USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 99
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JAMES F. WALKER.
James F. Walker, now a prominent stockman residing at Oakley, has been a resi- dent of Idaho from the age of fifteen years and is therefore throughly imbued with the spirit of western enterprise and progress and, moreover, has been a witness of much of the development and upbuilding of the state. He was born upon a farm near Des Moines, Iowa, in March, 1861, and is a son of David and Eliza Jane (Fan- ning) Walker. The father was born in South Carolina in 1838, while the mother's birth occurred in Missouri in November, 1841. They removed to the west in 1863, settling in the Payette valley of Idaho, making the trip with ox teams. There they conducted a road house for two years and afterward removed to Montana, where the father engaged in the raising of live stock. For ten years he continued in the busi- ness in that state, after which he decided to locate in Idaho and drove his cattle across the country to Goose creek in Cassia county, then a part of Owyhee county. This was in the year 1875. He took up government land, which he at once began to im- prove and develop, and he likewise followed the stock business. In 1877 he planted about
Vol. 11-53
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one hundred and seventy-five acres to grain and he had to sit up many nights with a shotgun in order to keep the rabbits away, so numerous were they; and even then they destroyed about forty acres of his crop. All of the hardships and privations of pioneer life had to be endured. Not only did the family suffer with the pest of rab- bits but the Indians came into this part of the state and the Walker family with others were forced to leave their ranch for some time or until the Indians had passed on, rendering life safe in this district. On their return they found that no damage had been done to their ranch except that some stock had been killed for food. The father remained on Goose creek and continued actively in the raising of live stock until he retired from business life. He passed away in 1913, at the age of seventy-five years, and is still survived by his widow, who makes her home with her son, James, and who is now seventy-six years of age.
James F. Walker came to the west with his parents and was fifteen years of age when the family arrived in Idaho. He was educated in the public schools of the va- rious places in which the family resided and he has shared with the others in all of the conditions and experiences brought about through residence on the frontier. He has lived to witness many changes in Idaho, having spent practically his entire life in the locality in which he still resides. He has always followed the live stock busi- ness and today is one of the most prominent stockmen in his part of the country. He has developed his interests to extensive proportions and is accounted one of the most accurate judges of live stock to be found in this part of Idaho. He handles stock of high grade and has done not a little to improve the stock produced in this section of the state, thereby contributing much to the prosperity of Idaho in general. When he came to this state with his parents, theirs was the only ranch house on Goose creek besides a stage station and a small frame house. The old overland stage line ran through the Goose Creek country, so that travelers occasionally made their way through the district. Mr. Walker now has his old eighty-acre ranch on Goose creek, which he entered from the government and which is situated at the edge of Oakley, the town having steadily grown in that direction. He also has a stock ranch of one hundred and sixty 'acres south of the town, which was taken up from the government by other parties and which he later purchased. He has also owned and operated different ranches which were later sold again. Thus at different times he has bought and sold property and in all such real estate transactions has usually won a fair profit. His keen business sagacity has enabled him to readily recognize the opportunities of a business situation and his efforts have been so wisely and intelligently directed that success in substantial measure has rewarded his industry.
In 1884 Mr. Walker was married to Miss Emily Severe, a daughter of Harrison and Dorothy Severe, who removed westward to Utah from Illinois, and the father devoted his life to farming. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Walker was celebrated at Grantsville, Utah. They have no children of their own but have reared two adopted children, Cora Brackett and Anona Belle.
In politics Mr. Walker is a republican and has served as county commissioner for two terms. He is keenly interested in the vital political problems of the day and stands loyally for any cause which he espouses. His aid and influence can be counted upon to further all plans and projects which he deems of essential value to the com- munity and he is one of those broad-minded and progressive men who find time for the performance of all duties of citizenship and at the same time are most capable in the conduct of their business affairs-affairs which constitute contributing forces to the prosperity and upbuilding of the state at large.
