USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 28
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
Along with his educational activities, Mr. Burton devotes considerable atten- tion to agriculture and, since the greater part of his supervisory work in the county schools is carried on during the winter months, his farming work, in which he has
231
HISTORY OF IDAHO
achieved marked success, in no wise interferes with the performance of the duties of his office.
It was on October 8, 1908, that Willard S. Burton was united in marriage to Cora Chandler, the daughter of J. J. Chandler, the treasurer of Jefferson county, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Burton are the parents of six children, who are in the order of their birth as follows: Willard C., Myron, Ruth, Paula, Mary and Hubert Chandler.
Mr. and Mrs. Burton are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rigby, to which they lend complete material and spiritual support, the former having served the denomination locally in several official capacities. He formerly was superintendent of the mutuals of the stake and at this time he is serving as mutual teacher, teacher trainer of all church organizations in Rigby, the duties of which position he performs in addition to those of president and teacher of the seventies. Since his secular work is along educational lines, Mr. Burton finds a wide sphere of usefulness in the Sunday school of the local stake in which he serves as teacher. He has also represented his denomination in the foreign field, having spent about three years in missionary work in Australia. He is a republican in politics and has a good citizen's understanding of and interest in the policies and aspirations of his party.
ALBERT CLARE HINDMAN.
Albert Clare Hindman is the United States district attorney for the Panama canal zone, with headquarters at Ancon, Panama. He has for many years been numbered among the prominent members of the Boise bar, where he has an ex- tensive circle of friends. He filled the office of assistant attorney general of the state prior to the incoming of.the present republican administration. He was born in Clarion, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1884, a son of Frank R. Hindman, a lawyer, who died March 9, 1901, when forty-seven years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Ella S. Craig and is now a widow, residing in Boise.
Albert C. Hindman was graduated from the high school at Clarion, Pennsyl- vania, when fourteen years of age. His three brothers were also graduates of the same school and all four were graduated when fourteen years of age and all won the valedictorian honors of their respective classes. In 1901, when sixteen years of age, Albert C. Hindman was graduated from the Pennsylvania State Normal School. About this time his father died and it became necessary for him to enter business life. For two years he was librarian of the State Normal School and in the fall of 1904 he entered the Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, spending a year in study there. In the meantime he had mastered stenography and typewriting and in the summer of 1905 successfully passed a civil service examination and received an appointment on the United States Civil Service Commission at Washington. He spent four years in that connection in the capital city, during which time he devoted his leisure hours to the study of law in connection with the course at the George Washington University, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1908. While a law student there he distinguished himself in debate and won the debater's prize in his university in the year of his graduation. He also took part in three intercollegiate, debates, winning two of the contests. From 1908 until 1910 Mr. Hindman, still in the civil service, was stationed at Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania. in the capacity of examiner of applicants.
It was on the 1st of April, 1910, that Mr. Hindman arrived in Boise, Idaho, having removed to this city to enter upon the practice of law in Boise, his future home. He here formed a partnership in 1911 with the late Governor John T. Morrison, under the firm style of Morrison & Hindman. This association was maintained until April 1, 1915, when Mr. Hindman withdrew and afterward practiced alone until January 1, 1917, when he became by appointment assistant attorney general of the state of Idaho. He made a most excellent record in that position and continued in the service until a change in the state administration. He retired from the office in January, 1919, and resumed the practice of law in Boise. In March, 1919, Mr. Hindman was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to the office of United States district attorney for the Panama canal zone, with headquarters at Ancon, a suburb
232
HISTORY OF IDAHO
of Panama City, and went to that place to assume his duties in May, 1919, but regards Boise as his permanent place of residence.
