USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 13
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Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Robert L. Cleveland acquired a public school education and throughout practically his entire life has given his atten- tion to mercantile pursuits. On the 7th of October, 1873, he was married in Bradley county, Tennessee, to Miss Saloma Jane Davis, whose birth occurred at Cleveland, the county seat of Bradley county, on the 8th of February, 1852, her parents being Henry B. and Nancy (Pickens) Davis, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of South Carolina. The young couple began their domestic life in their native state and continued residents of Tennessee until 1890, when they removed to Seattle, Wash- ington. Seven years later Mr. Cleveland took his family to Arkansas and when three years had been spent in that state came to Idaho, settling at May. As stated, he built the first house and established the first store in the town and there he conducted business for twenty years, supplying the needs of the surrounding community as a general merchant and enjoying a large trade. His wife served as postmistress of May for three years and for seventeen years was a notary public there, being the only one in the town. She is still acting as a notary public. Moreover, she is well known as a most capable nurse, displaying unusual tact, intuitive knowledge and skill in this direction. While living at May there was much of the time when the community had no physician and Mrs. Cleveland's services were in constant demand in obstetric cases and to her credit be it said that in attendance upon twenty-six cases she never lost a mother or child.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland were born six children, five sons and a daughter, of whom two sons have passed away. One, Robert, died in 1913, while the other, John Franklin, was accidentally killed by falling from a power pole on the 2nd of February, 1920, in Boise, dying two days later. The four living children are Mrs. Mattie Spencer, William L., Grover E. and Ernest L. The youngest son is a veteran of the World war, having served for more than nine months in France with the American Expedi- tionary Force, being a sergeant in the motor transport department. He is an automo- bile mechanic and has had several years' experience with the various kinds of motor cars, thus having obtained valuable practical knowledge before he went to France. His skill in this direction was therefore recognized on assigning him to the branch of the service for which he was best fitted. He has recently returned from France and is again with his parents.
It was in July, 1919, that Mr. Cleveland sold his store at May and in October of the same year purchased a fine acreage tract and home on the Boise bench, this being one of the most desirable small ranch properties of the locality. He has a substantial frame residence with large and commodious outbuildings and five acres of ground. He has a great amount of fruit upon his place, which is situated on the west side of Orchard avenue and is known as the George Hillegas place. Here Mr. and Mrs. Cleve- land are most comfortably situated and already they have made many friends in the community.
JESS O. EASTMAN.
Jess O. Eastman, who is engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business at Buhl, Idaho, was born at Harvard, Illinois, February 4, 1888, and is a son of Otis and Harriet Eastman. He was a resident of Illinois through the period of his boyhood and youth pursuing his education in the public schools of that state, and on reaching his majority he sought the opportunities of the west, making his way to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he entered the employ of the Idaho Department Store. There he con- tinued till 1911, when he came to Buhl and for a time with Charles J. Kalina was in the clothing and men's furnishing goods business on Broadway where the office of the power company now stands. In 1913 he purchased his partner's interest in the business and continued to conduct the store alone till 1915, when he sold to Sarlat Brothers and assumed the management of the men's department of a general store known as the
JESS O. EASTMAN
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Golden Rule. He continued in that position for three and one-half years and in 1919 he opened a real estate office in the Citizens State Bank building. He handles both real estate and loans and is agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company.
In 1911 Mr. Eastman was married to Miss Harriette Crumb, a native of Harvard, Illinois, and a daughter of Herbert D. and Mary Crumb, her father being president of the Harvard State Bank. To Mr. and Mrs. Eastman have been born two children, Elizabeth C. and Patricia M.
In politics Mr. Eastman is a republican and an active worker in the party, han- dling the western campaign for this section of the country, and he has been since 1914 a member of the republican county central committee. He has served as a member of the city council of Buhl and is a member of all branches of the Masonic lodge, including the Mystic Shrine; also of the Elks.