ISAAC N. PAYNTER.
Isaac N. Paynter, a dealer in furs, hides and poultry in Caldwell, was born in Bote- tourt county, Virginia, October 22, 1847, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Wood) Paynter, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia, to which state Mr. Paynter removed in early life. In 1859 their son, Isaac N. Paynter, became a resi- dent of Cedar county, Missouri, where he followed the occupation of farming until 1871. He then went to Texas, where he was employed as a cowboy on the range for a year.
In March, 1872, Mr. Paynter arrived in the Boise valley of Idaho. Through the succeeding winter he worked for John Hailey, one of Idaho's famous oldtime stage drivers and operators, and in the following spring he began teaching school, which
ISAAC N. PAYNTER
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profession he followed for two years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to farming and stock raising and devoted twenty years of his life to agricul- tural interests. In 1906 he established a feed business, which he later sold and turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business, in which he continued for two years. At the end of that time he began dealing in furs, hides and poultry and through the intervening period has met with substantial prosperity.
In 1876 Mr. Paynter was married to Miss Alice May Ward, of Caldwell, and to them have been born the following children: Thomas C., who was killed in 1897, when on a hunting trip, his death being a mystery, although it is supposed he was murdered; Charles S., who is employed by the Caldwell Traction Company, is married and has two children; William N., who was a member of the United States army during the great war; George Wesley, also with the Caldwell Traction Company; Mary E., the wife of E. N. Brown, a farmer; and Alpha M., the wife of Roy Titus, who was in the army, being stationed at Camp Lewis, Washington.
In politics Mr. Paynter is a republican and for three terms served as a member of the city council, during which time the first street paving was done in Caldwell, his aid and influence being on the side of this progressive movement. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Mount Marie Lodge, No. 39, and he is known as a worthy and exemplary representative of the craft. His life has been one of indus- try, crowned with a substantial measure of success.
HARVEY B. POWERS.
While for many years Harvey B. Powers was actively identified with farming interests, he is now living retired in Meridian. He came to Idaho from northern Mis- souri in 1901 and has since made his home in or near Meridian, having erected his present attractive two-story brick residence in 1903, taking possession thereof in the fall of that year. At that time it was the only brick dwelling in the town, and while several others have since been built, it remains as the best brick dwelling of Meridian.
Mr. Powers came to Idaho from Illinois, his birth having occurred upon a farm in Putnam county, that state, November 23, 1842, his parents being Elisha Goodwin and Elizabeth (Snedaker) Powers, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in Ohio. The father's birth occurred March 8, 1811, and it was in 1837, in Putnam ' county, Illinois, that he wedded Elizabeth Snedaker, who was born October 12, 1810, in Brown county, Ohio. She was a daughter of John Snedaker, a native of Pennsylvania and of Holland Dutch descent. Elisha G. Powers was a soldier of the Black Hawk war of 1832, serving under General Zachary Taylor. He and his wife have long since passed away and Mr. Powers of this interview is the only survivor among their children.
Harvey B. Powers was reared in Putnam county, Illinois, spending his youthful days in the usual manner of the farm-bred boy. He was but twenty years of age when bis patriotic spirit prompted his enlistment in the Union army for service in the Civil war. He joined the boys in blue on the 9th of August, 1862, and served first as a private, while later he was advanced to the rank of second lieutenant in Company E of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry. He participated in the Vicksburg cam- paign and later assisted in capturing the Confederate forts at Mobile, Alabama. He also took part in other hotly contested engagements and returned to his home with a most creditable military record. From June, 1866, until 1901 Mr. Powers was a farmer of Putnam county, Missouri, and was prominently known as a leading representative of agricultural interests there. While residing in that locality he served for eight years as a member of the Missouri legislature, being for four years representative of his district in the house and for four years a member of the senate. His reelection to office is proof of his loyalty and his ability in the discharge of the onerous duties that devolved upon him in shaping the legislation of that state. He also served as county commissioner for two years in Putnam county, Missouri. In the year 1901 Mr. Powers removed to Ada county, Idaho, and resided upon a farm near Meridian until 1903, when he sold the property and retired from farming, removing to Meridian.
