History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 21

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 21

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It was in 1887 that Mr. Kurtz became a resident of Nampa, Idaho, which at that time could boast of a population of but one hundred and fifty, contained a section house and a few other buildings but no churches. Mr. Kurtz purchased a ranch located about three miles north of Nampa and Mrs. Kurtz one on the south side of the railroad tracks, on which a portion of the present city stands. The Northwest Nazarene College has been built upon the tract, just west of the park, which Mrs. Kurtz donated to the city of Nampa in memory of her husband in 1907.

He was keenly interested in everything that had to do with the welfare and progress of Nampa and was largely, instrumental in bringing capital into Canyon county for its development and upbuilding. He took a deep interest in the progress of the city and in all that pertained to its welfare.

In 1873 Mr. Kurtz was married to Miss Belle Bristol, a daughter of William Bristol of Warsaw, New York, who was descended from British ancestry in both the paternal and maternal lines, early representatives of the family becoming residents of New York and of the New England states. Mr. Bristol was one of the first directors of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad, also a director of the Union Bank of Rochester and a prominent business man of the state. His widow is still living in New York and is now more than eighty years of age.

The death of Mr. Kurtz occurred October 23, 1906, at Nampa. The news- papers throughout the entire state published eulogies concerning him that showed the kindly feeling and high respect everywhere entertained for him. The worth of his character was acknowledged by all, for throughout his life he had been a reliable business man whose lahors were far-reaching and effective in behalf of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the first Chamber of Com- merce organized in Nampa. He was a member of the state legislature of 1889 and, gifted by nature with marked oratorial power, often addressed the public upon the issues and vital questions of the day. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic and throughout his entire career was as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south. Mrs. Kurtz still makes her home in Nampa and is most highly esteemed throughout the city and surrounding country. She gave the park to the city as a playground for the people and because of her deep interest in Nampa, her adopted home. She is a lady of culture and refinement who has traveled extensively through the older settled sections of Europe and through the Holy land.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

Progressive ranching interests are typically represented by William H. Thomp- son, who owns a fine property on the Boise bench about three and a half miles south of the city. He was born on a farm in Washington county, Wisconsin, March 19, 1860. His father, Robert Thompson, was a native of Ireland but spent most of his mature life in Wisconsin. He married Elizabeth Thompson, also a native of Ireland but not a relative. They were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, coming from the north of Ireland. About 1840 they came to the United States and here they reared a large family, of whom two sons and five daughters are now living. One son and a daughter reside in the state of Idaho, the sister of our subject being Mrs. W. C. Annett, of Boise.

To the age of eleven years William H. Thompson was reared on the Wisconsin home farm but at that time took up his residence on a farm in Clay county, Iowa. His father died in Washington county, Wisconsin, in 1871 and the following year the mother removed with her children to Clay county. William H. Thompson received his education in the common schools of Wisconsin and Iowa and in his early manhood was connected with railroad contracting in the service of the Canadian Pacific Railroad on the line from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the Rocky Mountains, this being in the years 1881 and 1882. Later he was employed in a similar capac-

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ity with the Northern Pacific from a point in North Dakota to Helena, Montana, following railroad and canal work at that time for several years. In 1889 he came to Idaho as subcontractor on the New York canal in the Boise valley. His years of experience and close application to the work well fitted him for this important position. In 1890-1 he built several miles of this canal and was so well pleased with conditions in Idaho that he decided to remain here, selecting Ada county as specifi- cally suitable for his plans. Turning his attention to agriculture, he in 1895, in partnership with several others, organized what was known as the Ada County Irrigation Company, which took up the work of the New York Canal Company, the latter having abandoned the project. The new company proceeded to complete the canal, which in 1906 the United States government took over, and it thus became part of the great Arrowrock reclamation system. This particular section, however, is operated by the New York Canal Company, Ltd., and Mr. Thompson has been its president for several years past. Shortly after the government took over the property he entered into a contract with it for enlarging the canal at an expenditure of two hundred thousand dollars and this improvement required two years to complete. During those years, 1906-8, he sometimes employed as many as two hundred men. Meanwhile, however, in the early '90s, having perceived the wonderful possibilities of the Boise valley irrigated lands along the New York canal, he made real estate investments in this section and now owns many hundreds of acres. His home ranch, upon which he resides, comprises two hundred and thirty acres and is splendidly improved. There he has large stock interests, rais- ing horses, cattle and hogs and he also gives considerable attention to the grow- ing of alfalfa. Attacking everything that he does with an indomitable spirit, he has made great strides along agricultural lines. Besides being president of the New York Canal Company and having extensive ranching interests, Mr. Thompson also serves as president of the board of drainage commissioners of district No. 2, comprising Ada and Canyon counties. His importance in regard to irrigation projects is further indicated by the position which he holds as president of the Idaho-Iowa Lateral Reservoir Company and president of the Hillcrest Irrigation District. Moreover, he has taken a laudable interest in the public affairs of Ada county, having served as county commissioner from the third district and acting as chairman of the board during the years 1909 and 1910.

