USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 51
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Fraternally Mr. Sims is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is fond of outdoor sports, turning to hunting and fishing as his chief sources of recreation. In politics be has always been a democrat, casting his first presidential vote for William Jennings Bryan in 1896. He served for four years as a member of the city council of Meridian and was on the staff of Governor Moses Alexander during his two terms of service, with the rank of colonel. He became a most active and earnest sup- porter of the governmental policy during the war and served as chairman of all the five Liberty loan drives for the Meridian division, embracing ten sectors, and in recog- nition of the splendid work which he did in that connection he was awarded a govern- ment medal. He thoroughly organized the district for the Liberty loan campaign, called about him a splendid corps of assistant workers and accomplished his purposes in this connection. He has always stood for progress and improvement in public affairs, and in all matters of citzenship his course has been the expression of the utmost loyalty and patriotism.
FRED J. WALMSLEY.
The life record of Fred J. Walmsley, of Parma, is another illustration of the oppor- tunities that lie before the young man of ambition and enterprise in America. Born in Cheshire, England, on the 15th of May, 1874, he there acquired his education and afterward was employed in connection with the silk industry in his native country until he reached the age of eighteen, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and made his way to Colorado. There he engaged in general farming until 1910, at which time he removed to Idaho, making his way to Parma, where he became the manager of the Parma Mill & Elevator Company, a corporation of Denver, Colorado. He supervised the building of the plant for the company at Parma, the elevator and warehouse having a total capacity of one hundred and twenty thousand bushels of grain. They also have a fine seed house, the building, which is forty by one hundred feet, being used for warehouse purposes and also for cleaning the seed. The Parma Mill & Elevator Company likewise distribute flour from its mill at Caldwell to the extent of about twenty carloads per year. They handle and sell all kinds of grain and seed and employ six people. Their buildings cover about an acre of ground. From the inception of the business at Parma, Mr. Walmsley has remained in charge as manager, and the success of the enterprise is attributable in large measure to his energy, diligence and business ability.
Mr. Walmsley married Miss Jennie E. Price, a native of Ironton, Wisconsin,
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and they have become parents of five children: Grace D., at home; L. Myrtle, who is with her father in the office; Harold R., sixteen years of age; now a senior in the high school at Parma; and Wilfred W. and Mary E., who are attending school.
In his political views Mr. Wamsley is an earnest republican and an active party worker. He has been a member of the republican county central committee and for six years served as a member of the city council of Parma, while for four years he has been the efficient mayor, giving to the city a businesslike and progressive adminis- tration, characterized by many reforms and improvements. He is a consistent member of the First Presbyterian church of Parma and has been active in the various branches of its work. He also served as county chairman for the Armenian Relief Fund and took an active part in all war work, doing everything in his power to uphold the interests of the government and promote the welfare of our armies in camp and in the field. He has indeed proven himself one hundred per cent American and is a citizen of whom Parma has every reason to be proud.
THOMAS McMILLAN
Thomas McMillan, well known in the business circles of Boise as the secretary and treasurer of the Idanha Hotel Company and also as the secretary, treasurer and gen- eral manager of the Boise Stone Company, controlling one of the important industrial enterprises of the city, is of Scotch birth, a son of Anthony and Agnes (McFadzen) McMillan, who in the year 1882 came with their family to the new world. Thomas McMillan was at that time a youth of seventeen years, his birth having occurred in Scotland, February 25, 1865. In 1881 an elder son, John McMillan, now prominent in Boise, had crossed the Atlantic. The parents with their other, children landed in New York in 1882 and after a few years spent in that state came to Idaho in 1886. They established their home in Elmore county and subsequently removed to Boise, where both the father and mother passed away, the former at the age of eighty-seven years, while the latter had reached the age of seventy-eight. While in the land of hills and heather the father had engaged in sheep raising. He was a representative of the well known McMillan clan of that country.
