USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 56
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MRS. HENRIETTA RESSLER.
Mrs. Henrietta Ressler is an active factor in the business circles of Pocatello, where she is conducting a grocery store. She is a native of Brantford, Canada, and has been a resident of the United States for forty years. For a short time she lived in St. Louis and then removed to Aurora, Illinois, where she attended the public schools, one of her instructors being Professor W. B. Powell, the father of the renowned violinist, Maud Powell. She was seventeen years of age when she was graduated from the grammar school of Aurora, after which she attended the normal school for one year and for another year taught at Marengo, Illinois. Later she was for fifteen years successfully engaged in teaching at Creston, Iowa, proving a capable educator. inspiring her pupils with much of her own zeal and interest in the work. In 1886 she became the wife of William Ressler at Creston, Iowa, and they removed to Pocatello, Idaho, where Mrs. Ressler has since made her home. On the 8th of January, 1914, she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband. She had left to her an only son, Fred A. who was born in 1889 and who was overseas in the great world war as a mem- ber of Company B, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Battalion, his company making a splendid record on the hattle sectors of France. He married Lola Hansen, of Pocatello, and they are parents of two children, Henrietta and Elizabeth.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Ressler has become an active factor in the busi- ness circles of Pocatello, where she is now conducting a grocery store that was formerly the property of Pond Brothers. She carries a large and carefully selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and puts forth every effort to please her customers, while her reasonable prices and straightforward husiness methods have secured to her a liberal and growing patronage. She is a woman of excellent business ability, sagacious and farsighted, and in addition to her grocery store she owns considerable residence property in Pocatello which she most carefully and wisely manages.
CLENCY ST. CLAIR.
Clency St. Clair, attorney at law of Idaho Falls, was born in Vinton, Iowa, May 24, 1871, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Alcorn) St. Clair, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was also a lawyer by profession and in 1856 he went to Iowa, removing to that state when there was not a railroad within its borders. He walked from Davenport to Vinton and practiced law there for many years, or until 1879, when
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he removed to Nebraska, settling at Seward. He later became a resident of Minden. Nebraska, where he continued in the practice of law throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in August, 1897. His wife passed away in November, 1914.
Clency St. Clair lived at Seward and Minden, Nebraska. He served as deputy clerk and recorder at the latter place in the years 1888 and 1889 and then entered his father's office, where he read law. He afterward became a law student in the State University at Iowa City and was admitted to practice at the Nebraska bar in 1891. He then opened a law office in Minden, Nebraska, where he remained in active practice until January, 1892, when he removed to Omaha and practiced for eleven years in partnership with Warren Switzler. In December, 1903, he arrived in Idaho Falls and has since been a member of the bar of this state. He also has farming interests in Bonneville county which contribute to his annual income.
In September, 1906, Mr. St. Clair was married to Miss Adaline Wright and to them were born five children: Robert W., whose birth occurred October 1, 1907; Anna Eugenia, who was born September 1, 1909; Gilbert Ciency, who was born February 11, 1912; Adaline W., born September 30, 1914; and Catharine Odell, June 9, 1917.
Fraternally Mr. St. Clair is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is the president of the Rotary Club of Idaho Falls. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he takes a keen interest in everything that has to do with matters of citizenship. He was elected to the state senate in 1911 and served also during the special session of 1912. He was delegate to the republican national convention of that year and was a member of the credentials committee for Idaho.
ALBERT D. PECK.