It was on the 12th of May, 1867, in Putnam county, Missouri, that Mr. Powers was married to Miss Maria L. Pettet, who is of Scotch descent and was born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 19, 1848, being a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mohler) Pettet. . On the 12th of May, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Powers celebrated their golden wedding, four of their six children being present on that occasion. Their children are: Mrs.
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Olive M. Deck, living at Meridian, Idaho; Fletcher W., a resident of Tillamook, Oregon; Wiley Merlin, living in Twin Falls county, Idaho; Harry Blaine, of Burley, Idaho; Mrs. Winnie Tolleth, whose home is near Meridian; and Mrs. Anna Champlin, of Baker, Oregon. All have been married and there are fifteen grandchildren.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Powers are stanch supporters of the republican party and for one term he served as a member of the Idaho legislature, representing Ada county in the session of 1905. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist church and Mr. Powers is also a Master Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is, moreover, an excellent public speaker, and though not a minister of the gospel in the sense of being ordained to that work, he has occupied the pulpit of Methodist churches on various occasions and is many times called upon to address public assemblages upon questions of vital interest and importance. He possesses splendid oratorical ability, which has been developed through his long legislative ex- perience in Missouri and Idaho, and whenever the community wishes to have a public speaker the first thought is to secure Mr. Powers. He is clear and convincing in thought and argument and has no difficulty in holding the attention of his auditors. Moreover, his influence and aid are always given on the side of right, improvement and advance- ment. His ideals of life are high and he has put forth every effort to attain their level.
FRED W. KOBS.
Fred W. Kobs, manager of the White Department Store, Inc., one of the large com- mercial enterprises of Twin Falls, was called by telegraph to accept his present position in 1917 and has since had charge of the business, which under his direction has de- veloped to gratifying proportions. Mr. Kobs was born at Spencer, Wisconsin, on the 8th of June, 1881, and is a son of Fred and Minnie (Lang) Kobs. He not only spent the period of his boyhood and youth at Spencer but continued to reside there until thirty- one years of age and in the public schools pursued his education. He entered upon his business career at that place in the employ of the Wagner Dry Goods Company, with which he continued as a clerk for nine years and three months, a fact that stands as indisputable evidence of his faithfulness, capability and fidelity to the interests which he represented. He was afterward with the firm of Hass & Wagner for some time as a dry goods salesman, spending nine years and two weeks in that connection. On the 17th of April, 1913, he came to Twin Falls, entering the employ of Jenkins & Com- pany, with which he continued until the 1st of October, 1917. He returned to Wis- consin for a visit and there he received a telegram requesting him to return to Twin Falls as manager of the Big White Store. He made favorable reply and entered upon the duties of this position, which he has since filled in a most acceptable and creditable manner. Under his direction the business of the house has steadily increased and the store is now one of the leading commercial enterprises of Twin Falls, carrying a large and well selected line of goods in every department. Mr. Kobs is most careful in maintaining high standards in the personnel of the house, in the line of goods carried and in the treatment accorded patrons, and his progressive policy has led to the steady growth of the business.
In 1898 Mr. Kobs was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Bellmer, a daughter of Frank Bellmer, and they have two children, Clara M. and Ruth M. Mr. Kobs be- longs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly In its principles as factors in good government. He diligently supports every measure which he thinks has a bearing upon the welfare and progress of the district in which he lives and stands stanchly for all those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
WILLIAM NELSON MCCARTY.