In November, 1883, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Culver, a native of Wisconsin, and in their family are seven living children, four sons and three daughters; Ruby; Roy W .; Isabelle, the wife of Carl Ross; Elsie; Neal; Glenn; and Gerald. Miss Elsie Thompson is now assistant secretary of the Idaho State Fair Association. Neal Thompson was in the service of his country in France, being a member of the Artillery Corps.

Mr. Thompson is a republican in politics and is a member of the Idaho State Grange. There is great credit due him for what he has achieved, as he began life practically empty-handed and now represents ranching and irrigation interests which are not only of great value to himself but are also of vital importance to his county and state.

R. GORDON BILLS.

R. Gordon Bills is conducting an extensive business under the name of the Bills Auto Company, having garages at Blackfoot, Shelley and Aberdeen, Idaho. The successful management of these interests indicates his business capability and sagacity. At the same time he is proving an excellent official as one of the county commissioners of Bingham county. He makes his home at Blackfoot and is a western man by birth and training, being imbued with the progressive spirit which has ever been a dominant factor in the upbuilding of the west.

He was born at Denver, Colorado, in March, 1892, and is a son of William A. and Etta (Neil) Bills, the former a native of Utah, while the latter was born in Illinois. The father became a farmer of Utah and followed that pursuit there until 1906, when he removed to Rigby, Jefferson county, Idaho, and purchased land. This he continued to cultivate until 1917, when he sold the property and removed to Blackfoot, where he still resides. The mother is also living. Mr. Bills has

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held various offices in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being an active and prominent churchman.

R. Gordon Bills was reared and educated at Riverton, Utah. He continued with his parents to the age of fifteen years, when he and a brother went to Cal- ifornia, where he worked in a garage, remaining there until 1914, when he came to Blackfoot and engaged in the automobile business. He had a capital of five hundred dollars to invest and he and his brother turned their attention to the automobile business, continuing together in this line for nine months, at the end of which time Gordon Bills purchased the interest of his brother and has since carried on the business alone under the style of the Bills Auto Company. He has the Ford agency and also operates a garage at Shelley and at Aberdeen, the garage at Shelley being the largest in Bingham county. However, he is now building at Blackfoot the largest garage in the state, erecting this mammoth structure at a cost of sixty thousand dollars. In dimensions it is seventy-five by one hundred and twenty-five feet and two stories in height, with full basement. In the conduct of the business Mr. Bills displays a most progressive spirit. He has splendidly equipped plants at the three points and is conducting a business that is constantly increasing in volume and importance. He employs competent managers and expert mechanics and to the business in the three cities he gives personal attention and supervision. He is also a stockholder in the Beet Growers Sugar Company at Rigby.

In August, 1910, Mr. Bills was married to Miss Zora Wright, he being then but eighteen years of age. They have become the parents of three children: Vir- ginia, who was born December 6, 1912; Paul G., born in June, 1915; and Neil W., born March 29, 1919.