In 191I Mr. Eastman inaugurated a movement for a free municipal swimming pool in the City Park and is directly responsible for the success of this very popular resort. He has always taken a very active part in the progress and development of Buhl and community. In January, 1919, he was elected president of the Buhl Busi- ness Men's Association, which through his efforts and suggestions was reorganized as the Buhl Chamber of Commerce and is now one of the strongest commercial organi- zations in the state. Mr. Eastman is now serving his second term as president. In 1919 he organized the Buhl Improvement Corporation, Ltd., which corporation purchased the unplatted portion of the Buhl townsite, and was elected chairman of the board of directors. The purpose of the corporation is to plat lands, build homes, etc.
JAMES H. STOFIEL.
James H. Stofiel is a traveling salesman of Boise, well known in the city and also popular throughout the territory which he reaches in his trade connections. He was born in Pennsylvania and has passed the age of fifty years. Through marriage he became connected with one of the old pioneer families of the state. He wedded Katharine Sisk, who was born in Idaho City, October 14, 1876, and is a daughter of Stephen M. Sisk, who followed mining pursuits and was a pioneer of the Boise basin. He came to this state from California during the gold excitement of the '60s and for many years resided in Long valley, where he took up and improved a homestead. He was born March 30, 1833, in Kentucky, and passed away in Boise, December 29, 1916, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. His widow is still residing in Boise, her home being at Seventeenth and Idaho streets. She bore the maiden name of Lizzie Moore and was born in Iowa, May 23, 1856. She, too, has been a witness of much growth and progress of Idaho and is today one of the honored pioneer women of the state.
Their daughter, Mrs. Stofiel, has spent her entire life in Idaho and is well known in social and club circles. She has been married twice. On the 30th of October, 1892, she became the wife of William M. Lynch, who passed away leaving three children. The eldest, Edith, horn July 31, 1894, was married December 3, 1912, to Ralph McColm, of Kuna, Idaho, and they have two sons: Mark Edward, born June 30, 1914; and Walter Lyman, born January 28. 1917. The second of the family, Walter W. Lynch, of Gooding, Idaho, is a veteran of the World war, having served for about eighteen months. He was born February 3, 1896, and is therefore now about twenty-four years of age. While with the army he won promotion from the ranks to second lieutenant. The youngest of the family is Mrs. Ethel Morgan, who was born November 22, 1897. She was married September 27, 1916, to Guy L. Morgan and they now have a daughter, Helen. Some years after the death of her first husband Mrs. Lynch was married September 27, 1905, to James H. Stofiel and they have become the parents of two daughters: Gladys Katharine, who was born January 3, 1907; and Josephine Helen. born August 27, 1909.
Mrs. Stofiel is keenly interested in many activities having to do with the civic welfare, social progress and educational and moral uplift of the community in which she makes her home. She traces her ancestry back to Revolutionary war soldiers and is now state registrar in Pioneer Chapter, D. A. R., of Boise. She also belongs to the Good Citizenship Club of Boise, of which she was one of the organizers and is now the president. She is likewise a past worthy matron of the Eastern Star and is an active Red Cross worker. In fact she gives her aid in support of all measures which look to the benefit of mankind and the amelioration of hard conditions of life for the
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unfortunate. She does everything in her power to promote those activities which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride, and in Boise, where she has long made her home, she has a very extensive circle of warm friends.
STERLING CURTIS TURNER.
Sterling Curtis Turner is assistant cashier of the Twin Falls Bank and Trust Com- pany and a representative young business man of Twin Falls. He was born in Columbia, Missouri, July 31, 1888, his parents being Sterling and Mary (Carlisle) Turner. The father was also a native of Columbia, Missouri, where he was reared and educated. He afterward took up the occupation of farming and stock raising there, becoming one of the representative men of that district where he resided until 1900, moving then to the state of Colorado. There he engaged in running cattle between Grand river and White river and passed away in 1904 at the age of forty-three years.