Spending his early youth in Scotland, Thomas McMillan of this review secured a position as a clerk in the Bank of Scotland, Glasgow, but when his parents came to the new world in 1882 he gave up his position and accompanied them across the Atlantic. He did not tarry long in the east but made his way westward to Wyoming, where he became a sheep herder. In 1886 he removed to Idaho and for a quarter of a century was one of the leading sheep men of Boise, becoming president of the McMillan Sheep Company, in which position he remained for many years. He was the founder of that company, which prospered as time passed on, and he finally retired altogether from active connection with the sheep industry in 1917. Indolence and idleness, however, are utterly foreign to his nature and he could not be content without some business interest. At the present time, therefore, he is giving his attention to his duties as secretary and treasurer of the Idanha Hotel Company of Boise and as secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Boise Stone Company. The latter is a big concern of its kind-one of the largest industrial enterprises of the capital, with A. J. Swain as the president and Gus Carlson as vice president. In 1899 Mr. McMillan was one of the builders of the Idanha Hotel and has continued as one of the owners, while for several years past he has been active in the direction and control of the interests of the company. He is likewise a director of the Boise City National Bank. Hls judgment is sound, his discrimination keen and that his efforts have been wisely directed is in- dicated in the substantial measure of prosperity which he has attained.
Mr. McMillan was married March 16, 1897, to Miss Roxie Corder, who was born and reared in Elmore county, Idaho, a daughter of Obediah Corder, one of the pioneers of that district. They have become the parents of two daughters, Roxie and Irene, both graduates of the Boise high school and now students in the University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. McMillan turns to hunting and fishing for recreation. In politics he is a republican where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections sup- ports the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office without considering party ties. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. While there have been no spectacular phases in his life, neither have there been any esoteric chapters,
THOMAS McMILLAN
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his career being that of an energetic business man whose determination and per- severance have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to success.
BENJAMIN F. MAGEL.
Benjamin F. Magel is a well known representative of the automobile business in Idaho, being manager of Magel Brothers' Garage in Twin Falls, in connection with which they handle the Cadillac and the Haynes cars, their business being situated at No. 22 Second avenue, North. Mr. Magel was born in Sidney, Iowa, on the 10th of De- cember, 1884, his parents being Conrad and Mary (NewIon) Magel. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native town and began his education in the public schools there. Later he had the opportunity of attending the Chicago University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907.
Seeking a favorable field of business, Mr. Magel came to the northwest in 1908 and settled at Twin Falls. In the following year he entered the automobile business and has since engaged in the sale of the Cadillac and Haynes cars. As the years have passed he has put many of these cars upon the market and his business has developed to substantial proportions. In connection with the sales department he maintains a garage and this is also liberally patronized.
In 1915 Mr. Magel was united in marriage to Miss Margaret I. Williams, a daugh- ter of Andy and Bessie E. (Warrington) Williams, who were natives of Hailey, Idaho. The two children of this marriage are Margaret Eileen and Elizabeth Mary. Mr. Magel is a republican in his political views and fraternally is an Elk and a Mason. He has steadily advanced in Masonry and has now attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is widely and prominently known in the order as one of its faitli- ful followers, and in business circles of Twin Falls he enjoys an enviable reputation by reason of his progressiveness, his enterprise and his thorough reliability.
JAMES EMMITT PFOST.
On the roster of county officials in Ada county appears the name of James Emmitt Pfost of Boise, who is filling the office of sheriff. At a former period he was con- nected with commercial pursuits in Meridian and with agricultural interests and is still the owner of a valuable ranch property. He was horn in Bates county, Missouri, Decem- ber 25, 1872, a son of Isaac W. and Margaret (Koontz) Pfost, who came to Idaho in 1878 since which time the family has lived in or near Boise. The mother passed away in 1885, but the father sill owns and occupies a ranch near Meridian, in Ada county, and although seventy-two years of age he has not a gray hair. His family numbered seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom James Emmitt is the third in order of birth. Three sons and two daughters are yet living, these being: John A. and Mrs. Mary Burns, who reside in Meridian; Mrs. Effie Burns, of Boise; Lee, who occupies a farm near Caldwell; and James Emmitt, of this review.
