History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II, Part 98

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

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allotment in the Boise National Reserve, where he now ranges his stock. This was his worst experience in the stock business. Resolute and determined, however, he has overcome difficulties and disadvantages and as the years have passed has made steady progress in a business way, being now one of the substantial farmers and stockmen living in the vicinity of Eagle.

WILLIAM C. HARROUN.

William C. Harroun, who follows farming at Declo in Cassia county, was born in Mercer county, Illinois, May 21, 1866, and is a son of Joseph E. and Margaret A. (Will- itts) Harroun, the former a native of Wisconsin, while the latter was born in Indiana. After spending his boyhood days in the Badger state Joseph E. Harroun removed to Illinois when a young man and there engaged in teaching school. He also took up the occupation of farming and was thus identified with the agricultural development of that state until the spring of 1880, when he came to the northwest, making Albion, Idaho, his destination. For a time he was there employed in the government land office and afterward he became probate judge, filling the position for a number of years. The recognition of his ability on the part of his fellowmen led to his selection for the office of state superintendent of schools of Idaho and he thus served for one term, mak- ing his home in Boise during that period. He subsequently returned to Albion, where he again engaged in ranching and farming. Later he removed to Idaho Falls, where he continued to reside until the time of his return to Cassia county, where he passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1901. Mr. Harroun gave his political support to the republican party and fraternally he was identified with both Masons and the Odd Fellows.

William C. Harroun remained a resident of Illinois to the age of fourteen years and then accompanied his parents to Albion, Idaho. He continued his education in the public schools of that place and after his textbooks were put aside concentrated his efforts and energies upon farming and stock raising. In 1911 he went to Fresno, California, where he remained for a year and on the expiration of that period began ranching at Marsh Lake, Idaho. In 1915 he removed to Declo and purchased his pres- ent home farm of eighty acres, on which he has since erected new buildings, and through the intervening period of five years he has continued to reside upon this place. . He is now devoting his attention largely to sheep raising and at present runs two bands of sheep.

In 1886 Mr. Harroun was married to Miss Ella Brim who was born near Salt Lake City, Utah, her parents being Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brim. Mr. and Mrs. Harroun have become the parents of three children: Mabel, now the wife of Judge Stevens; Vern. the wife of E. C. Warren; and Jay E., at home.

Mr. Harroun is a stalwart advocate of republican principles, believing that the party platform contains the best elements of good government. He served as deputy sheriff under J. E. Burke at Albion but otherwise has not sought nor filled public office, concentrating his attention instead upon his business affairs.

HARRY W. HALL.

Harry W. Hall, who since January 1, 1918, has been the efficient and popular mana- ger of the Bannock Hotel, formerly owned by the late United States Senator James H. Brady, was born in Calais, Maine, in 1879. He pursued his education in Westbrook Seminary at Deering, Maine, a suburb of Portland, and was there graduated in 1899. He next engaged in the hotel business in Boston until 1900, when he removed west- ward to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and for a year was connected with the Minneapolis Club. In 1901 he went to Spokane, Washington, and was connected with the Spokane Hotel for a year, returning then to Minneapolis, where he was employed by the Com- mercial Club. On leaving that position he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained for nine months in connection with the Blatz Hotel, and on the expira- tion of that period he became connected with the Windsor-Clifton of Chicago.

In 1906 Mr. Hall arrived in Idaho, settling at American Falls, where he opened the Remmington Hotel, of which he was in charge for five years. He later became

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manager of the Rogerson Hotel at Twin Falls, continuing there for two years, after which he managed the Willard Hotel at St. Paul for one year and later the Colonial Hotel at Rock Island, Illinois, remaining there for fifteen months. At Breckenridge, Minnesota, he was in charge of the Stratford Hotel for one year and later returned to Idaho, where he opened the Eccles Hotel at Blackfoot, remaining as manager for a year. At the wish of Senator Brady, who purchased the Bannock Hotel and desired that his friend, Harry W. Hall, should conduct it, the latter came to Pocatello, taking over the hotel, which he renovated and remodeled both upstairs and down, putting in extra baths and changing the old ones to those of modern type. He conducts the hotel on a strictly commercial basis and has one of the attractive hostelries of the state. The lobby is all in tile, the stairway in marble and in both lobby and dining room the paneling is of oak. Under the management of Mr. Hall the Bannock has become one of the best, most modern and most popular resorts in the state. He is a genial host, carefully looking after the comfort and welfare of his guests, and it is conceded that no one more thoroughly understands the hotel business than does Harry W. Hall. His experiences have been wide and varied in many of the leading hotels of the coun- try and Pocatello is fortunate in having him as the manager of the Bannock Hotel.

