History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II, Part 91

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 91

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EDWARD A. STRONG.

Edward A. Strong, editor and proprietor of the Power County News of Amer- ican Falls, was born at Lansing, Allamakee county, lowa, in February, 1871. He is a son of Harvey B. and Harriett (Smith) Strong, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and of Illinois respectively. The father was a carpenter by trade and at an

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early day removed to lowa, becoming a pilot on the Mississippi river, taking rafts down that stream before steamboats were used. He settled at Lansing, where he- resided until about 1899, when he came to Idaho and took up land in Fremont county, devoting his attention to general farming throughout his remaining days. He passed away at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife died in Novem- ber, 1917.

Edward A. Strong was reared and educated at Lansing, Iowa, and on the Pacific coast. He went to work in a printing office at the age of twelve years in Lansing, Iowa, securing a situation in the office of the Lansing Mirror. This paper was owned by his brother-in-law, G. W. Metcalf, who is still the proprietor. There Mr. Strong learned the trade and was employed on the Mirror for five years. It was on the expiration of that period that he made his way to the Pacific coast and worked on daily papers at Olympia, Tacoma and Spokane, Washington, for several years. His father then went to St. Anthony, Idaho, and Edward A. Strong joined him there and entered the employ of Wood Parker. He afterward purchased the Fremont County News and also published the Rigby Star and the Marysville Mirror. He continued the publication of the papers for several years and then sold, after which he returned to the coast. Later he became a resident of St. Anthony, Idaho, where he engaged in the cafe business for a time and in July, 1914, he removed to Amer- ican Falls and established the Power County News, which he has since published. He has a nicely equipped plant, with a linotype machine and all the facilities re- quired in newspaper publication and in general job work, and in the latter line he is accorded a liberal patronage, while the News also has a large circulation. Mr. Strong does not confine his attention absolutely to newspaper publication, how- ever, for the in the summer of 1919 he engaged in buying and selling hogs.

In 1904, at St. Anthony, Idaho, Mr. Strong was married to Miss Sarah Smith, a daughter of James Smith, and they have become the parents of three children: Harriett Elizabeth, Harvey Blaine and Alice Odette.

Fraternally Mr. Strong is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a democrat but cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison. Later he changed his views and has since supported democratic principles. His religious belief is that of the Baptist church. His salient characteristics are such as win for him warm regard and make for personal popularity. Starting out in the business world when but twelve years of age, he has since depended upon his own resources and his ad- vancement is the direct outcome of his persistent effort, his thoroughness and his laudable ambition.

FRANK KNOX.

The name of Knox has figured conspicuously upon the pages of Gem county's history from an early epoch in its development and Frank Knox, son of Douglas Knox, the pioneer, is a well known citizen of Emmett, where he is proprietor of the Russell House, the only commercial hotel in the town. In various other ways he figures prominently in the community, his sterling worth and his progressive- ness being recognized by all. He was born in the city of Boise, June 1, 1878, and is the youngest of the four sons of Douglas Knox of Emmett, whose residence in Idaho dates from 1864 and who is one of the oldest living pioneers of Gem county.

Frank Knox was reared largely upon his father's ranch a mile below Emmett and in the public schools acquired his education. For many years after reaching the age of eighteen he worked in various Idaho mines and also in the mines of Oregon and Washington. While still in the period of early manhood he also engaged in various other lines of business, being employed in the logging camps, in sawmills and in other ways. In fact he did almost everything that he could get to do that would yield him an honest living and it was not difficult for him to secure positions because of his adaptability, his efficiency and his honesty. Since 1911 he has been proprietor of the Russell House of Emmett and he is also the owner of a good retail store in the town, dealing in soft drinks, cigars and to- bacco, his store being in the Russell House.

In September, 1911, Mr. Knox was married to Mrs. Eva Thommen, of Emmett, who bore the maiden name of Eva Katzenmeyer and is a native of Freeport, Illi-

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nois. By her first marriage she had two children, Arnold and Margaritha, both of whom have reached adult age, and the son is now mining in Alaska, while the daughter is assistant cashier of the First Natonal Bank of Emmett.