Mr. Bills gives his political endorsement to the republican party and was elected county commissioner of Bingham county, being probably the youngest man in the state to hold that office, having been chosen to the position when but twenty-six years of age. He has membership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Rotary Club. Mr. Bills certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. Starting out in life empty-handed, he has worked his way steadily upward for he came to Bingham county in 1914 with practically nothing. Since then he has developed an extensive business and his fortune is now one of quite substantial proportions.

JAMES LAIDLAW.

James Laidlaw, for years one of the most extensive and prosperous sheep raisers and wool growers in and about Ada county, Idaho, and well known as a citizen of the first rank since he has come to Boise, is a native of Scotland, born in the land of the heather and thistle, November 24, 1869, a son of Alexander and Margaret (Pagan) Laidlaw, also natives of Scotland, where they are still living and where the former was a shepherd during his active life. The parents have spent all their lives in the old country, and the members of the family who have come to America are James Laidlaw and his brother William, the latter living at Rupert, Idaho.

James Laidlaw grew up in Scotland and was educated in the schools of that country. At the age of twenty-three, in 1892, Mr. Laidlaw emigrated to America and has ever since been identified with the sheep industry. On arriving in this country, he came to Idaho and settled in Cassia county, where he lived for two years, being engaged as a sheep herder for the first fifteen months. Mr. Laidlaw then decided to open up in the sheep industry on his own account, and for a quarter century his sheep interests have been gradually growing, until he is now rated as one of the largest and most substantial men in the sheep business in his part of Idaho; in fact he has come to be known as the "sheep king" of Blaine county. His wool-growing interests for years have been in Blaine and Minidoka counties, chlefly in Blaine county for pasture during the summer season, while the lambing sheds and winter feeding grounds are in Minidoka county, near Rupert, Idaho.

Mr. Laidlaw has met with unusual success and prosperity since he first embarked in the sheep business, and It is a tribute both to his energy and business sagacity to record that In twenty-five years he has accumulated a handsome fortune. Since June,

JAMES LAIDLAW

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1907, he has resided at 210 State Street, Boise, where he owns a very fine modern two-story cut-stone home, one of the finest residences in Boise.

On June 19, 1907, Mr. Laidlaw was united in marriage to Genevieve Alice Treadgold, who was born near Port Huron, Michigan, February 22, 1887, and is a daughter of Manton and Mary Frances (Templeton) Treadgold, both of whom now live in Oregon, but were born in Canada and are of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Laidlaw four children have been born: James Alexander, called "Sandy," born May 29, 1908; Frederick Manton, born March 27, 1910; Annabel Jean, July 5, 1914, and Geraldine, April 9, 1919. Mrs. Laidlaw is an earnest member of the Episcopalian church and takes a warm interest in all social and cultural movements in and about Boise.

Mr. Laidlaw is a member of the Idaho Woolgrowers Association, and he and his partner, Robert Brockie, own five thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of ranch lands in Blaine county, while the number of sheep which passes through their hands in the course of twelve months runs into several thousand. Mr. Laidlaw paid a visit to his parents in Scotland in 1904. His parents are now living retired, having reached the age of about seventy-five years each.

J. E. RUTLEDGE.

What an interesting story would be unfolded if the life record of J. E. Rutledge, with all of its pioneer experiences, its hardships, its privations, its possibilities and its opportunities, could be given in detail! There is no phase of the development of Idaho with which Mr. Rutledge is not familiar, for through a third of a century he has lived in this state. He was born at El Paso, Illinois, November 13, 1867, and is a son of Thompson and Martha Ellen ( Wheeler) Rutledge. When he was a youth of seventeen years he left home and went to Montana and thence made his way to Oregon, while in 1887 he arrived in Long Valley, Idaho. He was one of the pioneers of the valley, where he turned his attention to the live stock business. En route from Montana he and his brother, I. M. Rutledge, with whom he has always been associated in business, passed through the Big Hole basin of Montana when there was but one rancher in that district and where the grass grew so high that it entirely covered the axles of their wagons. In reply to their query as to what could be raised there, the rancher gave a characteristic answer: "Hell and hay." It is now a very productive section. The nearest postoffice to the place at which the brothers settled was thirty-five miles distant. The country was overrun with bears, and deer could be seen in every direction, they were so numerous. The party consisted of Mr. Rutledge of this review, his three brothers, a sister and his father and mother. On leaving Weiser it was necessary for them to ford the Weiser river eighteen times between their starting point and Salmon Meadows, as there were no bridges and scarcely any sort of road. In the early days they had to build their houses of logs and their tables and doors were made of split logs, as there were no sawmills in the country. The snowfall there was very deep and they had to use snowshoes to haul hay on hand sleds for the stock. Even then a great number of their stock died for want of food.

