented his county in the state legislature for many years and was a friend and political colleague of O. P. Morton and Henry S. Lane. Becoming identified with the republican party on its organization, he was recognized as one of its leading representatives in 1856 and in 1860, when he made campaign speeches throughout Indiana, Illinois and other states, supporting Lincoln in the latter year. As early as 1840 he had been in active campaign work in his cou- gressional district in support of William Henry Harrison. He was appointed by Presi- dent Lincoln to the office of superintendent of Indian affairs for Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and the Indian Territory. This necessitated his removal to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he resided during the period of the Civil war, discharging the duties of his position in a most competent manner. He continued his residence in Leaven- worth to the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the notable old age of ninety-eight years. His wife, Mrs. Semirah (Hunt) Coffin, died at the age of seventy-five years. Of their family of eleven children, Hal N. was the eighth in order of birth. Of this family three daughters and two sons are yet living, the three sisters being residents of Kansas, while the two sons, Charles S. and Hal N., are in Boise.
The latter spent his youth in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was educated in the public schools of that state and in the Bloomingdale Academy of Parke county, Indiana. He was offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, but his father would not let him accept it. While yet a mere youth he became a messenger boy in the First National Bank of Leavenworth, Kansas, and thus made his initial step in the direction of his life's labors, which were destined to bring him notable success as the result of his close application, indefatigable energy and persistency of purpose. His father was one of the directors of the bank and tbe son during his connection there- with won several promotions and gained broad experience. Later he spent six years in the National Bank of Lawrence, Kansas, and for fourteen years was in the state treasurer's office at Topeka, holding various responsible positions until he had reached that of assistant state treasurer. He was in the office under five different state treas- urers-a fact indicative of his loyalty and capability in the performance of his duties. In 1890, however, he resigned his position there and came to Idaho, where he has since made his home. For ten years he was the cashier of the First National Bank of Boise
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and afterward assisted in organizing the Bank of Commerce, of which he became the cashier. Later he served for two terms as state treasurer.
This was not Mr. Coffin's initial experience in public office. While in Kansas he had served as president of the Lawrence city council, was also a member of the city council of Topeka and has been the president of the city council of Boise. He is a stalwart republican, unswerving in his loyalty and allegiance to the party, and his previous record had indicated what would be his service in the higher position to which he was called. Reelection attested the capability with which he had discharged his duties as state treasurer. He was also one of the commissioners who adopted the plans for the new state house of Idaho. Now he is largely living retired, although he still has extensive ranch interests in both Idaho and California, and he is the president of the California Land Company, which owns many thousands of acres of land in Fresno county.
On the 29th of July, 1873, Mr. Coffin was married to Miss Mary H. Graveley, of Cleveland, Ohio, and while they have had no children of their own, they have reared two, adopting the children of Mrs. Coffin's brother. These are: Mrs. Emma Abernathy, now of San Francisco; and Howard M. Graveley, an expert electrical engineer who served in France with the United States Signal Corps.
Mr. Coffin is identified with the Society of Friends or Quakers, with which his ancestors have been connected through generations. He is a member of the Boise Com- mercial Club and is a Knight Templar Mason and Mystic Shriner, having taken the degrees of the commandery in Lawrence, Kansas, at the age of twenty-two years. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, heing a charter member of Lodge No. 310 of Boise, of which he served as treasurer for many years. He has always been fond of hunting and fishing, to which he turned for recreation in his younger years. He still maintains a deep interest in the affairs and questions of the day, and though he has retired from active business life, he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress.
JAMES HINMOND HART.
James Hinmond Hart is now living retired in Boise but for many years was identified with its commercial interests and is familiar with the history of Idaho from pioneer times down to the present. He came to this state when it was under territorial rule in 1861, removing to Idaho from Yreka, California. Since 1871 he has made his home continuously in Boise. The story of his life presents a very accurate picture of conditions in Idaho, for he has seen almost the entire growth and develop- ment of the state and has been connected with many events which now figure on the pages of Idaho's history. He was born in New York city, May 25, 1834, and has there- fore passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey. He is the eldest son and the second child and also the only living child of John H. and Mildred (Rosic) Hart, the former of Holland Dutch descent, while the latter was of French lineage. The father was born in Albany, New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Richmond, Virginia. John H. Hart was a shoemaker by trade and specialized in making ladies' fine shoes. Both he and his wife passed away in New York city, the former in 1853 and the mother much later, for she had reached the age of eighty years when called to her final rest, while her husband was but fifty-three years of age.