Mr. Hindman is married. His wife's maiden name was Blanche M. Hall, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hindman is a member of Phi Kappa Psi, a college fraternity, and he also has a membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he has ever been a stalwart democrat and was chairman of the Ada county democratic central committee from 1914 until 1916. He was also a vice chairman of the democratic state central committee from 1916 until 1918. In June, 1918, he was appointed as the Idaho member of the democratic national congressional committee. In the fall of 1918 Mr. Hindman had personal charge of the campaign of Hon. John F. Nugent for election to the United States senate. He still retains his membership in the Idaho State Bar Association and is regarded as one of the most prominent young representatives of the state bar and one of the democratic leaders of the commonwealth. The talents with which nature en- dowed him he has used wisely and well and in a profession.where advancement de- pends entirely upon individual merit and ability he has worked his way steadily upward.
LEO J. FALK
The name of Falk is inseparably associated with the history of mercantile develop- ment in Boise. No story of commercial progress here would be complete without ex- tended reference to the establishment which stands as the oldest and largest mercantile house of the city and to its founders and promoters. Today Leo J. Falk is president of the Falk Mercantile Company, of which his father, Nathan Falk, was one of the organizers. The latter was a youth of but fifteen years when he came from his native land of Bavaria in 1864 and took up his abode in Boise, where he spent his remaining days. He became one of the city's pioneer merchants and remained a prominent factor in the commercial life of the capital until his demise.
It was on the 19th of September, 1868, that David and Nathan Falk, . brothers, opened a little mercantile establishment in a small building on Main street a few feet from the corner of Eighth street, under the firm style of David Falk & Brother. The beginning was a most modest one. The stock was limited and Boise at that time was a little frontier town. The firm used a wheelbarrow for the delivery of goods and there was little to foreshadow the greatness which the establishment was to reach in the future. The methods of the Falk Brothers, however, were most progressive, and they catered to the support of the public through honorable dealing and an earnest desire to please their patrons. The trade steadily grew and after fifteen years, or in 1873, they were joined by their brother, Sigmund Falk, who was admitted to a partnership. From the beginning the firm maintained a most progressive policy and by 1891 their trade had increased to such an extent that a corporation was formed to carry on the business, this being The Falk-Bloch Mercantile Company, with Nathan Falk as the president, I. Bloch, vice president, Sigmund Falk, treasurer, and William Stark, secre- tary. A change in the personnel occurred in 1900, when Mr. Bloch disposed of his interest to the other active members of the firm and the firm style of the Falk Mer- cantile Company was adopted. In 1903 Nathan Falk after thirty-five years' continuous connection with the business, passed away and was succeeded in the presidency by Sig- mund Falk, at which time Leo J. Falk of this review became treasurer and William Stark, general manager. In 1915 another change occurred when Sigmund Falk sold his entire interest in the business to the present owners and his nephew, Leo J. Falk, was elected to the position of president. Max Mayfield remains as the vice president and William Stark is secretary and general manager. Thus a continuous growth in the business has followed the establishment of Boise's oldest mercantile house. Continued watchfulness and the utilization of every available legitimate opportunity character- ized the founders of the business, who did everything possible to promote the trade and give to the city an establishment of which from the first it has reason to be proud.
Leo J. Falk, now at the head of the company, was born in Boise, September 24, 1882. The public school system of the city afforded him his early educational oppor- tunitles and he afterward attended the Mount Tamalpais Military Academy at San Rafael, California, for three years. Throughout his entire business career he has been identified with the Falk Mercantile Company, for with his return from the academy
.
LEO J. FALK
235
HISTORY OF IDAHO
at the age of eighteen years he entered the department store at the corner of Main and Eighth streets. This was in 1900. He made it his purpose to thoroughly learn every phase of the business and to fill positions in each department in order that he might familiarize himself with every branch of the trade. Upon his father's death in 1903 Mr. Falk became treasurer and continued as such for twelve years. In 1915 he was elected to the presidency and is now the controlling spirit in this large establishment, which occupies a three-story building with large plate glass display windows on the first floor on both Main and Eighth streets, where for more than a half century the business has now been carried on. Within this time the company has had to enlarge its quarters on various occasions. It was installed in part of its present location in 1868, increased its floor space in 1888 and again in 1897 and eventually enlarged the building to its present extensive proportions. On the 19th of September, 1918, the company celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the business, making it a memorable occasion in the commercial life of the city. The store was beautifully decorated with autumn leaves and fall flowers, and a most cordial- welcome was ex- tended to old and new patrons and to all who cared to visit the establishment. The company has always held to the highest standards in the line of goods carried, in the personnel of the house and in the conduct accorded its patrons.