៛ · Mr. Rutledge has seen the Indians in such numbers that their band would be miles long as they passed through the country. Although the winters were very hard, Mr. Rutledge says that Long Valley was one of the finest stock countries in the world twenty years ago, as it grew the best possible grass and hay. He con- tinued there to engage in stock raising until 1910, conducting his live stock inter- ests on an extensive scale and ranging his cattle in that section of the state. During the winter months he and his family would leave the district so that the children could attend school but would return to Long Valley in the spring. Mr. Rutledge has ridden after stock ever since he can remember and still likes it. He is a man of genial disposition and jovial temperament who looks much younger than his years, probably due to his out-of-door life. In the earlier days he and his associates would catch white fish in Payette lake, in the early part of November, to the extent of thousands of pounds for their winter supply, and the last time that he seined for them, he pulled in a ton at one haul.

In 1910, however, Mr. Rutledge sold his interests there and removed to the vicinity of Star, Idaho. A year later he purchased his present place of one hundred and fifty-eight and a half acres near Middleton, where he has a fine residence --

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one of the attractive homes of the town. He also owns a ranch of four hundred and fifty-eight acres at Jerusalem, one hundred and sixty acres on Brownlee creek, these places being devoted to the raising of stock. At present he has about two hundred and fifty head of cattle and he buys and sells in large numbers. He feeds all of his stock and he employs progressive methods in their care and preparation for the market. In his business affairs he has always displayed sound judgment as well as enterprise and he has won substantial and well merited success.

Mr. Rutledge was married to Miss Lovie L. Landreth, of Iowa, and they have become the parents of ten children. Jesse L., who is on the ranch at Jerusalem, was in the army in France for seventeen months with the Forest Engineers and had just left the harbor of Halifax a few hours before the big explosion occurred there. Perry E. is at the ranch with his brother Jesse. Percy L., who is associated with his father, was at Camp Lewis and afterward in California in training for infantry service but did not get across. Nellie I. is the wife of C. E. Personette and lives at home. Lovie Elsie is employed in an abstract office in Caldwell. Pansy is employed in the telephone office in Caldwell. Clyde, Ira, Joy and Beth are also under the parental roof. Mr. Rutledge has a most interesting family, has led an active and useful life and has made valuable contribution to the upbuilding and development of Idaho, his labors having contributed much to its agricultural progress, while as a stock raiser he is widely known and his ranch properties are the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift.

JAMES B. NEWPORT.

James B. Newport is the owner of an excellent farm property of eighty acres about two miles northwest of Notus and in the conduct of his place he displays undaunted energy and sound business judgment-qualities leading to substantial success. Mr. Newport was born in Dallas county, Missouri, December 14, 1876. His father, David Newport, was a native of Tennessee and in young manhood removed to Missouri, where he was married to Miss Harriet Bennett, a native of that state. He followed farming and stock raising to the time of his death, which occurred in 1906, when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife passed away in 1892.

James B. Newport acquired his education in the schools of his native state and when sixteen years of age left home and made his way direct to Parma, Idaho. There he took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for two years and then removed to Notus, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in connection with his brother, John B. Newport. They also bought a small herd of cattle and a cattle range north of Cambridge, on the Weiser river, and followed the cattle industry for eight years in connection with farming, having altogether about three hundred and fifty head of cattle. When eight years had passed, however, they dissolved partnership, James B. Newport purchasing his present place of eighty acres about two miles northwest of Notus. To his original tract he has added other eighties until he now has an excellent farm property of two hundred and forty acres. Much of his land is now being cultivated and his progressiveness is manifest in the methods which he has followed to develop his place. He assisted in organiz- ing the Black Canyon irrigation district and has been chairman of its board of directors since the organization in 1910. He spent two years on a homestead in the Black Canyon irrigation district. He deserves great credit for his persistent efforts in getting the government to again take up the Black Canyon project after it has been abandoned and withdrawn from the Boise-Payette project, of which it was originally a part. He and his associates have labored untiringly for more than seven years with the reclamation service to get them to reconsider the irrigating of this portion of land and they are just now getting water.

