USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 10
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Mr. Harbert was reared on a farm in southwestern Missouri, where he remained to the age of sixteen. He then removed with his parents to Romulus, Oklahoma, and later entered the University of Oklahoma. In early manhood he taught school in that state and next took up farming, at which he remained for some time, and for several years afterward was in the wholesale lumber business in Oklahoma City. It was in 1915 that Mr. Harbert came to Idaho and represented different insurance companies at Rigby, Jefferson county, but in December, 1919, he removed to Boise. For the past three years he has been representing the Montana Life Insurance Company, acting in the capacity of general agent, and he has established the first general agency for that company in the state of Idaho. In his position as general agent he has been placed in charge of ten counties in southwestern Idaho, and the business of the company has been showing steady advancement under his direction.
On March 13, 1899, Mr. Harbert was united in marriage to Miss Tina Madole, who is a native of Missouri, but the marriage ceremony took place in Oklahoma. They have four children living, namely: Leon, Beryl, Mary Maxine and Richard Lee.
Mr. Harbert gives his support to the republican party but has never been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, taking a warm interest in the affairs of these popular organizations and in other directions he gives of his time and ability to the furtherance of all projects calculated to serve the welfare of the community in which he resides.
HON. SOREN YORGESEN.
Hon. Soren Yorgesen, member of the state legislature, president of the First National Bank of Shelley, Idaho, owner of a large and well kept farm, and otherwise identified with property interests in and about Shelley, is a native of the kingdom of Denmark, born April 19, 1863, and is a son of Yorgen and Maren (Jensen) Yorgesen, also natives of Denmark. The father worked as a laborer in that country until he emigrated to the Vol. 111-6
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United States in 1874, and on arriving in America he went to Racine, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1880, when he removed to Nebraska, but in 1881 he went to Utah, residing in that state for ten years. Finally, he returned to Wisconsin and made his home with a daughter, with whom he lived up to the time of his death in 1905. His wife pre- deceased him by fourteen years, dying in 1891.
Soren Yorgesen was reared and educated in Denmark and at the age of ten years he came to this country with his parents. When fourteen years old he started working out at such employment as his hands found to do, and in the fall of 1889 he removed to Idaho and came again in 1891, bringing his family to Shelley, Bingham county, where he bought a tract of land adjoining the town, but made his home four miles east of Shelley on a farm for five years. At the end of this period he located in Shelley and built a home on the townsite. He has resided here ever since and still operates two farms of two hundred acres. A part of the original farm has been platted and sold in town lots, and Mr. Yorgesen is properly regarded as one of the prosperous and progressive men in Bingham county.
In the fall of 1918, Mr. Yorgesen was elected to the state legislature, where he has served his constituents with ability and good judgment. He also served one term as county commissioner of Bingham county and has been chairman of the town board for ten years. Mr. Yorgesen gives active support to the republican party and is always prominent in its councils.
On June 6, 1886, Mr. Yorgesen was united in marriage to Mary Christensen, and they have hecome the parents of six children, namely: Alonzo S., the secretary of the Snake River Valley irrigation district; Oscar C., carrying on the farming operations; Lulu, wife of J. M. Bowler, living in Shelley; Eva, at home; Arthur H., who was accidentally shot and died in November, 1909; and Nora, who was drowned at Tampico, Mexico, in July, 1909. Mr. Yorgesen is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and of the stake high council of the church. In 1898 he was called to fill a mission on behalf of his church in Wisconsin, where he spent two years, most of the time in Milwaukee.
Mr. Yorgesen was one of the organizers and is president of the First National Bank of Shelley, which opened its doors for business in September, 1919. During the brief period of its existence, the growth of the bank has been rapid, the deposits for the first three months being one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. He is also president of the Idaho Grain & Produce Company and has various other interests of a commercial character. He and two of his sons are at the head of the Yorgesen Land & Live Stock Company, and he is interested in sheep and farming.
CLOYD J. WILSON.