Leo J. Falk has not only been active in the management and control of the Falk Mercantile Company for a long period but in many other ways has also been a factor in the business development of Boise. In 1909 he organized the Owyhee Hotel Com- pany of Boise and built a fine modern hotel valued at over four hundred thousand dol- lars. The entire capital was subscribed by Boise citizens and from the beginning Mr. Falk has been president of the company. The hotel was opened May 10, 1910. Mr. Falk is also the president of the Falk Wholesale Company, a dry goods and grocery concern of Boise; is the vice president of the Star Orchard Company, which owns and conducts a large apple and prune orchard near Star, Idaho; and in the past has had extensive mining interests. He is likewise a director of the Boise City National Bank and is the treasurer of the Nampa department store at Nampa, Idaho.
On the 3d of February, 1914, was celebrated the marriage of Leo J. Falk and Miss Helen Friendly, of Elmira, New York, and they are now parents of two daughters, Elaine F. and Jane. It would be an inadequate sketch of Mr. Falk if one did not speak of his active service in behalf of the city in which he has so long made his home. His cooperation can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. He was one of the organizers of the Boise Commercial Club and served on its first board of directors, while for two years he was its chief executive officer, filling the chair of president in a most capable manner and greatly promoting the interests of the organization while in the office.
HARRY A. LYON.
Harry A. Lyon, director of the Bureau of Markets of the Idaho Department of Agriculture, with headquarters in Boise, was born in Mason, Ingham county, Mich- igan, February 6, 1888, his parents being Alva G. and Ettie M. (Austin) Lyon, also natives of the Wolverine state. The mother died in Michigan in 1911, and the father now resides in Cedarville, California. There were but two sons in the fam- ily, the younger being Laurence A., who is five years the junior of Harry A. and makes his home in Lansing, Michigan.
In the acquirement of his education Harry A. Lyon was graduated from the high school of Mason, Michigan, and afterward entered the University of Mich- igan, in which he continued his studies until 1908. For several years he was then associated with his father in farming and the raising of horses. He first came to the west in 1910, making his way to Montana, where he spent a year, giving his attention to different pursuits. A part of the time was devoted to the service of the government in connection with irrigation projects. During 1912 he was engaged in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association at Jackson, Michigan, and in 1913 he again came to the west, making Idaho his destination. Here he became manager of the irrigated ranch of one thousand acres owned by Rogers Brothers near Idaho Falls and acceptably filled that position until the 1st of January, 1915. During the summer of 1915 he acted as manager of what perhaps was the largest tourist camp in the United States in Yellowstone Park. In the fall of that year
236
HISTORY OF IDAHO
he embarked in the grain and produce business at Roberts, Jefferson county, Idaho, giving his attention to that business and to farming until the spring of 1918, when on the 1st of May he entered the service of the United States Department of Agri- culture as a specialist in farm help. In this capacity he worked on the farm labor problems in Wyoming and Idaho during 1918. In the fall of the year he took up his abode in Boise but remained in his position until the 31st of March, 1919, when he resigned to become director of the Bureau of Markets of the Idaho Department of Agriculture, which position he is now most acceptably filling. He is doing work of practical value along this line and his record is indeed commendable. Mr. Lyon finds his chief delight and recreation in farming and resides on a forty-acre farm two miles from Boise, to the further development and improvement of which he gives much of his attention or all of the time that he can spare from his official duties, which are never neglected in the slightest degree.