Albert D. Peck, probate judge of Bonneville county and a resident of Idaho Falls, was born in Onondaga county, New York, May 13, 1846, and is a son of Dewitt C. and Salome (Kinne) Peck, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of C. G. Peck on another page of this work. Albert. D. Peck was reared and educated in New York, remaining a resident of the Empire state to the age of twenty-six years. Through the summer months he engaged in farming for his father and in the winter seasons taught school until 1872, when he removed to Iowa and in the following year purchased land in Sac county. This he improved and cultivated until 1878, when he was elected county auditor of Sac county, making a splendid record in that connection, as is indi- cated by his five terms of service, covering a period of ten years. The growing west attracted him still farther and in 1892 he made his way to Deer Lodge, Montana, where he engaged in the abstract business until 1903. He was then elected to the office of county treasurer and filled that position for four years. In 1908 he arrived in Idaho Falls, purchased land two miles south of the town and at once began to further develop and improve the property. This he continued to cultivate until 1916, when he retired from active business and took up his abode in the town. He had also been the secre- tary of the Idaho irrigation district for two years and was one of its directors before leaving the farm. After he put aside the active work of the fields, however, the com- pany insisted that he assume the duties of secretary. In November, 1918, he was elected probate judge of Bonneville county and is still filling that position.
On the 26th of February, 1874, Mr. Peck was married to Miss Augusta Smurr, of Columbus, Ohio, and to them were born two children. Helen S., who was born in October, 1875, and passed away in March, 1879; and DeWitt Clinton who was born April 26, 1880, and is a railroad man with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul now living at Deer Lodge Montana.
Politically Judge Peck is a republican and is a stalwart advocate of party princi- ples because of his firm belief in their efficacy as factors in good government. He lias always been more or less active and prominent in political circles and while living at Sac City, Iowa, served as mayor. He was also a trustee of the Iowa Agricultural Col- lege for one term and while in Montana was a member of the state capitol commission for five years, filling that position during the building of the capitol. Judge Peck is a Methodist in religious faith but while in Montana joined the Presbyterian church as there was no church of his denomination in the town. He served as ruling elder in the church for several years. In 1888 he was a delegate to the general conference of
ALBERT D. PECK
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the Methodist church, held in New York. His religion is that which transcends de- nominationalism and it has found expression in every relation of his life, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
GEORGE H. ISH, JR.
George H. Ish, Jr., filling the office of chief of police of Pocatello, was born at Jacksonville, Oregon, November 5, 1863, and is a son of George H. Ish, Sr., who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and who crossed the plains by way of Mexico in 1849. He was the discoverer of the famous Gold Hill mine at Jacksonville, Oregon, and after retiring from the field of mining activity he engaged in cattle raising in Idaho. He has now departed this life and his wife passed away in 1908.
George H. Ish, Jr., was but three years of age when his parents removed with their family to Idaho, settling at Boise, where he remained until 1900. He passed through all the stirring scenes of the early days, and although he was too young to take an actual part in any of the Indian outbreaks, those times and scenes are indelibly im- pressed upon his memory. He was educated in the schools of Boise and in 1901 he entered the hotel business at Hailey, Idaho, where he remained until May, 1918, con- ducting a popular hostelry during that period. He was then appointed deputy United States marshal and filled that position in a most capable and effective manner until he was made chief of police of Pocatello in which capacity he is now serving.
In 1902 Mr. Ish was married to Miss Charlotte Polshey, of Oregon. Fraternally he is connected with the Eagles. The major part of his time and attention, however, is concentrated upon the discharge of his official duties and he is found a prompt, fearless and faithful officer.
ROBERT FRANKLIN CARR.
Robert Franklin Carr, secretary and treasurer of the Burley Realty & Abstract Company of Burley, Idaho, was born October 21, 1872, in Detroit, Michigan, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Townsend) Carr. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1878 removed with his family to Linn county, Kansas, where he secured a tract of land and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits there.