Two years later, or in 1906, the family sold their interests in Colorado and Sterling C. Turner with his two sisters and his mother came to Twin Falls, Idaho. The son was then a youth of about eighteen years and in the schools of this place he completed his education and made his initial step in the business world, securing a situation in the Idaho Department Store, where he remained for a short time. He afterward obtained a clerkship in the Commercial Savings Bank, in which he spent two years, and then went with the Farmers & Merchants Bank, in which he was employed for a year. On the 1st of October, 1911, he accepted the position of bookkeeper with the Twin Falls Bank & Trust Company and in the fall of 1916 was advanced to the position of assistant cashier, in which capacity he has since continued. He has won his promotions by capability, thoroughness and devotion to the interests which he represents and he is now possessed of a comprehensive knowledge of the banking business which will undoubtedly win for him further advancement in the future. He is interested with his brother-in-law, Harry Eaton, in stock raising in Idaho and this constitutes an import- ant source of revenue to him. His mother is still living and makes her home with her son at the age of sixty-one years.
In his political views Mr. Turner is a republican and is thoroughly conversant with the questions and issues of the day. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his religious faith is indicated by his association in the Methodist Episcopal church.
ALBERT E. TROYER.
Albert E. Troyer, one of the prominent business men of Boise, Idaho, where for about fifteen years he was identified with the lumber trade, being secretary and treas- urer of the Hawkeye Lumber Company, is a native of the great state of Illinois, born in Annawan, Henry county, March 20, 1858, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Morton) Troyer, the former being of German and Irish extraction and the latter coming of Scotch-Irish and Pennsylvania-Dutch stock.
Mr. Troyer and his wife and two daughters, Vida M. and Alta E., removed to Idaho in 1906, from Emmettsburg, Iowa. On coming to this state the family located at Boise, where they lived ever since, Mr. Troyer having been secretary and treasurer of the Hawkeye Lumber Company, whose mill and manufacturing plant are at Tamarack, Idaho, and the ramifications of whose business extend all over the state. This business was founded by J. J. Shaw, William Briggs and A. J. Armstrong, the latter two now being dead.
Mr. Troyer was reared on a farm in Illinois, from which his parents removed to Iowa in 1872. Several years of his early manhood were spent in Nebraska, and it was in that state he first became identified with the lumber business, with which he was also connected in Emmettsburg, Iowa, for ten years prior to coming to Boise.
On April 27, 1890, Mr. Troyer was married to Mary Jane Gibson, a daughter of James and Catherine (Bowers) Gibson, the ceremony taking place on Mrs. Troyer's twentieth birthday. She was born near Edwardsburg, Cass county, Michigan, April 27, 1870, but she was living in Hastings, Nebraska, at the time of her marriage. She is a member of the Congregational church, in the affairs of which she takes an ardent
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interest, and has also been active in Red Cross work as well as in all social and cultural affairs calculated to promote the welfare of the community in which she resides. She is a supporter of the democratic party.
Mr. Troyer's political affiliation is with the republican party, and while living in Iowa and Nebraska he was identified with public offices, having served as alderman and on the school board. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which order he is a past chancellor. Mrs. Troyer has been a member of the Daughters of Rebekah for twenty years and is a past district deputy of the order. Since coming to Boise, Mr. and Mrs. Troyer have lost their daughter, Alta, whe died at the age of seventeen. The other daughter, Vida, is a well known teacher in the Garfield school, which is located in South Boise. She is a graduate of the Boise high school and of the Lewis- ton State Normal.
HARRY RANDALL.
On the roster of county officials in Madison county appears the name of Harry Randall, of Rexburg, who is filling the position of county treasurer and proving a most faithful custodian of the public funds. He was born in Cambridgeshire, England, Jan- uary 11, 1859, a son of William and Sarah Ann (Shipley) Randall, who were also natives of that country, where the father followed farming throughout his entire life, passing away April 1, 1870. The mother long survived and died in 1913.