On the 13th of September, 1913, Mr. Lyon was married to Miss Eleanor R. Russell, also a native of Michigan and a graduate of the Chicago Art Institute. They have four children: Hugh, Billy, Virginia and Harry A., Jr.
In politics Mr. Lyon is a republican but has never sought or desired office as a reward for party fealty. He belongs to the Boise Commercial Club and also to the Boise University Club and he finds his association among men who are most keenly interested in the questions of the day and scientific investigation which bears upon problems of general interest.
FRANK L. DAVIS.
Frank L. Davis, cashier of The Fremont County Bank at Sugar, was born in Nevada, November 17, 1877, a son. of Walter and Theodocia (Walker) Davis, who are natives of England and of Utah respectively. In his boyhood days, about the year 1851, Walter Davis came with his parents to the United States and later learned telegraphy, which he followed for many years. He was also employed on a newspaper in Salt Lake City for a considerable period and finally went to Ne- vada as agent for the pony express. When the first telegraph lines were built across the country he was made one of the first operators and he is now telegraph operator and agent for the Oregon Short Line Railroad at Fort Hall on the Indian reservation. The mother of Frank L. Davis is also living.
The son was reared at Battle Mountain, Nevada, where he attended the public schools, later supplementing his early educational opportunities by study in the University of Nevada, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He has since been employed in various ways, doing railroad work, farming and book- keeping. The year 1897 witnessed his arrival in Idaho, at which time he settled at Lewisville, Jefferson county, where he purchased and improved land, continuing the cultivation of the place for two years. He afterward engaged in bookkeeping for a time and in 1903 entered the employ of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company at Idaho Falls, where he acted as weight master. Later he was transferred to the store room and subsequently was given an office position, which he held until Jan- uary 20, 1904, when he was sent by the company to Sugar City to act as receiving . clerk. In the following July he was made cashier and served in that capacity until July 1, 1907, when he resigned his position to become cashier of The Fremont County Bank, thus serving to the present time. This bank was organized in 1904. Its officers are: Mark Austin, president; G. E. Bowerman, vice president; and Frank L. Davis, cashier. The hank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, has a surplus of five thousand dollars and its deposits amount to two hundred and nineteen thousand dollars. Mr. Davis is not only the cashier but also one of the stockholders and directors. He has contributed much to the success of this institu- tion and is a wide-awake and progressive business man who has made the bank a business concern of marked value to the community. Aside from his banking in- terests Mr. Davis is connected with farming in this section of the state. He is well known in banking circles, is now vice president of the savings bank section of the American Bankers' Association, is the president of the Upper Snake River Bank- ers' Association and was honored with the presidency of the Idaho Bankers' Asso- ciation in 1915 and 1916.
On the 11th of October, 1899, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Alvaretta Har-
237
HISTORY OF IDAHO
mon and they have become the parents of fourteen children, of whom ten are living, namely: Frank L., Alvaretta,. Caddie, Leota, Harmon, Walter, Ollie, Guy, Naoma and Rowena. Those who have passed away are Adele, Orville, Orwith and Marjorie.
In community affairs Mr. Davis is deeply and helpfully interested. He has served on the town board of Sugar for several years has also been an active mem- ber of the school board and for twelve years, by appointment, he served as chairman of the state board of accountancy and to the position was reappointed but would not accept. For four years he has been the president of the Commercial Club and in this connection he has put forth most effective effort in connection with interests of vital importance to the welfare and upbuilding of the community. He has always voted with the democratic party. His religious belief is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he is ward clerk of Sugar ward and first assistant superintendent of the Sunday schools of the Fremont stake. His developing powers have brought him to a place of leadership in various lines of activity and there is nothing which contributes to the welfare of the community and the uplift of the individual that fails to receive his endorsement.
WILLIAM B. OLDHAM.