In 1903 Mr. Hall was married in Walla Walla, Washington, to Mrs. Nellie J. McComb. He had a brother, Frank Hall, who served for three years with the Canadian forces in the great World war until finally he was discharged on account of the im- paired condition of his health and he died at Colorado Springs, Colorado, February 2, 1920.

In his political views Harry W. Hall is a republican and fraternally he is con- nected with both the Masons and the Elks. A genial disposition and unfeigned cor- diality, coupled with marked business enterprise and progressiveness, have placed him in the enviable position which he occupies in hotel circles of the country.

PETER NETH.

An arduous but an inspiring task awaited the efforts of progressive business men who turned their attention to the development of Canyon county. Among this num- ber is Peter Neth, who is now giving his attention to general farming and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 7, 1852, and there attended school to the age of fourteen years, when he began learn- ing the hat maker's trade, which he followed in Germany until he reached the age of nineteen. He then came to America, landing at New York, and for one year worked as a laborer in the iron mines at Silver Lake, New York. He afterward secured em- ployment in connection with the butchering business in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he continued for five years and seven months. He later spent one year in the same business in Rome, New York, and then started for the west, with Nevada as his desti- nation. He engaged in the butchering business at Paradise Valley and at other points in the state for two years, after which he came to Idaho, going first to Silver City and then to Boise. When he left Nevada it was through snow drifts seven feet deep and on arriving in the Boise valley he found cherries ripe on the trees on the 26th of May, 1880.

In the city of Boise Mr. Neth worked for John Lemp in a brewery for two years and then went to Middleton, where he conducted a liquor business with Mr. Lemp. In 1886 he purchased his present ranch property of one hundred and twenty acres near Middleton, upon which he has since resided, he and his family occupying the second house which he built on this property and which is a fine residence. He , hauled the lumber from Dry Buck, Idaho, when lumber was selling for six dollars per thousand. In 1888 he planted five acres to prunes, cherries, apples and pears, which he ships quite extensively. His barns and outbuildings are in keeping with the attractive residence and everything about his place is in excellent condition. He also raises fine bred Durham cattle for beef. While his farm was mostly in sage- brush when it came into his possession, he has brought it to a high state of cultiva- tion. He has likewise conducted a butchering business, but in the last few years has not followed that line.

In 1884 Mr. Neth was married to Miss Mary M. Alchenberger, of Switzerland, who came to America in 1878, the wedding being celebrated in Middleton. They have become parents of four children: Hilton P., thirty-four years of age, who is mar-

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ried and is in business as a lumber cruiser with the Blakeley Lumber Company of Washington; Arthur Raymond, thirty-two years of age, who is married and is a gradu- ate electrician from Bliss College of Washington, D. C., his home being now in the state of Washington; Lena Rose, the wife of Roy V. Ashman, of Middleton, who is a graduate of Stanford University of California; and Charles, twenty years of age, who was graduated in pharmacy.

There is no phase of Idaho's development and upbuilding with which Mr. Neth is not thoroughly familiar, as he went through all the hardships of the frontier days, and with the passing years he has borne his part in the work of later development and upbuilding.

CARL E. LIND.

Carl E. Lind, conducting business at Twin Falls under the name of the Lind Auto- mobile Company, of which he is sole proprietor, was born in Wisner; Nebraska, January 6, 1879, his parents being A. E. and Sarah (Dahlsten) Lind. His boyhood days were spent in the usual manner of the farmbred boy. Throughout his youth he lived upon a farm in Nebraska and pursued his education in the public schools and in the Luther College at Wahoo, Nebraska, from which institution he was graduated in 1898. He then returned to the farm but in 1900 engaged in the hardware and implement business at Newman Grove, Nebraska, where he remained until the fall of 1907.