Harry Randall was reared and educated in England and in early life worked for a time as a farm hand. He also served in the volunteer army for twelve years and later took up railroading as an employe of the London & Northwestern Railroad Company, with which he was connected at Manchester, England, until 1891. He then determined to try his fortune in the new world and, crossing the Atlantic, made his way westward to Logan, Utah. He soon began work as a farm hand in that locality and was thus employed until 1893, when he came to Idaho and filed on one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fremont county, now Madison county, his place being situated near Lyman. With characteristic energy he at once began to develop and improve his claim and continued its cultivation for a number of years, after which he sold the property. Before disposing of his farm he was elected county treasurer of Fremont county in 1912 and served in that position for one year, at the end of which time the county was divided and he resigned his position. He was then appointed treasurer of Madison county by Governor J. M. Haines and has been reelected to this position at each biennial election since that time, making a most capable officer, as is indicated in his reelections. While residing in Lyman he filled the position of justice of the peace for twelve years and for fifteen years he acted as school trustee. He has always been most loyal to the best interests of the community and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
Nor have the activities of Mr. Randall been confined alone to public service. He was secretary of the Reid Canal Company for twelve or thirteen years and is inter- ested in several business enterprises, being a stockholder in the United Mercantile Company of Rexburg, in the Woodmen BuildIng Association, in the Walking Tractor Company, in the Idaho-Montana Asbestos Mining Company and in the County Fair Association. His realty holdings include city property in Rexburg, one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jefferson county and town property at Lyman, Idaho.
On the 1st of March, 1879, Mr. Randall was married to Miss Martha Setchell and they became the parents of six children: John William, a resident of Rexburg; Emily, the wife of Oscar Paul, of Idaho Falls; Maggie, who died in 1904; Harry, who was born in Logan, Utah, and now resides in Rupert, Idaho; Alice, who was born in Rex- burg and is now the wife of Ralston Green, of Menan. Idaho; and Joseph S., who was born in Lyman and is now a resident of Rexburg. The wife and mother passed away at Lyman, May 7, 1914, and on the 24th of May, 1915, Mr. Randall was married to Mrs. Flora Hyde Phillips, who was born in Manchester, England. Mr. Phillips died on the 14th of December, 1909, six weeks after coming to America, and to that union two children were born: George Rexburg, who was seventeen years of age when he enlisted in the United States army, in which he served for a year and nine months in France; and Willlam L., aged thirteen.
Mr. Randall is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Politically he is a republican and has always been an active worker in the ranks of Vol. III-8
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the party and is recognized as one of its local leaders. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. During his long residence in this section of Idaho he has enjoyed the esteem and goodwill of his fellowmen and that he has the confidence of the public is attested by his long retention in the office of county treasurer.
OLE E. LARSON.
Ole E. Larson, one of Idaho's successful farmers, living in Canyon county, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, April 28, 1882. His father, Lars Larson, a native of Norway, settled in Wisconsin on coming to America in the late '50s and there followed agricultural pursuits until his death in 1886. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Lena Stubru, is also a native of Norway and is now residing in Janesville, Wiscon- sin, with her children at the age of seventy-five years.
Ole E. Larson acquired his early education in the schools of his native state and came to Idaho in 1901, when a young man of nineteen years. He made his way to Boise and worked for the United States government in connection with the survey of irrigation projects for four years. He then homesteaded seventy-five acres of land at Greenleaf, Idaho, which he cleared and placed under cultivation. Upon that tract was a large grove of trees and a picnic grounds known as Larson's Grove, a popular resort with the surrounding community. This place he sold in 1918 and purchased the old Dorman ranch about four miles west of Caldwell, comprising two hundred and seven- teen acres on the Boise river. In 1919 he had twenty acres planted to hay and one hun- dred and fifteen acres planted to corn. He lives upon the old C. C. Bales ranch of four hundred acres three miles north of Caldwell and there has one hundred and twenty-five acres in corn and an equal amount in hay. In the winter of 1918-19 he fed one hundred head of cattle for Herbert Lemp, of Boise. He is a most industrious and energetic man, capable and persistent in all that he undertakes, and is regarded as one of the successful farmers of the state. His farm is equipped with the latest improved machin- ery and everything to facilitate his work, and his farm horses rank among the best in the state.
In 1916 Mr. Larson was married to Miss Lileth I. Brown, of Wisconsin, a lady of liberal accomplishments and education, They have four interesting children-Lucile I .. Louise, Edna May and Ola E., the first two now in school. Theirs is a fine old country home upon the ranch three miles from Caldwell and here Mr. Larson raises everything in the way of luxuries for the table. He is of a most genial and pleasant disposition, cordial and agreeable at all times, never allowing minor things to trouble him, and his sterling worth as well as his business ability has gained for him a high place in the regard of his fellow townsmen, his friends being many.
ORION H. HANSEN.