The educational interests of Madison county are being ahly protected and promoted by William B. Oldham, who is county superintendent of schools. Hold- ing to high ideals in educational affairs, he is putting forth every effort to ad- vance the interests of the schools and promote the standards of public instruction. While now a resident of Rexburg, Idaho, he is a native of Utah, his birth having occurred in Cache county, September 11, 1885. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Brown) Oldham, who were natives of England. The mother died in August, 1918. Mention of the father is made in the sketch of S. P. Oldham on another page of this work.
In his youthful days Wiliam B. Oldham attended the district schools and afterward became a high school pupil, while later he continued his èducation in a normal school and in the Brigham Young College at Logan, Utah. He next became a student in the Utah Agricultural College, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree as a member of the class of 1910. He has since taken post-graduate work in the University of Illinois, in which he was a student in 1917 and 1918. Throughout much of his life he has given his attention to educa- tional interests. He taught the high school branches in Ricks Academy for three years and then went to Sugar City, where he was superintendent of the schools for three years. He afterward devoted one year to rural extension work for the depart- ment of agriculture, traveling extensively through the south and the northwest, but ill health obliged him to abandon that work and in October, 1918, he was appointed to the position of county superintendent of schools of Madison county and has since filled that position to the satisfaction of all concerned.
In September, 1913, Mr. Oldham was married to Miss Emma Pfost and to them have been born three children: Reed, Mary Verena and Inez. Mr. Oldham has farming interests in Madison county and he is agent for the Idaho State Life Insurance Company, but allows neither the one nor the other to interfere with the faithful performance of his duties as administrator of public school interests for Madison county. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
FREDERICK M. FISHER.
Efficiency in office is demonstrated in the record of Frederick M. Fisher, who is serving as county clerk, auditor and recorder of Bingham county and makes his home at Blackfoot. He was born at Seward, Nebraska, July 21, 1875, and is a son of James C. and Melvina (Moore) Fisher, who were natives of New York and Wis- consin respectively. The father went to Nebraska at an early day and there car- ried on farming for a few years. He later went to Kansas, where he followed farming until 1883, save for the period of the Civil war, when he joined the Union
238
HISTORY OF IDAHO
army, enlisting in the Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, with which he served for three years and seven months, thus largely aiding in maintaining the supremacy of the Stars and Stripes. He was seriously wounded and the injuries which he sustained affected him throughout his remaining days. In 1883 he removed from Kansas to Blackfoot, Idaho, and took up land which he cultivated for a time, while later he made his home in Blackfoot. Here he served as justice of the peace and police judge and continued his residence in Blackfoot throughout his remaining days, his death occurring December 10, 1915, when he had reached the age of eighty-two. His widow is still living and is now seventy-nine years of age.
Frederick M. Fisher spent his youthful days in Kansas up to the time when the family home was established at Blackfoot. He is indebted to the public school systems of the Sunflower state and of Idaho for the educational privileges which he enjoyed, and he remained with his parents until he attained his majority, when he started out in the business world in connection with railroading, becoming agent and express messenger. He was also in the train service and followed railroading on the Short Line Railroad for fifteen years. In 1902 he took up carpentering and contracting and devoted his attention thereto until 1913, when he resumed railroad work. He was thus employed until January, 1915, when he accepted the position of deputy county clerk, auditor and recorder. In 1916 he was appointed to that office and in the fall of 1918 was elected to the position with practically no oppo- sition, a fact indicative of the capable and efficient service which he has rendered and his fidelity to duty in every circumstance.
On the 20th of June, 1906, Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Alvie I. Sturdevant, a native of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, and to them have been born three children: Muriel, Glenn and Margaret. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically Mr. Fisher is a republican, giving stal- wart allegiance to the party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows and is a faithful follower of those organizations. While he was engaged in contracting he did much work in California and Blackfoot, Idaho, and was also with the Borden Construction Company at Reno, Nevada, and at San Francisco was associated withan oil company. His has been an active and useful life in which enterprise and industry have been dominant characteristics. He brings these splendid qualities to bear in the conduct of his business affairs, and his indefatigable energy and unfaltering spirit have made him a most capable official.
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.