Aside from the conduct of the hotel Mr. Knox is quite prominent in public affairs of his community. He is a member of and was the president of the Emmett Commercial Club and president of the Emmett Gun Club. He is likewise the secretary of the democratic central committee of Gem county, a position which he has filled for four years, and he is now serving as a member of the city council of Emmett. In Masonic circles he holds high rank, being a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine, and he has filled all of the offices in the blue lodge, being a past master of Butte Lodge, No. 37, while at the present writing he is senior grand deacon of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Idaho. He stands for advancement and progressiveness in all things and his labors have been an effective force in bringing about improvement and upbuilding along many lines that have proven of great worth to the community.

MAURICE H. TALLMAN, M. D.

Dr. Maurice H. Tallman, a practicing physician of Boise, was born in Kala- mazoo, Michigan, April 27, 1886, a son of James G. and Jennie B. (De Water) Tallman, both of whom are now residents of Boise. The son spent his boyhood and early youth in his native city and came with his parents to the Idaho capital in 1904. Here he entered the Boise high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906, and in the fall of that year he entered the medical department of the University of Iowa, for he had determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work. He completed the four years' course there and was graduated with honor as a member of the class of 1910.

Returning at once to Boise, Dr. Tallman opened an office and entered upon the practice of medicine, in which he has since continued, specializing in diagno- sis, and in this branch of professional work he is most careful and accurate. He has been absent from Boise only for fourteen months, which he spent in the United States army at Camp Pike, Little Rock, Arkansas, there remaining from the 1st of February, 1918, until the 1st of April, 1919. During the period of his war service he acted as a heart specialist until after the armistice was signed on the 11th of November, 1918, when he became chief medical examiner for Camp Pike with the rank of captain, thus continuing until honorably discharged on the 25th of March, 1919. He has done much post graduate work in New York city, Philadelphia and Chicago, specializing in all these different centers on diagnosis. He has a wide reputation in this particular and his patients come to him not only from all over Idaho but from all sections of the northwestern states. He belongs to the Ameri- can Medical Association, the Idaho State Medical Society and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States.

On the 1st of May, 1917, Dr. Tallman was married to Miss Gertrude Lossi, of Montana. They own and occupy one of the attractive homes in Boise, situated on Harrison boulevard, and in social circles they occupy an enviable position. Dr. Tallman belongs to the Boise Commercial Club, also to the Boise Elks Club and the Boise Country Club, and his personal qualities are those which make for popularity among all who know him.

REUBEN B. SHAW.

Reuben B. Shaw, who since January 1, 1916, has been the manager of the Emmett Fruit Growers Association and is individually interested in fruit raising, having a fine ranch east of Emmett, was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, December 17, 1871, his parents being Philip and Rebecca (Machlan) Shaw. The Shaw family is of Scotch lineage, while the Machlan family comes of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. Philip Shaw was also a native of Pennsylvania and went west as a missionary of the Church of God. In the year 1860 he established his home in Kansas and con- tinued his ministerial labors in that state, at the same time following agricultural

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pursuits there until his death, which occurred at Netawaka, Jackson county, Kan- sas, in 1884, when he was sixty-five years of age. His widow long survived him and became a resident of Nampa, Idaho, where her death occurred in 1908, when she had reached the notable old age of eighty-five years.

Their son, Reuben B. Shaw, was the youngest of a family of fourteen children and in the public schools of Netawaka, Kansas, he pursued his education to the age of fifteen years, when he started out to make his own way in the world. He ob- tained a position as operator and ticket agent at Courtland, Kansas, in the employ of the Rock Island Railroad, and for a long time was associated with railroading interests. He became a resident of Idaho in 1901, at which time he took up his abode in Pocatello, and in 1903 removed to Emmett as an employe of the Idaho Northern Railroad, being associated with that corporation until 1907. In the latter year he accepted the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Em- mett, which position he filled until January 1, 1916. He contributed in no small measure to the success and growth of the institution during that period and be- came one of its stockholders, but at length he disposed of his interests to accept the position of manager of the Emmett Fruit Growers Association, of which he had formerly been a director. He has also become personally interested in fruit rais- ing in Gem county and is now the owner of eighty acres pleasantly and conveniently situated three miles east of Emmett, and of this forty-five acres is planted to fruit.