Cloyd J. Wilson is identified with financial interests of Cassia county as cashier of the Declo State Bank of Declo, which position he has occupied since April, 1918, and of which institution he is also one of the directors. His birth occurred at Com- merce, Iowa, on the 2d of September, 1891, his parents being Jesse M. and Jennie (Doty) Wilson. The period of his boyhood and youth was passed in the state of his nativity and in the acquirement of his education he attended the schools of Ports- mouth, Iowa, and also spent a year as a student in a commercial college at Council Bluffs. After putting aside his textbooks he secured a position as messenger boy in the First National Bank of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and later became teller and book- keeper there. In January, 1913, he went to Afton, Wyoming, where he acted as assis- tant cashier of the Afton State Bank until 1915, when he removed to Salt Lake City, Utah, and became assistant auditor of the farm loan and mortgage firm of Miller & Viele. In 1917 he returned to Afton, Wyoming, but the following year came to Idaho, locating at Burley, where he accepted the position of paying and receiving teller of the Bank of Commerce. In April, 1918, he was made cashier of the Declo State Bank at Declo and has since ably served in that capacity. The bank was or- ganized in November, 1917, and the continued growth of the institution is attributable in no small measure to the efforts and enterprise of its popular and efficient cashier. Into other fields Mr. Wilson has also extended his activity, being now president of the Declo Printing Company. He likewise operates a farm of eighty acres near Declo and is widely recognized as a prosperous and representative citizen of Cassia county. In 1915 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Roos, a native of Utah
CLOYD J. WILSON
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and a daughter of Carl and Emma (Merritt) Roos. They have hecome parents of two children, Virginia and William. Mr. Wilson gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons. His career is most commendable and the success which he has already attained augurs well for the future.
WILLIAM H. BIGGS.
William H. Biggs, a prominent and well known citizen of Boise, member of the real estate firm of Biggs Brothers, came to Idaho in 1906 from Adams county, Iowa. He first located on a ranch near Caldwell, this state, where he lived for some time, but later removed to another place, also near Caldwell, where he spent eight years. He was formerly a traveling salesman out of Boise, and for several years was an automo- bile salesman. Still later he occupied the responsible position of manager for the Gordon Motor Company of Boise,
In 1919 William H. Biggs formed a partnership with his younger brother, John R. Biggs, and they embarked in the real estate business under the firm name of Biggs Brothers, with offices on South Tenth street, Boise, and though comparatively but a short time in the real estate business, the scope of their operations is steadily advanc- ing and they are becoming widely known as successful handlers of real estate.
Mr. Biggs was born on a farm in Grundy county, Missouri, July 29, 1880, a son of Milton and Drusilla (Arnold) Biggs. The father died in Iowa many years ago and the mother has recently moved to Boise to reside near her children, several of whom are well known residents of Boise and of the Boise valley. Mrs. Biggs was born in Kentucky, March 11, 1856, a daughter of Charles Benjamin and Rachel Mary (Carpenter) Arnold. She married Milton Biggs on September 23, 1873, and hecame the mother of twelve children, seven of whom are now living, and among these children were three pairs of twins. Milton Biggs died in Iowa in 1901, and some time later his widow married Samuel Yeaden, an Englishman, who died eight years ago. The seven living children of the Biggs family are; Lee; William H .; Mrs. Nora Thompson, of Nebraska; Mrs. Alice Ridgeway; John R .; and Clarence and Clara, twins, the latter now being Mrs. Clara Landfair, of Pontiac, Michigan.
William H. Biggs was reared on a farm in Adams county, Iowa, and followed farming up to ten years ago. He was married in Iowa in 1900, and has two children, Helen Gertrude, born July 26, 1902; and Quentin, born October 12, 1909. Mr. Biggs is a member of the Royal Highlanders of America. He takes a good citizen's interest in all matters calculated to advance the welfare of the community.
CHARLES W. PURSELL.
Charles W. Pursell, a prominent citizen and well known wholesale lumber dealer of Boise, Idaho, came to this part of the state from Ohio in 1905 and has been residing in Boise ever since. Mr. Pursell was horn at Washington Court House, Ohio, August 14, 1856, a son of James and Margaret (Hartzell) Pursell, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was horn in Ross county, Ohio, October 12, 1813, and was married to Margaret Hartzell, May 25, 1841. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, May 3, 1815, and died July 30, 1895, having reached the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. Pursell died on January 7, 1891, heing then seventy-eight years old. Both deaths occurred in Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Charles W. was the youngest.