William Nelson McCarty, a prominent business man of Pocatello, dealing in hides, wool and furs and otherwise connected with important commercial interests of the city, was horn at Ogden, Utah, February 12, 1872. His father, Nelson McCarty, was a na- tive of Utah, born in 1849, while his parents were en route for California. Changing
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their plans, however, they settled in Weber valley, Utah, and afterward removed to Ogden. Having arrived at years of maturity, Nelson McCarty wedded Mary Ann Banford, who was born in England and was brought to the United States when seven years of age. His death occurred April 5, 1913, but the mother is still living in Ogden, Utah.
In the public schools of his native city William Nelson McCarty pursued his edu- cation to the age of fourteen years and then received his initiation into the hide and wool business, obtaining his first experience with S. H. Frank & Company, the firm later selling the business to D. H. McDonald & Company of Chicago. Mr. McCarty then represented the latter company in Colorado and Utah until 1892, when he came to Idaho and established business houses for the firm in this state and Montana, becom- ing manager of the Pocatello branch in April, 1892. In 1905 Mr. McDonald died and Mr. McCarty then took over the Pocatello business, which he has since conducted on his own account. His business now extends throughout Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and he finds a market for his products throughout the east. He deals extensively in hides and wool and also handles furs, which is an important industry in Idaho, as there are thousands of pelts taken every year. Aside from the extensive business which he has built up along this line he is interested in the Citizens Bank, of which he was one of the organizers and has been a director from the beginning. He is like- wise a director and a stockholder in the Smith Candy Company, which employs more than ninety people in the manufacture of fine confections. He is also interested in the Trist Garage Company on West Center street, a company that handles the Buick, Cadillac and Chalmers cars and the Nash Quaid truck. These various business enterprises have profited in no small degree by his cooperation and sound judgment, for he is a man of keen discrimination in commercial affairs.
On the 19th of December, 1893, Mr. McCarty was married to Miss Fannie Falk, of Anaconda, Montana, a daughter of Ben Falk, of that place. Mr.McCarty turns for recreation to hunting, fishing, literature and music. He is a republican in politics and is now chairman of the republican central committee of Bannock county. He is a ready and helpful friend to progressive development in his home city and state and lends his aid and influence to every measure for the general good. At the present time he is serving for a second term as a member of the city council. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the lodge and commandery and has also become a member of the Mystic Shrine. He has further extended his membership relations to the Elks and the Odd Fellows and is loyal to every cause which he espouses. He has made steady progress in the line of business which he entered in young manhood and, advancing step by step, has reached a place where he now commands and controls important interests.
DAVID HUBBARD.
David Hubbard, who is occupying one of the attractive brick residences of Elba, first established his home in a little log cabin on his removal to Cassia county from Utah. Through the intervening period he has been identified with ranching interests and with the development and upbuilding of Cassia county in various ways, and today he is serving as one of its county commissioners.
He was born at Willard, Utah, November 30, 1861, and is a son of Charles W. and Mary (Edwards) Hubbard, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in Wales. The father came to the west in the early '50s with a band of Mormon settlers from Indiana, who took up their abode near Ogden, Utah, becoming pioneer residents of that section of the state. There Charles W. Hubhard devoted his atten- tion to general farming and stock raising and assisted materially in the settlement of the Dixie country or southern Utah. In March, 1870, he returned to Willard, Utah, and was also identified with ranching there, continuing to make his home in that locality until his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of ninety-three years. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1894, at the age of fifty-seven years.
The boyhood days of David Hubbard were passed at Willard, Utah, and through the period of his youth he assisted his father upon the home farm. Eventually he was married and removed to Cassia county, Idaho, settling on the Raft river in the Almo valley, where he began general farming and ranching on a tract of raw land.
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He built thereon a little log house with a dirt roof, taking the logs from the woods. As the years passed his labors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of his place as the wild land was converted into productive fields and the work of general improvement was carried steadily forward. In the fall of 1901 he removed to Elba, where he purchased a house, and later he erected the brick residence that he now occupies.