On the 11th of June, 1893, Mr. Shaw was married at Archie, Cass county, Missouri, to Miss Ida E. Hiatt, who was born at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, a daughter of John A. Hiatt. They became the parents of a son, John E., who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 23, 1894, and is now engaged in railroad work at Emmett. At the age of twenty-one years he married Alice Lark, of Emmett, and they now have three children, Mary, Loraine and Keith.

Mr. Shaw is identified with Emmett Camp No. 243, M. W. A., and belongs also to the Commercial Club of Emmett, in which he has served on the executive board. He has likewise heen a member of the board of trustees of the Methodist church. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in 1910 was elected city treasurer of Emmett. He stands at all times for those interests and activities which have to do with the advancement and progress of his community and he is accounted one of the substantial and valued residents of Gem county.

FELIX VAN REUTH.

Felix van Reuth is a well known resident of Pocatello, where he has long made his home and where he is the owner of valuable property interests. A native of Holland, he was but four years of age when brought to America by his parents. They made their way first to Rio de Janeiro in South America, but the mother became ill there and they did not remain. Continuing their journey northward, they became residents of Hartford Road, Maryland, and soon after the close of the Civil war the family home was established in California, where Felix van Reuth engaged in mining until 1882. In that year he became a resident of Idaho, making his way to the Wood river during the mining excitement there. In the town of Ketchum on the Wood river he had consider- „able property, but when the excitement subsided he abandoned his interests, for which he received practically nothing.

Immediately after the admission of Idaho into the Union Mr. van Reuth became a resident of Pocatello and here invested in city property, of which he still retains a large amount, deriving therefrom a very substantial annual income. His investments were most judiciously placed and the natural rise in property values, owing to the growth and development of the city and surrounding country, has brought to him substantial wealth.

In Baltimore, Maryland, in 1895, Mr. van Reuth was married to Miss Josephine Schippeltz and they have become the parents of a daughter, Albine, who is a corre- spondent for the Ryan Fruit Company. She is also a talented musician and accom- plished pianist and is a graduate of the Technical College of Pocatello. Mr. van Reuth's interest centers in his family and he finds his chief joy and pleasure at his own fireside. He has a nephew, Floris C. van Reuth, who is in the radio service of the United States navy as a chief, while another nephew is a member of the United States army.

Mr. van Reuth gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and was for

FELIX VAN REUTH

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two years a member of the city council of Pocatello, thus serving in 1885 and 1886. He was then elected justice of the peace and occupied that position for twelve years, discharging his duties with marked capability and promptness, his decisions heing the expression of absolute justice and equity. Mr. van Reuth has a wide acquaintance in Pocatello and the surrounding country and everywhere is spoken of in terms of the highest regard.

HOMER J. WEAVER.

Homer J. Weaver is occupying a beautiful home at Filer which stands as a monument to the enterprise and business ability that he has always manifested. He is prominently identified with farming interests in this section of the state, is also connected with banking and in everything that he undertakes he displays that determination and energy which produce success. Mr. Weaver is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred at Galion on the 22d of December, 1878, his parents being John and Emily S. (Reed) Weaver. His boyhood days were passed in the Buck- eye state and he is indebted to the public school system for the early educational advantages which he enjoyed, while later he attended the, Spencerian Commercial School of Cleveland. When his textbooks were put aside he entered commer- cial circles in connection with the grain and seed husiness in Ohio and was thus engaged for seven years. The opportunities of the northwest attracted him, how- ever, and in 1911 he made his way to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he engaged in the real estate business, operating both at Twin Falls and at Filer. Subsequently he removed to Filer, where he opened a real estate office, and through the inter- vening period he has conducted many important realty transfers. He also be- came a factor in banking circles as one of the directors of the First National Bank. He likewise owns and cultivates a section of land in the vicinity of Filer, devoted to the raising of sheep and to the production of large crops of potatoes. . His va- rious interests, including farming, banking and real estate activity, are all prov- ing sources of continued success.

In 1899 Mr. Weaver was married to Miss Donna E. Evans, a native of Galion, Ohio, and a daughter of Abraham and Margaret Evans. They have one child, Walter E., and the family is most pleasantly situated in an attractive home sup- plied with all the conveniences and comforts of life. In his political views Mr. Weaver has always been a democrat since reaching adult age and has filled the office of highway commissioner. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while in Masonry he has attained the Knight Templar degree, being a faithful follower of the craft, and is a member of the El Korah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Boise. His life has ever heen actuated by high and honorable prin- ciples and his success is the expression of a laudable ambition supplemented hy indefatigahle energy.