It was at that date that Mr. Lind came to Twin Falls, Idaho, bringing with him the first automobile in the town, a two-cylinder Buick. In 1909 he built the first garage at Twin Falls, handling the Buick cars, which he had previously handled in Nebraska. In the fall of 1917 he erected his present building, which is one of the finest garages in the west. It has a terracotta front and has complete equipment for doing all kinds of repair work on cars. He has attained expert skill in this connection and his business has developed to large and gratifying proportions.

In' 1900 Mr. Lind was married to Miss Emelia Nelson, a daughter of Peter and Annie (Olson) Nelson. She was born in Smoland, Sweden, and was brought to the United States when but six months old by her parents, who settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, where her father took up the occupation of farming, there carrying on agricultural pursuits until 1894. In that year the family removed to Newman Grove, Nebraska, where her father again carried on farming and where both he and his wife passed away. It was there that Mrs. Lind formed the acquaintance of her future husband. By their marriage they have become the parents of two children, Helen and Lillian.

In his political views Mr. Lind is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and to its teachings he is most loyal. High and honorable principles have guided his life in every relation and the integrity and enterprise of his business career have heen dominant factors in winning him success.

WILLIAM H. JOHNS.

William H. Johns is a retired farmer living at Meridian and is also a veteran of the Civil war, having fought for the defense of the Union that this country might not be divided. He was born in Morgan county, Indiana, August 9, 1847, and is a son of Shadrach Brown and Nancy (Wheeler) Johns, who were also natives of the Hoosier state. The father was born in Morgan county, Indiana, and became a well known farmer and business man. He was married twice, his first wife being Nancy Wheeler, and following her death he wedded Minerva Lyon. By the first marriage there were three children, of whom William H. is the eldest and the only son. There were also two sons and a daughter born of the father's second marriage.

William H. Johns accompanied his parents on their removal from Indiana to War- ren county, Iowa, when he was four years of age, or in 1851. His youth was spent in that state and in northwestern Missouri, and in the fall of 1860 the family returned to Warren county, Iowa, while two years later William H. Johns again went to In- diana. He was then fourteen years of age. His father had passed away in Iowa in April, 1862, and as there was some disagreement between Mr. Johns and his step-

CARL E. LIND

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mother, he went back to his native state. On the 4th of October, 1864, when a youth of but seventeen years, he joined the Union army as a member of Company B, First Indiana Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of the war, being hon- · orably discharged at Mobile, Alabama, on the 4th of October, 1865. From that date until 1868 he resided in Owen county, Indiana, and afterward spent about twelve years in Nodaway county, Missouri, where he followed farming, teaming and contracting. Subsequently he was in Denver, Colorado, from the early '80s until 1890 and then removed to Ogden, Utah, spending five years in that city and vicinity. In 1900 he came to Idaho, living upon a ranch near Parma in Canyon county for three years, at the end of which time he sold the property. He afterward spent three years on a ranch near Caldwell, Idaho, and later lived for eight years on a ranch near Cambridge, Wash- ington county. For his ranch of one hundred and sixty acres there he paid twenty- one hundred dollars and after occupying and cultivating it for eight years he sold the property for ten thousand, seven hundred dollars. He then removed to Meridian in 1911 and has since lived retired from active business. However, after selling his one hundred and sixty acre ranch he purchased three hundred and twenty acres eight miles east of Cambridge, Idaho, but never lived upon it and afterward sold it but still has a mortgage upon the property. He is now financially independent, enjoying a good income from his various investments.

In Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1874, Mr. Johns was first married and by that marriage there were two sons and two daughters, namely: Frank, living in Malheur county, Oregon; Robert Earl, of Parma, Idaho; Ellen, who married a Mr. Boyenger and afterward became the wife of John Jensen; and Mrs. Eva Pyle, of Portland, Ore- gon. It was in Caldwell, Idaho, on the 29th of December, 1901, that Mr. Johns wedded Hesevie Jensen, a native of Denmark, and they have two children: Wade H., born November 14, 1905; and Esther, born March 13, 1912.