The son attended the rural schools of Linn county until he reached the age of eighteen and during vacation periods assisted in the work of the home farm, early be- coming familiar with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. In 1892 he left home and secured employment in the plant of the Saddler Company, manufac- turers of postoffice fixtures. He afterward, however, returned home and remained upon the farm until 1899, when he removed to Galena, Kansas, and for a year worked in a grocery store. He then went upon the road as a traveling salesman, representing the Joplin Candy Company. At a later period he was employed as adjuster by the Peo- ple's Ice Company of Kansas City, Missouri, and in the summer of 1903 he went to Pawnee county, Oklahoma, where he engaged in townsite promotion. In 1904 he be- came a resident of Beaumont, Texas, where he devoted his attention to rice milling and to banking. In 1905 he organized, in connection with others, a bank at La Cygne, Kansas, and in 1906 sold his interest in that business and went to Richmond, Kansas, a place thirty miles west of La Cygne. There he purchased a bank in partnership with others and was identified therewith until 1909, when be sold his interest and made his way westward to the San Luis Valley. In June, 1911, he again sold out and went to Florida but in the spring of 1912 made his way to Salt Lake City, Utah, and on the 1st of March of the same year arrived at Burley, Idaho. Soon afterward he become the secretary of the Burley Township Company and in 1914 he purchased an interest in the Cassia County Abstract Company and since that time has been actively associated with the business as secretary and treasurer. The Burley Realty & Abstract Company are bonded abstractors, handling abstracts of title, insurance and bonds, real estate, irrigated lands, dry farms and city property. They also make rentals and loans, blue prints and do conveyancing. The officers are: J. C. Gaskill, president; H. J. Chance, vice president; and R. F. Carr, secretary and treasurer.
In 1907 Mr. Carr was married to Miss Louise Broadwell, a daughter of William H.
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and Elizabeth (Ward) Broadwell, of La Cygne, Kansas. They now have two children, Frances and Robert. Mr. Carr is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge of Burley, and he has also attained high rank in the order, as is indicated by the fact that he has membership in Elkorah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a director of the Com- mercial Club and a past secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. He manifests a keen and helpful interest in important public projects and is alive to the issues and needs of the present hour, lending his aid and support to all measures which he believes will prove of public benefit.
WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON.
William B. Davidson, senior member of the law firm of Davidson & Davison, with offices in the Yates building in Boise, was born in Scott county, Virginia, April 29, 1878, the eldest child of Melvin Z. and Lucy J. (Collings) Davidson. The Davidson family is of Scotch descent, the ancestry being traced back to the Davidsons, a nu- merous, powerful and prominent clan of Scotland. The grandfathers of William B. Davidson in both the paternal and maternal line were soldiers of the Confederate army, and the former, Henry Davidson, died as a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Ohio. Melvin Z. Davidson and his wife now reside upon a farm near Meridian, Idaho. They were both born and reared in Virginia and in that state were married on the 17th of May, 1877. The father was born in 1858, so that he is but twenty years older than his son William.
The latter was reared upon a farm in Cass county, Missouri, about forty miles from Kansas City. His early education was acquired in the country schools and later he attended Scarritt College of Neosho, Missouri. When nineteen years of age he began teaching, which profession he followed for a brief period in order to fill out an unex- pired term. It was his desire to become a member of the bar and with that end in view he took up the study of law at Harrisonville, Missouri, where he pursued his reading from 1898 until 1900. On the 3d of January of the latter year he was ad- mitted to the bar and in the following April came to Boise. Through the intervening period, covering nineteen years, he has continued in active practice in this city save for a period of three and a half years, from 1914 until 1918, during which he was prac- ticing law in Los Angeles, California. He then returned to Boise in January, 1918, and is now senior partner in the law firm of Davidson & Davison, his partner being W. H. Davison.
In politics he is a democrat but is an American before being a partisan and pre- fers law practice to political activity. His ability in his chosen profession is acknowl- edged in a liberal clientage that has connected him with much important litigation heard in the courts of the district. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Mystic Shriner and is a past potentate of El Korah Temple of Boise. He likewise belongs to the Com- mercial Club and is interested in all of the projects of that organization for the benefit, development and upbuilding of the city.
BURCHARD LENDALL SAWTELLE.