Charles W. Pursell was reared in Ohio and educated in the schools of that state. He was married in that state, January 6, 1880, to Miss Anna M. Ford, a native of Maine- ville, Ohio, born February 27, 1860, and a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Ellen (Smith) Ford. Her father was born at Gray, Maine, May 19, 1829, and was married, July 2, 1855, to Mary Ellen Smith, who was born in Farmington, Maine, January 18, 1836. Mr. Ford died in Ohio, July 4, 1902, his widow, who has now reached the age of eighty-four, makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Pursell. Mr. and Mrs. Ford were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Pursell was the second in order of hirth.
Mr. and Mrs. Pursell are the parents of three children, as follows: Mrs. Georgia Rogers, residing in Ohio; Harry B., of Boise, living with his parents, a veteran of
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the World war, having served abroad for seventeen months with the Twentieth United States Engineers; and Mrs. Helen Harvey, wife of Gerald Harvey, of Boise.
Mr. Pursell and his wife came to Boise in 1905, and they have ever since been identified with the social and cultural activities of the city of their adoption. Through- out the greater part of his life he has engaged in the lumber business and is now a director of the Wallowa Pine Lumber Company, whose headquarters are in Oregon. He is generally known in and about this part of Idaho as one of the most experienced lumber dealers actively engaged in the trade. He is a warm supporter of the republican party, as was also his father, who served as internal revenue collector in Ohio for thirteen years, and from time to time held various other political offices.
Mr. Pursell is a member of the Masonic order and of the Elks, in the affairs of which popular organizations he takes a warm interest. He is also a member of the Boise Chamber of Commerce, and in other directions he is identified with the commer- cial progress of Boise. He is of Revolutionary descent, as is Mrs. Pursell, who also is descended from Mayflower ancestry, tracing her descent from Revolutionary stock on both sides of the house. In 1908 she organized the first chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution founded in Idaho and served as the first regent of the chapter, holding the office of state regent for eight consecutive years. She is an earnest member of the Methodist church and is prominent in all church affairs. She also gives her services and ability to the interests of the Red Cross, being a vice chairman of the Boise Red Cross chapter, and she holds membership in the Mayflower Society of Massachusetts.
MRS. MARY K. PLOWMAN.
Mrs. Mary K. Plowman, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Boise, who bears with fortitude the loss of a son in the World war and who also sustained like bereavements in the Philippine war, is the widow of the late Kenna Pool Plowman, who in his day was well known in the mining districts of Idaho and who died ahout twelve years ago in Boise.
K. P. Plowman, as he was generally known, was born in Athens, Tennessee, about 1832, but left that state at the age of sixteen, by running away from home, with Oregon as his destination, and in 1864, he removed to Idaho. He was twice married; first in Oregon to a lady who died some years afterward, leaving one son, Richard B. Plowman, of Oregon. His second marriage took place at Idaho City, Idaho, December 25, 1875, his second wife being Mrs. Mary K. Robinson. She hore the maiden name of Mary K. Clough and was born at Pittston, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1854, a daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Turner) Clough, the former born in England and the latter in Nova Scotia. She came to Idaho with her mother, who was then a widow, in 1864 and located at Idaho City. Her first husband was George Elias Robinson, who died some years later, leaving two children, Arthur Clough Robinson and Mrs. Grace Jane Durbin. The date of her marriage to Mr. Robinson was January 9, 1870. By her marriage to K. P. Plowman, she became the mother of five children, namely: Oscar, a mining man, living in Alaska, who married Miss Edith Oliver, of Boise; Harry, who died of smallpox in the Philippines; Early, who died at the age of four years; Elizabeth Katherine, wife of Lee Thomas, a farmer, living near Caldwell, Idaho, and Kenna Pool Plowman, who was killed in France in 1918.