S. HENRY LAIRD.

S. Henry Laird, postmaster of American Falls, whose business activities have carried him into various sections of the country and brought him wide experiences, was born at McPherson, Kansas, September 18, 1877, his parents heing William H. and Lydia F. (Allen) Laird, who were natives of Illinois. The father was a butcher hy trade and upon leaving Illinois removed to McPherson county, Kansas, in 1877, becoming one of the first settlers of that district. There he established and con- ducted a meat market in the town of McPherson and also took up a homestead claim, carrying on both lines of business until 1888. He then went to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he established a meat market which he conducted throughout his remaining days, his death occurring August 10, 1900. His widow is still living and now makes her home in Cerrillos, New Mexico.

S. Henry Laird was largely reared and educated in New Mexico, where he attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Mesilla Park. He left college in order to join the American army for service in the Spanish-American war. He was stationed in Cuba from November until January and was with the troops alto- gether for eleven months. He then returned home and took up railroad work,

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learning telegraphy. He became operator and station agent and was thus em- ployed until 1906 by the Santa Fe Railroad Company. He next engaged in the confectionery business at Durango, Mexico, and conducted his store at that point until 1909, when he sold his interests there and returned to the States just before the outbreak of the Mexican trouble. On the 16th of September, 1909, he came to Idaho and at Pocatello entered the employ of the Oregon Short Line Railroad as operator, thus continuing for six months. He was then made agent at American Falls and occupied the position until 1913, when he was appointed postmaster and has since served in that capacity. When the armistice was signed on the 11th of November, 1918, thus terminating active hostilities with Germany, he was at the officers' training school at Camp McArthur. One of his employes was in five bat- tles in Europe.

On the 1st of January, 1900, Mr. Laird was married to Miss Charlotte M. Thompson and to them have been born four children: Hugh H., Elizabeth M., Charlotte and Patricia. The family occupies a pleasant home at American Falls and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their ever increasing circle of friends. In addition to this property Mr. Laird owns farm land, having six hundred and forty acres in Power county, which he personally cultivates, employing men to do much of the active work of the fields.

Fraternally Mr. Laird is connected with the Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. He has always voted with the democratic party since attaining adult age and is a stalwart champion of its principles. His religious belief is that of the Presbyterian chruch and his faith constitutes the guiding principle of his life. His experiences have been broad and varied and his stalwart American spirit was manifest not only in his service in the Spanish-American war but also in his effort to join the army during the recent war although past mil- itary age. He stands at all times for those things which are most worth while in the public life of the community, of the commonwealth and the country and be- lieves in the closest adherence to American ideals.

ALVIN EDGAR WISMER.

Alvin Edgar Wismer, who is the owner of a well appointed drug store on Broadway in Buhl, comes to Idaho from the neighboring country of Canada, his birth having occurred at Elmira, Waterloo county, Ontario, on the 3d of January, 1874, his parents being Isaac and Susanna (Snyder) Wismer. There were no un- usual events that occurred to vary the routine of life for him in his boyhood days. He continued a resident of Canada until seventeen years of age, when in 1891 he left that country and crossed the border into the United States, making his way to Osceola county, Iowa. He was connected with the drug business at Hartley, that state, for a short time and afterward removed to Independence, Iowa, where he also was employed in a drug store. He later became a resident of Sheldon, Iowa, and eventually of Council Bluffs, and for a time he was a student in the College of Pharmacy at Des Moines. He then went to Sibley, Iowa, where he conducted a drug store, and from that point removed to Little Rock in the same state. His next removal took him to Bancroft, South Dakota, and for two years he was upon the road as a traveling salesman for the Iowa Drug Company.

In March, 1909, Mr. Wismer arrived at Buhl, Idaho, and for a short time was engaged in ranching in this state, but, preferring commercial pursuits, he then became connected with the Elison Drug Company of Buhl, with which he was asso- ciated for four years. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business on his own account and is now conducting a good drug store on Brodaway. His long experience has well qualified him for the successful management of a business of this character. He carries a large line of drugs and druggists' sundries sent out by the leading manufacturers of the country and his trade has reached gratify- ing proportions.