Mr. and Mrs. Johns are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, having been initiated into the order at Quitman, Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1871. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as justice of the peace at Meridian. He is now enjoying a well deserved rest. His former enterprise and activities brought to him a substantial measure of success that enables him to live retired without recourse to further work in order to meet life's demands. In fact he is able to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and his record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can be accomplished through individual effort.

JOHN F. NORTON.

John F. Norton, living four miles east of Idaho Falls, was born at Lehi, Utah, April 27, 1860, and is a son of James W. and Nancy (Hammer) Norton, who were natives of New York. The father was a mason by trade and in 1850 went to Utah, settling at Salt Lake. A few years afterward he removed to Lehi, Utah, where he worked at his trade for a number of years but finally purchased land and for many years carried on general farming. He eventually retired from active business life and made his home with his sons throughout his remaining days, passing away February 7, 1897. His wife died in August, 1898.

John F. Norton was reared and educated in Lehi, Utah, and remained at home until he reached the age of seventeen years, after which he traveled to a considerable extent looking for a favorable location. In 1884 he made his way to Bingham county, Idaho, settling in that section which upon a division of the county became Bonneville county. Here he took up his present farm as a homestead claim and at once began the arduous task of converting a tract of hitherto wild land, covered with sagebrush. into rich and fertile fields. He has since put it in good shape, there being many im- provements upon it, and his fields are now returning to him a very substantial in- come. He has sold some of the land at a good profit.

On the 14th of February, 1885, Mr. Norton was married to Miss Margaret Williams and to them have been born five children: Charles LeRoy, who is farming in Bonne- ville county and who married Letty Phillips, their children being Margaret, Gene, Irma and one who died in infancy; John W., who is sheriff of Bonneville county and is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Katherine M., the wife of G. I. Clift, of Idaho

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Falls: Jennie, the wife of Walter Clement, a farmer near Lewisville, Idaho; and Frank- lin T., at home, who married Lula Kingham and has one child, Dale.

In religious belief Mr. Norton is connected with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He filled a mission of two years in the northwestern states, was Sunday school superintendent for two years and ward teacher for three years. Po- litically he is a democrat but has never been an aspirant for public office, prefer- ring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and his duties in the church.

ARTHUR DANIEL NORTON.

Arthur Daniel Norton, now deceased, was a merchant and stockman of Kimberly, Twin Falls county, who occupied an enviable position in business circles by reason of his progressiveness and enterprise, which enabled him to win substantial success. He was born in Elba, Genesee county, New York, August 17, 1841, his parents being Henry B. and Fidelia (Mills) Norton. His boyhood was passed in the place of his nativity and his early education was there acquired, while later he attended the Briggs Academy and afterward became a student in the university at Rochester, New York. He was there graduated in 1864, after having devoted two years to the study of medicine.

One cannot over estimate the opportunities offered in the west, for to the less thickly settled country the progressive men of the east can bring their ideas and put them into practical execution. It is this limitless opportunity that has drawn so many capable men from the Atlantic coast to the great district west of the Mississippi. In 1867 Mr. Norton removed to Emporia, Kansas, and later made his way to Fort Leavenworth, that state, where he organized a company of men who with mule teams drove across the country to Colorado. They took a circuitous route in order to secure their safety, but were several times attacked by Indians, who, however, were driven off. Later Mr. Norton operated a ranch in Colorado and removed to Salt Lake City the year after the railroad was built through that section of the country. He was afterward engaged with Mr. Robinson in freighting with teams through Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, and thus with every phase of western development and progress he became familiar. He next turned his attention to merchandising, which he carried on at the mouth of Dry Creek, Idaho, near Murtaugh. There he conducted his store for a time but afterward sold out and went to Texas, where he purchased cattle, which he drove across the country to Idaho. He then located on his ranch on Cottonwood creek and engaged in cattle raising throughout his remaining days. As he prospered in his undertakings he purchased other ranch property and became one of the promi- nent and successful ranchmen and cattle raisers of his section of the state. He passed away on one of his ranches at Rock Creek in May, 1906. During his later years he was associated with his hrother, L. H. Norton, who had come to Idaho after his brother arrived in this state. Arthur D. Norton was one of the organizers and first vice presi- dent of the Bank of Kimberly and also operated a store there.