Kenna Pool Plowman, the youngest son, was in Mexico when the order came for all men under thirty-one to register, and he did not receive word for some time after the registration date. Friends tried to persuade him not to go on, warning him he would be imprisoned, but he said he was no slacker and would make his explanation to his government. He walked nearly eighty miles to Esenada, Mexico, the nearest city, to get to a point of registration. "Boole" Plowman, as he was familiarly called, was born in Bolse, August 7, 1889, and attended the Boise public school, following which he was engaged in the mining business. There is an interesting little story in connec- tion with his pet name. Mrs. Plowman was attended by the post physician, whom all pioneers recall, Major Garard, an ardent Frenchman, when the baby was born. When the Major announced the birth of a son to Mr. Plowman, he said: "What are you going to call him?" Mr. Plowman, knowing it would bother the loyal Frenchman, said jokingly, "Blucher." The Major flung up his hands in horror and said, "Never !* but the family, although he was named for his father, called him "Blucher," and the
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child's first pronunciation of the word was "Boole," and the nickname clung to him from that time on.
War is a terrible word to Mrs. Plowman. Her first husband died of tuberculosis contracted during the Civil war; her son Harry was killed during the Philippine war; her son Arthur was wounded during the same war; and in 1918 the dire news reached her that her youngest son, Kenna P., was killed in action in France. In her other trials Mrs. Plowman was able to give way to her grief, but in the death of her youngest son her grief was too great for tears. She has had extended to her the heartfelt sympathy of all her old pioneer friends, many of whom she has cheered in like sorrow, and of still more friends whom she has known recently. She puts her trust and faith in God. Who does all things well, living in that Christian faith, that when called upon to yield up the body, her spirit will be released to join on high with those of her dear ones gone before in their country's defense.
J. M. CASON.
J. M. Cason, dating his residence in the northwest from 1905, has contributed largely to the development and upbuilding of Idaho through his operations in real estate and his work in structural engineering and contracting. He was born at Glasgow, Missouri, August 15, 1850. There are few men of his age who can claim to be veterans of the Civil war. but Mr. Cason served with the army and says that his experience was inval- nable to him inasmuch as it made a man of him. When one faces the stern realities of life it shows up his inherent weakness or inherent strength and with Mr. Cason it proved a stimulus to his latent powers and qualities. After acquiring a common school education he pursued a course in mechanical engineering in Pritchett College of Mis- souri, from which he was graduated with the class of 1873. Three years before entering the college, however, he had worked at bridge construction with his uncle, Louis F. Hume, who turned the business over to him, giving him no advice save to "make good," which he did. Realizing just what advanced training would do for him in this con- nection, Mr. Cason entered Pritchett College and following his graduation he engaged in clerking for a year. Failing health caused him to go on a farm for a short time that he might enjoy the benefits of outdoor life and later he entered the mechanical contracting business again and was thus engaged until 1905. During much of that period he was living at Mound City, Missouri, to which place he removed in 1879. Finding it a live, progressive town, he decided to remain there and he erected in Mound City many of its fine residences and substantial business blocks, for he was not only skilled in mechanical engineering but also possessed ability as an architect. He likewise built a dredge and other machinery, which he used in reclaiming a large area of land near Mound City which had been overflowed and was rendered apparently worthless. This is now a rich agricultural district.
Upon his removal to the west in 1905, Mr. Cason first located at Twin Falls, Idaho, where he remained for a short time and then removed to Payette, where he engaged in contracting for four years and during that period built the annex to the Commer- cial Hotel and several of the fine residences of the city. Upon his removal to Parma he engaged in the real estate business, in structural engineering and contracting and was active along these lines. After constructing five homes in Parma he decided to withdraw from building operations. He has continued his work in the other connections, however, and is today a progressive business man of the city, energetic and determined, whose success has never aroused the envy of others because it has meant also the up- building of the district in which he lives. He has worked diligently and persistently, meeting and conquering difficulties and organizing his life along lines that call for a full dole of labor with each turn of the wheel.
On the 6th of September, 1883, Mr. Cason was married to Miss Belle Wiggins, of Forest City, Missouri, and they have three children: Maude Ellen, the wife of C. Guy Wakefield, of Portland, Oregon; Clarence Otis, twenty-eight years of age, who is an operator with the Oregon Short Line Railroad at Parma; and Alyce Belle, who is a public reader and gives recitals at Portland, Oregon, where she resides with her sister.