Orion H. Hansen, a druggist of Teton, was born in Collinston, Utah, December 2. 1889, a son of Hyrum C. and Annie C. (Anderson) Hansen, who were natives of Brigham, Utah. The father was a farmer hy occupation and for several years was associated with his father in the dairy business. The mother came to Fremont county with her parents when a girl, making the trip on horseback and driving cattle. The Anderson home was established in Fremont county, to which Hyrum C. Hansen removed at an early day. He filed on land adjoining the town of Teton and at once began the task of cultivating and improving the place, which he continued to further develop throughout his remaining days, but lived for only a short time after reaching Idaho. He passed away in February, 1896, when but twenty-six years of age. The mother survives and is now occupying the old home place.
Orion H. Hansen was reared in Teton and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools here entered the Brigham. Young. College at Logan, Utah. He next became a student in the North Pacific College of Pharmacy at Portland, Oregon, and there completed his course by graduation with the class of May, 1918. He then worked in Portland until the spring of 1919, when he came to Teton and established a drug store, which he has since successfully conducted. He has a well appointed store,
OLE E. LARSON
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carrying a large and carefully selected line of drugs and druggists' sundries, and his patronage is steadily growing. He also has farming interests in Fremont county.
On the 4th of October, 1916, Mr. Hansen was married to Miss Maurine Naylor, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Siddoway) Naylor, who were natives of England and of Salt Lake City respectively. When a boy the father came to America, living for a time in Salt Lake City. After his marriage he made his way direct to Idaho and filed on land in Fremont county at a later period, but immediately after his arrival gave his attention to the operation of a sawmill, that business being carried on by him for several years. He was an active factor in business circles for a long period and now lives retired in Teton. The mother, however, passed away in January, 1894.
Politically Mr. Hansen maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. His religious faith is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is actuated by a most progressive spirit in the conduct of his store and has made his one of the leading mercantile establishments of Teton.
HON. CLIFFORD F. COWLES.
Hon. Clifford F. Cowles, a farmer who is extensively engaged in wheat growing in Teton county, near Felt, was born upon a farm near Ashville, New York, June 28, 1879, his birthplace having long been in possession of the family. It was taken up as a homestead claim by his paternal grandfather, who was known as "Deacon" Cowles by reason of the fact that he was long a deacon in the Baptist church. The parents, Archi- bald W. and Martha J. (Taylor) Cowles, still reside upon the old homestead near Ash- ville, where the birth of their son, Clifford F., occurred. The father was also born upon that farm and has remained there throughout his entire life. He is now past eighty years of age, while his wife has almost reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey. In 1915 they celebrated their golden wedding, an occasion long to be remembered by all who were present.
Clifford F. Cowles was reared on the old homestead farm, endeared to him through the memories of his boyhood. He attended the schools of Mayville, New York, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1898, and in preparation for the practical and responsible duties of life he entered Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated on completing a course in civil engineer- ing. Prior to this time he had taught school for three years in the Empire state.
In the fall of 1905 Mr. Cowles arrived in Idaho and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in connection with the Oregon Short Line Railroad. Not long afterward. however, he resumed the profession of teaching, which he followed through one winter near Sugar City, Idaho, while later he was principal of the schools at Ashton for two years. In the fall of 1909 he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in what is now Teton county but was then a part of Fremont county. He is still the owner of the property and in 1917 he bought another tract of one hundred and sixty adjoining his original claim, so that he now has an excellent ranch property of three hundred and twenty acres, devoted to the production of wheat and other small grains, which he cultivates according to dry farming processes. That the methods pursued are splendidly adapted to climatic conditions here is indicated in the fact that in 1918 he raised nearly seven thousand bushels of small grains, about one-half of which was wheat. As the years have passed he has prospered and is now conducting business interests which are returning to him a gratifying profit yearly. His farm is situated seven miles from Tetonia and a mile and a half from Felt, and in addition to his agricultural interests he has become identified with other business affairs of importance in this part of the state. being now the vice president and one of the directors of the Farmers State Bank at Tetonia, Idaho, and a partner and vice president of the Felt Mercantile Com- pany, a concern that has a large general store at Felt.
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