On the 31st of March, 1885, Mr. Norton was married to Miss Mary E. Youngs, a daughter of Ogden D. and Emma C. (Norton) Youngs and a native of Stillman Valley, Illinois. Her father was born in Cleveland, Ohio, while her mother's birth occurred in Varysburg, New York. The father removed westward when a young man in com- pany with his father's family, settling at White Rock, Illinois, where he purchased land and built a log house on the edge of the timber, taking active part in the pioneer development of that section. He improved his farm, bringing the land to a high state of cultivation, and in that section of Illinois the grandparents and the father of Mrs. Norton all passed away. Her mother afterward came to the west and lived with her children, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. R. Smith, at Twin Falls, Idaho, at the notable old age of ninety-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Norton were born three children: Alice, who is the wife of James A. Walker and resides on the old home ranch; Bertha, who was at one time a teacher in the Hawaiian islands and was en- gaged in war work in New York city during the period of the recent conflict with Germany; and Daniel, who is living on a ranch near Rock Creek, Idaho. Mrs. Nor- ton yet makes her home at Twin Falls, living in Justamere Inn, and is one of the highly esteemed ladies of this section of the state.

The memory of Mr. Norton is yet revered and cherished by many who knew him because he made for himself a creditable position in business circles and because his

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entire life measured up to high standards of manhood and citizenship. His record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can be accomplished through individual effort. He worked diligently and persistently as the years passed by, care- fully utilized the opportunities that others neglected and became one of the successful business men of Idaho through his operations as a merchant and dealer in live stock.

BARRY DIBBLE.

Barry Dibble, project manager of the Minidoka project of the United States recla- mation service, with office at Burley, Idaho, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and spent his boyhood days in that city in the home of his parents, Charles A. and Julia (Barry) Dibble, who are now residents of Redlands, California. His early educational advantages were those offered by the public schools and he afterward attended the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, where he was graduated on the completion of a course in electrical engineering with the class of 1903. He was then employed on electric railroad and lighting systems and in connection with water and steam power plants, working at various times in St. Louis, Cincinnati and Shawinigan Falls in Quebec, Canada, while later he was again.at St. Paul and at Minneapolis. In 1909 he entered the reclamation service of the country and was assigned to duty at the Los Angeles office, being attached to the office of the chief electrical engineer of that service. In 1910 he was transferred to the Minidoka project, in charge of the power and pumping system, and in January, 1916, was made manager at Rupert, where he con- tinued for a year. In 1917 he removed to Burley, where he has since remained, being now project manager of the Minidoka project of the United States reclamation serv- ice. He has been a most thorough and discriminating student of every phase of the work and his broad experience and comprehensive labors enable him to speak with authority upon many questions of vital import in connection with the irrigation of the arid lands of the west.

In 1907 Mr. Dibble was united in marriage to Miss Belle Butler, a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Marsden F. and Ada (Plummer) Butler. The children of this marriage are seven in number: Elizabeth H., Ada P., Barry, Mary B., Evelyn, Edward F. and Charles G. Mr. and Mrs. Dibble occupy an enviable position in social circles and their own home is most attractive by reason of its warm-hearted hospitality.

Fraternally Mr. Dibble is a Mason and in his political views is a republican. His activity and interests, however, center along professional and kindred lines. He is a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, of the American Society of Civil Engineers and of the American Geographical Society. He was also a member of the International Engineering Congress of 1915, was the vice president of the Idaho Irrigation Congress and was formerly the president of the Idaho Society of Engineers. These connections indicate his high professional standing and the efficiency which he has attained through liberal educational training, through wide reading and broad experience.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II, Part 98

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