James Hinmond Hart of this review was reared in the eastern metropolis and there pursued his education. He remained in New York city until 1855 and in his youth learned the printer's trade, at which he worked until he attained his majority. He then went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. It was also gold discovery in Idaho that brought him to this state in 1861, after he had heard glowing accounts of the great gold returns to be gotten from the Orofino mines near Pierce. He made the trip from California to Idaho on horseback and from the Orofino mines he went to the Florence mines in the Salmon River valley. The trip across took him and his companions six days, for they traveled on foot. Florence, Idaho, is high up among the mountains and the snow often remains upon the ground all summer. On the 3d of July, 1862, Charles Ostner made out of the snow in one of the streets of Florence a statue of George Washington and it was also Mr. Ostner who carved out of wood the equestrian statue of George Wash- ington that is now seen In Capitol Park in Boise. The prospects of both the Orofino and
MR. AND MRS. JAMES H. HART
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Florence mines proved disappointing and in the fall of 1862 Mr. Hart went to Walla Walla, Washington, and while there met other miners who gave him glowing accounts of the rich gold find lately discovered in the Boise River district. Accordingly he set out for the new mining region, where he arrived on the 14th of November, 1862. The place is now known as Placerville, Idaho, and there Mr. Hart remained until 1866, but the mining prospects there did not prove as promising as anticipated and he turned his attention to other business, opening a barroom and soda water factory, the latter being the first establishment of the kind in the territory of Idaho. In May, 1866, he disposed of his commercial interests at Placerville and removed to Helena, Montana, where he built another soda water factory, the first in that place. In the fall of the same year, however, he disposed of his interests in Helena and returned to New York city, chiefly for the purpose of claiming the hand of the sweetheart of his youth. It was on the 5th of November, 1866, now more than fifty-three years ago, that he wedded Eliza Paynton, who was born in New York city, February 3, 1847, and since that time they have traveled life's journey happily together.
In 1871 Mr. Hart again left New York for the west but this time under very different circumstances. The trip was not attended with the hardships and privations of travel at the early period in which he first crossed the plains for on this occasion he and his wife traveled in a Pullman Palace car as far as Kelton, Utah, and from that point by stage coach. They made their way direct to Boise, where they have since lived, and for the past thirty-five years the family has had its home on Bannock street in the neighborhood of their present residence at No. 421 Bannock street, which was erected by Mr. Hart in 1900. For many years he was engaged in the fancy grocery and retail liquor business and also handled bakery goods. However, he eventually retired from business several years ago and is now enjoying well earned rest in the eighty-sixth year of his age. Mr. and Mrs. Hart celebrated their golden wedding on the 5th of November, 1916, an occasion long to be remembered by those who participated in it. They have six living children and have lost one. Those who survive are: Minerva, now the wife of J. W. Kuffe, of Boise; Harriet, the wife of Bird Bliss; James H., Jr .; Mildred; Henry C .; and Hiram Abiff. All are residents of Boise and three of the number are married. Mr. and Mrs. Hart also have three grandchildren. Their son, Henry C., wedded Emma Hackney, of Portland, and they now reside with Mr. and Mrs. Hart.
In his political views Mr. Hart has been a lifelong democrat and at one time filled the office of city tax assessor for two years but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is perhaps the oldest Master Mason in Idaho who was made a member of the fraternity in this state. He was initiated into the order at Placerville on the 3d of January, 1866, and has since been a loyal exemplar of the craft. The story of his life is an interesting one inasmuch as it pictures forth conditions which existed in Idaho in early days and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
HENRY GOODFRIEND, M. D.
Extensive study in America and abroad has well qualified Dr. Henry Goodfriend for the practice of medicine and surgery, to which he devotes his energies in Boise. He was born in New York city, January 28, 1876, one of a family of seven sons and three daughters whose parents were John Jacob and Esther (Title) Goodfriend, who were born, reared and married in Austria. They came to the United States in the early '70s, settling in New York city, where the father passed away in 1907, while the mother survived until 1911. Eight of their children are still living, but Dr. Goodfriend is the only one in Idaho. He has two brothers in New York who are physicians, Edward and Nathan Goodfriend, both younger than himself.