Burchard Lendall Sawtelle was well known in the business circles of Pocatello as a representative of the Pocatello Security & Trust Company from 1914 until 1918, when he joined the army as a member of the Tank Corps. Pocatello numbers him among her progressive and representative citizens and in Bannock county he has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance. He was born in the state of Maine, January 13, 1877, and during his infancy was taken by his parents to Boston, Massachusetts, where the family home was maintained through the period of his youth. He attended school there and was graduated from the Roxbury high school at the age of sixteen years. He started upon his business career in the capacity of a commercial traveler, representing a jewelry firm of the east. In 1904 he removed to Los Angeles, California, although continuing in his former employment. The year 1914 witnessed his arrival in Pocatello, at which time he entered the employ 'of the -
Pocatello Security & Trust Company, with which he continued until after America's entrance into the World war. Although beyond military age he enlisted in the service
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of his country as a member of the Tanks Corps and was sent to Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania. After his return home he opened a real estate office in Pocatello. He is now president of the Great Northwest Development Company, which was incorporated March 4, 1920, and of which G. W. Koch is secretary and treasurer
In 1912 Mr. Sawtelle was married to Mrs. B. F. Garber, who bore the maiden name of Mary Elizabeth Harris and was born at Carthage, Missouri, being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Harris. Her father is a Civil war veteran who is now living at. Portland, Oregon, but her mother passed away in August, 1917. Mrs. Sawtelle's daughter, Leona Pearl Koch, is living with her at Pocatello. She is the wife of Guilford William Koch, who was general district manager at Seattle, Washington, for the John Bollman Tobacco Company. He was born in South Dakota and after America entered the war against Germany he became a lieutenant of the Thirty-ninth Machine Gun Battalion, while his wife returned to Pocatello to live with her mother during his absence.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawtelle have a fine home in Pocatello, of which he is the owner. He has been an Elk for more than twenty years and is a valued representative of that order. He has long been classed with the progressive citizens of Pocatello and is a factor in the upbuilding of the community. It was the same spirit of devotion to the public good and to high ideals that caused him to join the army, doing his part where duty called him.
HARRY L. WILLSON, M. D.
Dr. Harry L. Willson, a physician and surgeon of Idaho Falls, was born at Clarks- ville, Virginia, October 25, 1889, and is a son of Dr. Thomas C. and Adelaide (Shangle) Willson, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was born in Bristol, Tennessee. The father was also a physician who practiced his profession in Virginia for some years and later in Pennsylvania and Missouri. About 1890 he removed to Idaho Falls, where he continuously practiced until the last eight or nine years, during which period he has lived retired. He has become the owner of extensive farming interests that require all of his attention, leaving him no time for professional duties His wife is also living, as is his father, who served in the Confederate army during the Civil war, and he still makes his home in Virginia.
Dr. Harry L. Willson was reared and educated in Idaho Falls, being but fourteen months old when his parents removed to this state. He passed through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school and afterward became a student in Whit- man College at Walla Walla, Washington, where he was graduated with the class of 1910. He then went east and matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1914 on the completion of a course in medicine and surgery. He afterward practiced in the University Hospital until March, 1917, when he returned to Idaho Falls and in April of that year opened an office which he has since conducted. He is recognized as a thorough, earnest and conscientious member of the medical pro- fession, and his increasing ability is winning for him a large practice.
On the 7th of November, 1917, Dr. Willson was married to Miss Sue Lambert Miller. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. To the teachings of these organizations he is loyal and faithful and their principles find expression in his life. Politically he maintains an independent course, nor has he ever been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs.
LELAND D. CREESE.