Emmitt Pfost was reared upon his father's ranch and attended the country schools, while later he continued his education in the public schools of Boise. He gave his at- tention to farming and stock raising until 1905 and for four years thereafter was en- gaged in the hay, grain, coal and lumber business in Meridian. From 1909 until 1913 he owned and conducted a farm near Meridian and in the latter year he removed to Boise for the purpose of educating his children. He has always been fond of good live stock and he is now the owner of a two hundred and forty acre ranch in Washing- ton county, Idaho, all of which is under cultivation and is stocked with thoroughbred sheep and hogs and high grade cattle and horses. He keeps a hired man upon the place to do the actual work, but Mr. Pfost owns all the stock and equipment. Forty acres of the farm is planted to alfalfa.
The year after his removal to Boise, Mr. Pfost was elected to the office of sheriff of Ada county on the democratic ticket and in 1916 was reelected by the largest ma- jority given any candidate on the democratic ticket that year. His majority in 1914 was eighty-seven and in 1916 he received a majority of over sixteen hundred-a fact indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence which he had won through
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the prompt, faithful and efficient discharge of his duties. In November, 1918, he was reelected to serve a third consecutive term, being the only democratic candidate elected in Ada county at that time.
On the 4th of August, 1897, Mr. Pfost was married to Miss Bessie M. Anderson and they have become parents of three children: Laneita Irene, eighteen years of age; Cecil Anderson, aged sixteen; and James Ernest, three years of age. Mr. Pfost and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. In these associations are found the rules which govern his con- duct and direct him in all of his relations with his fellowmen, He is an upright citizen and one who regards a public office as a public trust, and it is well known that no trust reposed in Emmitt Pfost has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree.
ARTHUR W. HALL.
Arthur W. Hall, who is engaged in the undertaking business at Pocatello, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 12, 1888. He is a son of Albert and Betsy (Inkly) Hall. The father was born in Nottingham, England, while the mother's birth occurred in the southern part of England. They came to America in 1884 and both are still liv- ing. One of their sons, Walter Hall, was a gunner of the United States navy, having enlisted in the engineering department for service in the World war.
Reared in his native city, Arthur W. Hall was graduated from the high school of the capital and later pursued a business course. He was called upon to fill a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for two years remained in active church work in Great Britain. When released from his mission he came to Pocatello, Idaho, in 1910 and was made assistant manager of the Capital Electric Company, a position which he occupied for two years. He then removed to Twin Falls to become manager of the store of the company there and in August, 1914, he returned to Pocatello, where he has since engaged in the undertaking business. His' employment with the Capital Electric Company necessitated his traveling throughout Idaho and Montana and he thus established an extensive business acquaintance which has been of material benefit to him since starting in business on his own account. He has a well appointed undertaking establishment and employs the most scientific methods in his work.
On the 14th of June, 1916, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Gladys Rogers, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and they are the parents of a daughter, Evelyn. In his political views Mr. Hall is a democrat and is recognized as an active worker in support of the party. He has resided in Pocatello during the greater part of the last decade and has won many friends in the city and surrouding country, his genial manner and sterling worth making for personal popularity wherever he is known.
NEWTON EUGENE BRASIE.
Newton Eugene Brasie, devoting his attention to law practice in Boise, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 6, 1876, and is the only living child of William Worth and Susie Rebecca (Weeks) Brasie, who are now in Los Angeles, California, but make their permanent home in Denver, Colorado. The father, who is of French descent, was born at Key West, Florida, where his father, Row Brasie, was then located as a United States army officer. William Worth Brasie has been a successful business man, devoting his attention to mining activities and also to successful specu- lation in Denver real estate, so that he has now attained an independent financial position.