Henry Goodfriend was reared and educated in New York city, attending the College of the City of New York, from which he won the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1897. He obtained his professional degree from Columbia University in 1901 and afterward spent a year as an interne in Lebanon Hospital and one year in the Trudeau Sanitarium at Saranac Lake, New York, thus gaining broad, varied and valuable experience. He later practiced medicine for a year in New York city and for two years in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1907 arrived in Idaho. He then followed his profession in Albion until 1912, when he sought the broader opportunities offered in Boise and through the inter-
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vening period has built up an extensive practice. He has studied abroad in Vienna, Berlin and Heidelberg, making eight different trips to Europe. He has membership in the South District Medical Association, of which he is an ex-president, in the Idaho State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
In 1907 Dr. Goodfriend was married to Miss Matilda Iverson, who passed away a few months later. In September, 1912, he wedded Lois L. Little, of Boise, who was born in Kansas. In politics he is a democrat but has never sought nor desired political office. He belongs to the Congregational church and is a Knight Templar Mason. He is also connected with the Mystic Shrine and the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Country Club and the Boise Commercial Club, in which associations are indicated the Interests of his life and the rules which govern his conduct. He has found his chief recreation in travel. His life has been actuated by a progressive spirit that has been strongly manifest in his continued study along professional lines that his efficiency as a physician and surgeon may be further augmented.
JOSEPH H. PETERSON.
Joseph H. Peterson, engaged in the practice of law at Pocatello, is recognized as one of the eminent members of the Idaho bar, having served for two terms as attorney general of the state. He was born at Plain City, Utah, May 9, 1880, and when hut four years of age was brought by his parents to Idaho and in the acquirement of his educa- tion attended the schools of Preston. Later he became a student in the public schools of Pocatello, from which he was graduated in 1897, and subsequently he spent. three years as a student in the Utah Agricultural College at Logan, after which he became a law student in the George Washington University, Washington, D. C., where he con- tinued for three years and was graduated. Having been admitted to the bar, he· entered upon the practice of his chosen profession at Blackfoot, Idaho, and in 1906 he was ap- pointed to the position of assistant attorney general of the state. He made so creditable a record in that connection and through the private practice of law that in 1912, in recognition of his ability, he was elected attorney general and at the close of his first term was reelected to that position. He most carefully safeguarded the legal interests of the commonwealth, making a splendid record through his two terms' connection with the office. From 1902 until 1905 he was secretary to Burton L. French, congressman at large from Idaho, and in 1917 he returned to Pocatello to resume the private practice of law. He is accorded a very liberal clientage and his devotion to the interests of his clients is proverbial. He has been associated in his professional work and in other connections with some of the most eminent men of the state and was an intimate friend and great admirer of the late United States Senator James H. Brady. There is perhaps no other man who was in closer touch with the Senator's great undertakings or was in greater sympathy with his ambitions. Therefore his loss to Mr. Peterson is the loss of a true and valued friend.
In 1910 Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Eva Frawley, of Boise, Idaho, and they have become the parents of two sons, Ben Stewart and John Harlan. Fraternally Mr. Peterson is a Mason and also an Elk. He is keenly interested in all those forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the advancement of the community and has been particularly earnest in support of war activities, serving as district chairman for the American Library Association for the boys overseas. He also took a prominent part in the Liberty Loan drives and was chairman of the second Red Cross drive.
AUGUST LEO HEINE, M. D.
Dr. August Leo Heine, specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, with offices in the Overland building of Boise, comes to Idaho from Nebraska, his birth having occurred at Hooper, Dodge county, that state, on the 1st of October, 1881. He is the eldest son in a family of three sons and a daughter, whose father, August J. Helne, was a ranchman of western Nebraska, where he passed away in 1892, at the age of forty-nine years. At the time of the Civil war he had espoused the cause of the Union, serving at the front with the One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsyl-
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vania Volunteer Infantry. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Lonnemann, is now living at West Point, Nebraska, at the age of sixty-three years.
Dr. Heine left Hooper, Nebraska, and removed with his mother to West Point sub- sequent to the father's death, completing his graded school work in the latter town. He afterward pursued an academic course in Josephinum College at Columbus, Ohio, in which he spent three years as a student, the course being equivalent to that of a high school. In 1900 he entered the Creighton College of Omaha, Nebraska, in which he studied for seven years, devoting two years to academic work and five years to the medical course, which he completed by graduation in 1907, at which time his profes- sional degree was conferred upon him. He later spent one year as interne in the Nordrach Sanitarium at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and in 1909 he went to Chicago, where he accepted the position of associate professor of diseases of the throat and chest in the Illinois Post Graduate Medical College. A year was there passed, during which he did post-graduate work in the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat College. In 1910 he spent eight months in the New York Post Graduate School, specializing on the eye, ear, nose and throat, and in 1911 he came to Boise, where he has since followed his profession. He again pursued post-graduate work in Memphis and in Chicago in 1913 and in 1915 at Omaha and Chicago. He belongs to the Idaho State Medical Society and also to the American Medical Association.
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