In April, 1902, Mr. Newport was united in marriage to Miss Emma Wignall, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and they have four children: Artie A., attending high school in the Tendavis district; Georgia, an eighth grade pupil; A. Kendall, also in school; and Ivan Woodrow, who is five years of age. The home of the family is a beautiful residence, modern and complete, which was erected by Mr. Newport at a cost of six thousand dollars. It is supplied with a private lighting and sewerage system, the plans for which were furnished by the government upon

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the request of Mr. Newport. Everything about the place is thoroughly modern, convenient and attractive and Mr. Newport finds his greatest happiness in promoting the welfare and comfort of his family. Politically he is connected with the demo- cratic party and has been a member of the state legislature from Canyon county. He stands at all times for progress and improvement in matters of citizenship, and no plan or project for public benefit fails to receive his hearty endorsement and earnest support.

CHARLES J. COON.

Charles J. Coon is actively identified with farming not far from New Plymouth, in Payette county, and his enterprise and industry are constituting the foundation upon which he is building substantial success. . He was born in Nebraska, April 21, 1878. His father, Christopher Columbus Coon, is a native of Ohio and in early life Iearned the carpenter's trade. He wedded Mary Kutch, a native of Indiana, who has now passed away, but the father still makes his home in Nebraska.

Charles J. Coon was reared in that state and there resided until about thirty- one years of age, when in September, 1909, he came to the northwest and settled where he still resides, securing seventeen and a half acres of land, which he pur- chased four miles west of New Plymouth. He now has eight acres planted to fruit, while the balance is devoted to the raising of alfalfa. He also raises a crop of alfalfa between the fruit trees. In the year 1919 his orchard produced eighty tons of apples, which he sold at fifty dollars per ton. In addition to his home place he rents thirty-five acres, on which he raises wheat, hay and potatoes, and in 1919 his what crop amounted to about two hundred bushels. He likewise has excellent stock upon his place, keeps a registered Jersey bull and five cows and to some extent engages in dairying.

On the 12th of August, 1909, Mr. Coon was married to Miss Cena Feddersen, a native of Nebraska and a daughter of Christ and Anna (Solbeck) Feddersen, who were natives of Denmark and were married at Dwight, Illinois. Mrs. Coon was educated in Nebraska and by her marriage has become the mother of a son, Beck- ford. By a former marriage Mr. Coon had two children: Leland, eighteen years of age; and a daughter, Marjorie. Both are at home. The family occupies an attractive residence and an air of neatness and thrift pervades the farm, indicating the progressive spirit and enterprise of the owner.

CLINTON R. AND WILLIAM G. SHIPMAN.

Clinton R. and William G. Shipman constitute the firm of Shipman Brothers, who are well known sheepmen and general farmers of Twin Falls county. Both were born at Rock Rapids, Iowa, the former on the 25th of January, 1880, and the latter on the 28th of May, 1878. They are sons of George A. and Anna B. (Ebright) Shipman. The father is a native of the state of New York, while the mother's birth occurred near Cincinnati, Ohio. In young manhood George A. Ship- man removed to the middle west, settling in Jones county, Iowa, where he lived for a number of years. He afterward took up a homestead in Lyon county, Iowa, and upon a tract of wild land built a log cabin and also a barn with straw roof. He had one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved for five years. He next removed to Rock Rapids, Iowa, where he still makes his home, but is now living retired at the age of seventy-three years. His wife also survives and has reached the age of seventy-two. Mr. Shipman has long been a stalwart supporter of the Masonic fraternity and his political faith is that of the republican party.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 21

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Hawley, James Henry, 1847-1929, ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 926