For fourteen years Mr. Cason has lived in the west, taking an active and helpful interest in all that pertains to public progress. He may truly be called a self-made man inasmuch as he started out to provide for his own support when still a young lad. Gladstone has said that time is almost the only asset which the young man brings to
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the starting point of his career, and he who would win advancement must make wise use of that time, each hour contributing its full quota toward the attainment of that success which is the ultimate goal of labor.
JAMES D. RUARK.
James D. Ruark, residing in Canyon county upon a farm of one hundred and sixty. acres which he owns, is largely devoting his attention to the raising of Red Polled and Holstein cattle. He was born in Evansville, Indiana, May 19, 1888. His father, Shad- rach Ruark, was born in Indiana in 1844 and was a son of Reason Ruark, who removed to Indiana in 1825 and such was the unsettled condition of the state that he hunted in all sections of it. Shadrach Ruark became a physician of Evansville, Indiana, where he engaged in practice until the time of his death in 1892. He had married Sophie Blakey, a native of Virginia, born in 1848. Her father was the owner of a large planta- tion on Sycamore island in the James river near Richmond. He died in Cuba, having gone there for the benefit of his health. The Civil war entirely disrupted the Blakey home and Sophie Blakey then went to live with relatives in Kentucky. Later she removed to Indiana, where she was married. Her death occurred in Idaho, in the home where her son James D. now resides, about two miles west of Caldwell. They had come to Idaho in 1896 and were residents of Boise for a year, after which they removed to a farm four and a half miles northeast of Nampa.
James D. Ruark at that time purchased a tract of land of eighty acres and thereon engaged in diversified farming for five years, after which he sold that property and bought his present place of one hundred and sixty acres about two miles west of Cald- well. He has here about thirty head of thoroughbred Red Polled and Holstein cattle and expects to engage extensively in the raising of fine stock. He also raises alfalfa, corn and grain and formerly owned a stock ranch in Long Valley, Idaho, which he has recently sold. His present place is a most beautiful farm located on the Boise river bottoms and such is the fertility of the soil that he can raise anything that will grow in this altitude.
In 1917 Mr. Ruark was married to Miss Mary L. Kerby, a daughter of Marion Kerby, a veteran of the Civil war, who died eleven years ago in Caldwell. Her brother, Frank Kerby, is a banker of Cascade, Iowa. Her mother bore the maiden name of Mary Daily and was a sister of the pioneer, John Daily, of Emmett, Idaho, who is now living retired. Mr. and Mrs. Ruark have become parents of a son, James D., Jr., who is now in his second year. The parents occupy an enviable position in social circles and enjoy the warm regard of all who know them. Mr. Ruark is accounted one of the progressive young farmers of his section of the state and has so wisely and carefully directed his efforts that a substantial measure of success is already his, while the future will un- doubtedly bring to him still greater prosperity.
GEORGE ALLEN CHAPMAN.
It is a pleasure to record that George Allen Chapman, one of the real old-timers and pioneer residents of Idaho, who for years has filled the office of deputy sheriff of Ada county, and who is now in his eightieth year, is hale and hearty and in the enjoyment of good health and active in the duties of his office at that advanced age.
Mr. Chapman, who now resides in Boise, came to this state from California in 1864, whither he had gone from his home state-Connecticut-in 1854. He was born at Salisbury, Connecticut, May 31, 1841, a son of Newton and Salome (Dauchy) Chapman, who also were natives of Connecticut, where they resided throughout their entire lives. Mr. Chapman is descended from old New England, English and Revolutionary stock, and on his paternal side he can trace his ancestry back to Ethan Allen, it being through this source he gets his middle name of Allen.
In 1854, when but a lad of thirteen, he made the journey to California via the Isthmus of Panama, with his father and brother, Mason Chapman. His father had been to the golden state some five years earlier, in 1849, when the gold boom was at its height, and after remaining in California for some time he returned to his native state, where he spent the balance of his life.
JAMES D. RUARK
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Mr. Chapman continued to reside in California for about nine years, during this time being engaged at mining, and on taking up his abode in the Boise basin he resumed work in the mines of this district, remaining thus occupied for several years. On severing connection with mining, Mr. Chapman embarked in ranching, first near Parma, and later in Long valley up to the time of his removal to Boise, about twenty years ago.
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