Born in Minneapolis, Eugene Brasie was reared in Denver after reaching the age of eight years. He attended the public schools of that city and next became a student in the University of Colorado, but completed his collegiate training in the University of Virginia, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1902. Returning to Denver for the active practice of his profession, he remained a mem- ber of the bar there for six months and then removed to Wray, Colorado, where he continued in practice from 1903 until 1907. During three years of that period he served as county attorney of Yuma county, Colorado, and in 1907 he came to Boise, Idaho, where he has since remained in the active practice of law. His identification
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with the Boise bar covers sixteen consecutive years, during which period he has made steady progress until he now ranks with the ablest representatives of the legal pro- fession in the city. He has membership in the Ada County and in the Idaho State Bar Associations.
It was on the 16th of August, 1904, that Mr. Brasie was married to Miss Jane Lewis Perkins, of Whitehall, Virginia, and a representative of one of the old families of that state. Her father was an officer of the Confederate army. Mr. Brasie belongs to the Boise Commercial Club, also to the Country Club, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masons. He is a past exalted ruler of Boise Lodge, No. 310, B. P. O. E. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party. He was much interested in war activities and was a member of the County Council of Defense and of the Idaho Defense League. His support of government measures found tangible proof in his activities, which were far-reaching and beneficial.
JOHN L. NIDAY.
John L. Niday, attorney at law of Boise and a most active supporter of all war measures, his interest therein being manifest in his work as member of the County Council of Defense, was born upon a farm near Gallipolis in Gallia county, Ohio, August 14, 1863, his parents being Hugh C. and Eleanor (Porter) Niday, both of whom have departed this life. The father was born in Giles county, Virginia, and in his youthful days removed to Ohio with his parents, Peter C. and Delilah Niday. He spent his remaining days in Gallia county, Ohio, devoting his life to merchandising and to farming. While he did not regularly enlist for service in the Union army, he assisted in driving John Morgan's raiders out of the state. His wife passed away February 15, 1901, when sixty-six years of age. Their family numbered five sons and five daughters, of whom John L. was the fifth in order of birth, and with one excep- tion all are yet living. These are: Alphonzene, now the wife of Dr. S. W. Williams, of Gallia county, Ohio; Hortense Eugenie, the wife of Charles H. Lusher, also of Gallia county; Jefferson P., who was accidentally killed in 1899, at the age of forty- two years; Frank B., living in Mercerville, Ohio; John L .; Eleanor Romaine, of Ber- rien Springs, Michigan, now the widow of Dr. E. M. Heflin, formerly a practicing physi- cian of Colmar, Iowa; James E., who is an attorney of Houston, Texas; Vesta L., the wife of the Rev. Reuben Denny, of Bidwell, Ohio; Hubert Clayton, living at Mercer- ville, Ohio; and Viola E., the wife of Thomas S. Rogers, of Houston, Texas.
John L. Niday was reared upon the farm on which his birth occurred and his youthful experiences were those of the farm-bred boy. In the acquirement of his edu- cation he won the two degrees of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from the Lebanon (Ohio) Normal School, receiving the former in 1889 and the latter in 1892. He began teaching when but eighteen years of age in Gallia county, Ohio, and followed that profession, alternated by periods of study, until 1892. It was through teaching that he was enabled to pay his way while a student in the normal school and after having thoroughly qualified for the bar he was admitted to practice at Columbus, Ohio, in 1892. Immediately afterward he made his way to the northwest, seeking the oppor- tunities offered in this great and growing section of the country. Locating in Boise, he entered upon the practice of law, in which he has since continued, and he is accounted one of the learned and able members of the Boise bar. He has a fine law library, with the contents of which he is thoroughly familiar, and his well appointed law offices are situated on the third floor of the Overland building. He has devoted the greater part of his time and attention to the interests and duties of his profession and the court records bear testimony to the many favorable verdicts which he has won for his clients. He also has extensive farming interests in the Boise valley, embracing altogether four hundred acres of land. At one time he owned eight hun- dred acres in the district but recently sold about one-half of this.
On the 27th of November, 1902, Mr. Niday was married to Miss Mary A. Green, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have become parents of two daughters, Eleanor Kathleen and Margaret Mary, aged fifteen and twelve years respectively and now stu- dents in the Boise high school.