In 1898 Mr. Wismer was married to Miss Madeline Elsie Graeves, a native of Little Rock, Iowa, and a daughter of Walter and Clara (Reynolds) Graeves. On leaving the Hawkeye state her parents removed with their family to Idaho, settling at Grangeville, and afterward removing to Buhl, where the father passed away

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about four years ago but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Wismer have a tamily of five children: Merle, Edna, Jean, Edgar and Donald.

In the exercise of his right of franchise Mr. Wismer supports the democratic party. He is well known in fraternal circles, having membership with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows, and he is always loyal to the teachings and purposes of these different organizations.

M. P. CONWAY.

M. P. Conway is a retired farmer living in Caldwell. Activity and enterprise, intelligently directed, brought him success in connection with his former labors and his prosperity was sufficient to enable him now to live retired in the enjoy- ment in all of the necessities and comforts and some of the luxuries of life. Mr. Conway was horn in Montreal, Canada, January 31, 1846. His father was Thomas Conway, a native of Tipperary county, Ireland, who came with his parents to the new world, the family home being established in Montreal, where he later engaged in the grocery business. He married Alice Dee, who was born in County Water- ford, Ireland, their marriage being celebrated in Montreal.

M. P. Conway pursued his education in his native city and there took up the study of telegraphy. He worked for a time as a telegrapher in Canada and after- ward went to Utah to become an operator on the Oregon Short Line Rallroad. He remained in that state for more than eleven years in the employ of that com- pany and in 1882 came to Idaho as representative for the Oregon Short Line Rail- road, continuing in the employ of that corporation until 1887. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and a timber culture claim of forty acres at Notus. A year later water was put upon the land by the Sebree Ditch Company and he at once began the transformation of the raw tract of land into productive fields. He and his family passed through all of the hardships attendant upon frontier life in the early days but as the years passed success attended their efforts and substantial crops brought them well deserved prosperity. Four years ago Mr. Conway rented the farm and now resides in an attractive home in Caldwell at No. 1207 Arthur street.

It was on the 23d of June, 1873, in New York city, that Mr. Conway was united in marriage to Miss Frances Harriet Spurge, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of Robert Selling and Frances Harriet (Kott) Spurge, both of whom were natives of England, having been born near Cambridge. Coming to America in 1850, they settled in New York city. Mrs. Conway's father was a major in the Civil war, serving throughout the entire struggle. He afterward became a manufacturer of umbrellas and parasols in Philadelphia and then went to New York city, where he engaged in the music business.

To Mr. and Mrs. Conway were born ten children. Thomas W., forty-five years of age, married Mabel Owens and has six children, Robert William, Valeda, Edith, Eileen, Edward and Edmond Quintan. Adella Marie is the wife of Lusta O'Hara. Robert Michael, thirty-nine years of age, married Frances Parrish and has one child, Lavina. Alice D. is the wife of Wesley Shaver and has three children, two of whom were born of her first marriage to Benjamin Pugsley. Susan Ellen is the wife of Edward Harper and has seven children, Harvey, Dudley, Leroy, Mina, Johnnie, Samuel and Ellen. Edward Harvey was a corporal in the Engineers Corps with the Canadian troops in the great World war and now resides in New Westminster, British Columbia. Frances Harriet is the wife of Fred Hultz and has two children, Harold and Herbert, their home being at Notus. Joseph James, thirty-one years of age, married Margaret Tolmie, and they have a daughter, Allie. Eugene Lewis, twenty-six years of age, married Marie Pennington and they have a son, Edmund Eugene. Mary Frances became the wife of Ross L. Dement and passed away leaving two sons, Oscar Lafayette and Robert Ross. Edmund, twenty- two years of age, was killed November 1, 1918, in the Argonne-Meuse battle in France. He was a member of Company D of the Second Engineers Corps and was a corporal. He had been gassed in the battle of Chateau Thierry and in the Ar- gonne-Meuse he was killed by a seventy-seven shell while carrying a rock to fill up a shell hole so that the artillery could advance. He was fearfully lacerated and died almost immediately, first, however, giving an order to his men to get under , cover. He was a splendid specimen of young American manhood and today lies

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II, Part 91

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1024