Leland D. Creese, conducting a photographic establishment at Burley, comes to the northwest from the Sunflower state, his birth having occurred in Jewell county, Kansas, February 26, 1879, his parents being M. P. and Susan W. (Wells) Creese. His youthful days were passed in his native state and at the usual age he became a pupil in the public schools. His father was a photographer and he learned the busi- ness under his father's direction, working with him for five years. He then went to central Florida, where he remained until 1919, when he sought the opportunities of the growing northwest and made his way to Burley. Here he opened a gallery. He
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has a well appointed studio, employing the latest and most scientific processes in his photographic work and producing excellent results. He possesses a naturally keen artistic sense and his work is giving the utmost satisfaction, so that his patronage is steadily growing.
In 1900 Mr. Creese was married to Miss Florence Ross, a native of Oil City, Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of Frank and Lillie Ross, the former now superintendent for the Postal Telegraph at Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Creese have one child, Andrew.
Since starting out in the business world Mr. Creese has concentrated his efforts and attention upon photography and is actuated by a laudable ambition to attain the highest possible skill in that field. The steady progress that he has made has placed him with the leading photographers of southern Idaho.
DR. HENRY ARTHUR GROSSMAN.
Dr. Henry Arthur Grossman, optometrist of Boise, who has been continuously en- gaged in the practice of his profession for twenty years, was born in the state of New York, September 15, 1871, and was also reared in the Empire state. Following his removal westward he resided for fifteen years in Kansas City, Missouri, covering the period from 1900 until September, 1915, when he came to Boise, Idaho. He is a grad- uate of the Merry College of Optometry and also the Southwestern Optical College of Kansas City, Missouri, and for two decades has devoted his attention to practice. He also has a post-graduate certificate from the World's Optometry Congress of San Fran- cisco, where he was made a member of the scientific section of the congress, which was a feature of the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Dr. Grossman was sent as a dele- gate to this exposition from the Idaho State Association of Optometrists. His skill and ability in his profession are pronounced. He has studied broadly and is constantly promoting his knowledge through further reading and experience.
In Denver, Colorado, in 1894, Dr. Grossman was married to Miss Leefe Lula Fowler, a native of Tennessee, who was reared, however, in Ohio. They have three children: Grizelda, Alzena and Moritz. Mrs. Grossman is one of the lineal descendants of Sir Isaac Newcome, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Grossman has mem- bership with the Improved Order of Red Men and also in the Boise Commercial Club. He is likewise connected with the Hebrew Temple of Boise and Mrs. Grossman, although reared in the Gentile faith, has espoused the Jewish faith since her marriage. Dr. Grossman has no business interests outside of his profession, concentrating his efforts and attention upon his chosen life work, in which he has made substantial advance- ment.
COLONEL WILLIAM H. DEWEY.
Colonel William H. Dewey of Nampa, who has departed this life, was one of the builders of Idaho's greatness. His contributions to the work of development were real and creditable and his signal service was in the vigor he lent to the pioneer era in making this region habitable, in bringing its resources to light and in stamping his intensely practical ideas upon the constructive measures which have led to the up- building of the state. Such careers are too near us now for their significance to be appraised at its true value, but the future will be able to trace the tremendous effect of their labors upon the society and the institutions of their time. The possibilities of high position afforded in the United States to industry and fidelity were never better illustrated than in Colonel Dewey's case. He crossed the plains when a man of about forty years and thereafter bent his energies to constructive work in the de- velopment of Idaho.
Colonel Dewey was born in Massachusetts in 1822 and in 1863 came to the northwest, making his way first to Ruby City, Owyhee county. From that town he afterward removed to Silver City, where he spent many years in the boom mining days, contributing much to the utilization of the great mineral resources of that district and to the progress made in other directions. He at once saw the necessities and the opportunities of the state and in pioneer times became identified with trail
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building; and his labors were continued in accordance with the period of development until he was actively associated with railroad building. He regarded no project that would benefit his community too unimportant to receive his attention, nor did he hesitate to become identified with the most extensive interests. In pioneer times hie lahored in the development of the trails, later assisted in the building of wagon roads and finally of railroads. He was also closely associated with the development of mining interests and whatever he undertook seemed to he attended with prosperity and success.
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