Mr. Niday is a republican in politics but has never sought or desired political office. At the present time, however, he is serving as a member of the County Coun- cil of Defense and his active labors in support of all war measures have been far-
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reaching and beneficial in their results. He has membership with the Ada County and the Idaho State Bar Associations, belongs also to the Boise Commercial Club and has several fraternal connections, being an Odd Fellow, Elk and Modern Woodman. In religious faith he is a Unitarian, and in all connections his life has measured up to high standards.
D. L. RHODES.
The bar and legal profession of Nampa and vicinity has an able representative in D. L. Rhodes, who although yet a young man has already become connected with much important litigation in the state, so that he is recognized by many as one of the coming young attorneys of the commonwealth. He is a son of Silas and Eva (Cheatem) Rhodes, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. The father success- fully followed agricultural pursuits, and the parents are now living in South Dakota. There is one other son in the family, J. R. Rhodes, who is a traveling salesman.
D. L. Rhodes was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, May 8, 1880, and there attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1901 after which he pursued a law course at the State University at Iowa City, receiving his diploma in 1907. In June of that year he came to Idaho and at first located at Emmett, where he was associated with J. P. Reed until 1910, in which year he was elected prosecuting attorney of Boise county. He therefore moved to the county seat, Idaho City, where he remained until 1918, having been reelected in 1912, 1914 and 1916. His reelections stand as incontrovertihle proof of his ability as well as his trustworthiness and pop- ularity. In 1918 he was not a candidate for the office and in 1919 moved to Nampa, opening private offices in the Lloyd building.
One of the noted trials which he prosecuted while prosecuting attorney of Boise county was the celebrated Shade-Fields murder case, tried at Caldwell, which elicited great interest throughout the state. In that connection his name became known to the general public throughout the commonwealth as well as to all of the profession. He numbers among his many friends some of the most influential and prominent men of the state, among them ex-governor Hawley, to whose help and kindly influence he attributes much of his early success. Mr. Rhodes has always taken a very active interest in politics and public life and is an influential and ardent worker for the causes in which he believes. He is giving the same force, energy and resourcefulness to private practice, in which he is now well established, and of his immediate success there is no doubt. Mr. Rhodes has always remained a deep student of legal lore and is today the proud possessor of one of the best law libraries in Nampa. There is great credit due him for what he has already achieved, as he has made good use of his innate talents, and his future career is well worth watching.
In 1901 occurred the marriage of D. L. Rhodes and Miss Bernice Laravea, a native of Nebraska, and to them has been horn a son, Jack, who is now five years of age. The family are extremely popular with the younger social set of their city and district and have many friends in all walks of life. Mr. Rhodes is now vice president of the Idaho State Bar Association and is a member of the American Bar Association.
DANIEL A. DUNNING.
Daniel A. Dunning, a member of the Boise bar, was born in Atchison county, Kansas, September 25, 1874, a son of Thomas J. and Katherine (Quinn) Dunning, who are now residents of Adams county, Idaho. The father is of English descent, while the mother comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The founder of the Dunning family in America came to the new world while this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain and received a grant of land from the British crown, whereby he became owner of the present site of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina.
When Daniel A. Dunning was seven years of age, or in 1881, his parents removed with their famlly to Colorado and he was reared in Grand Junction, that state. His early education was acquired in the public schools and on attaining his majority he left Grand Junction and went to Salt Lake City, where he learned telegraphy. He
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was employed as a telegraph operator by the Rio Grande Western Railroad for three years and from the 5th of May, 1898, until August, 1899, he was in the military serv- ice of the United States as a member of Battery B, Utah Light Artillery, spending one year of that period in the Philippines. The official records give him credit for par- ticipation in thirty-eight different engagements, including the capture of Manila on the 13th of August, 1898. He was with General Lawton on his expedition and was cited for meritorious service. He was honorably discharged and mustered out at San Francisco on the 16th of August, 1899. He resumed his work as a telegraph oper- ator at Provo, Utah, and was also cashier and ticket agent for the railroad company there. He afterward passed the civil service examination and spent eight years in Washington, D. C., in civil service work, five years in the census department and three years in the general land office.
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