It was in 1881 that Mr. Hubbard was united in marriage to Miss Ida V. Cordon, a native of Willard, Utah, and a daughter of Alfred and Emma (Parker) Cordon, who were natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard became the parents of seven children: Alice, Jessie L., Alfred C., Howard W., Earl P., Larence R. and Vern E. In 1919 Mr. Hubbard was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away at Jerome, Idaho, on the 28th of January when fifty-seven years of age.
In his political views Mr. Hubbard is a republican and has served as school trustee. He is now serving for the third term as county commissioner of Cassia county, having first been elected to the position in 1914. His reelections are unmistakable proof of his capability and fidelity in the office and Cassia county classes him among her rep- resentatives and valued residents.
J. W. SMEED.
J. W. Smeed, president of the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company and thus prom- inently connected with live stock activities in Canyon county, was born in Phillips county, Kansas, October 14, 1881, and there he attended the common schools while spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Henry and Harriet Jane (Wat- son) Smeed, both of whom were natives of England, where they were married before coming to the United States in 1870. They settled first in Iowa and afterward re- moved to Illinois, while they finally established themselves on a farm in western Kan- sas, where they remained until 1893. At that date they came to Idaho, the father taking up farming and stock raising near Boise and continuing active in the work until his death in 1911.
J. W. Smeed made his first venture in the business world with his brother, C. R. Smeed, as a partner in Boise in February, 1906, at which time they opened a livery stable called the Front Street Livery, which at that time was the smallest stable in Boise. However, when they disposed of their business in 1912, they were conducting the finest and largest stables of the city, the business being carried on under the name of the Smeed Brothers Livery. In March of that year they came to Caldwell and purchased the Turner Horse Market and two years later, in connection with six others; bought the Union Stock Yards and merged the two enterprises. These interests are now controlled by the four men: J. W. and C. R. Smeed, J. A. Haley and Robert Dundheimer, with J. W. Smeed as president of the company, Mr. Haley as vice president and the other members as directors and stockholders. In this connection an extensive business has heen devel- oped, the corporation being one of the foremost concerns of the kind in the state. Mr. Smeed's brother, who has always been associated with him in business, is not married and it is an interesting fact that although partners for years there have never been any papers to establish their connection or position, their interests being most harmoni- ously conducted. Mr. Smeed has two other brothers: L. A., of Cincinnati, who has a stable of race horses; and J. E., of Caldwell, who owns two ranches near Boise and is engaged in buying stock for the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company. The latter married Alice Matchim, of Boise valley, and they are the parents of four children: Ross, Hazel, Lillian and Kenneth. It is a notable fact that the three brothers have remained so closely associated in their business affairs. In 1914 the Caldwell Horse & Mule Com- pany was organized and while this company and the Union Stock Yards Company are operated under their respective names, they are controlled and owned by the same officers and directors and the Union Stock Yards are leased to the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company. Their earnings and profits are kept separately, although all business of both institutions is done through the latter company. Since November, 1914, their sales have amounted to approximately ten million dollars and they have handled twenty-five thousand head of war horses and mules and in 1918 shipped fifteen thousand head of cattle, two hundred and fifty head of pure bred bulls and ten thousand head of sheep. Until 1918 their business was the handling of horses and mules exclusively but with changing conditions they extended their efforts into other branches of stock
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dealing. Within the last four years they have bought twenty thousand tons of hay, most of which was fed in the Union Stock Yards of Caldwell. These yards are located about a mile from the city on the Oregon Short Line Railroad and have splendid trackage and an abundance of pure water for the stock. The yards cover one hundred and ten acres and represent an investment of forty thousand dollars. They are the best equipped and cleanest yards in the west and the company intends to make this the largest market west of Kansas City for the buying and selling of stock. Figuring on a basis of the prosperity which these yards have already brought to Caldwell, it is not difficult to prophesy that they will make Caldwell the Kansas City of the west. F. G. Huffman is the able secretary and treasurer of the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company. All business interests are most systematically and progressively conducted and results have indeed been most gratifying.
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