History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 22

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

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Clinton R. and William G. Shipman spent their boyhood days at Rock Rapids, lowa, and were educated in the public schools, their youthful days being passed in the usual manner of the farm-bred boy who divides his time between the work of the schoolroom the pleasures of the playground and the tasks of the farm. Clinton R. Shipman, after finishing his education, engaged in the cement contracting busi- ness in eastern South Dakota in southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa

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and met with a considerable measure of prosperity in that undertaking. Later he turned his attention to the banking business becoming assistant cashier of the State Bank of America at Bishee, North Dakota. His brother, William G., also became interested in the bank but gave his attention largely to the supervision of their cement business. At length on account of the condition of his health, Clinton R. Shipman sold the bank and purchased North Dakota land. This he cultivated for a time and then disposed of his property making investment in Iowa land, which he afterward sold. In the spring of 1918 he and his brother purchased their present farm, comprising three hundred and sixty-six acres of good land in Twin Falls county, Idaho. They carry on general farming and sheep raising and their business interests are wisely and profitably conducted. They also own a laundry at Rock Rapids, Iowa, and have made investments in property which returns a good income.

In 1907 William G. Shipman was united in marriage to Miss May King, a daughter of R. K. King, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have two chil- dren, Esther and King. Clinton R. Shipman was married to Jennie B. Jen- nings, a daughter of J. B. and Carrie (Kaylor) Jennings and a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The three children of their marriage are Horace, Ruth and George.

The Shipman brothers are stalwart supporters of the republican party and they are consistent members of the Masonic fraternity. Through the greater part of their lives they have been associated in their business interests, the labors of the one ably supplementing and rounding out the efforts of the other, so that theirs is a strong business combination. They are now concentrating their attention largely upon general agricultural pursuits and the sheep industry and are winning substantial success in their undertakings.

F. L. ROSE.

In the thirteen years of his residence in Idaho, F. L. Rose has made rapid progress along business lines and is today the owner of an excellent farm property of one hun- dred and sixty acres pleasantly and conveniently situated five and a half miles south- west of Caldwell. A native son of Iowa, he was born January 18, 1867, his parents being Stephen Gilbert and Rose Linda Jane (Ogden) Rose, who were natives of Ohio, in which state they were reared and married. In the fall of 1859 they removed to Iowa, becoming pioneer residents of that section, and there the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1883. The mother survived for some time and passed the last three years of her life in Oklahoma, reaching the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

In his youthful days F. L. Rose was early trained to the work of field and meadow and after his father's death he continued to cultivate the old homestead farm in Iowa until 1893, when he removed to Oklahoma, where he carried on general farming for twelve years. In 1906 he arrived in Idaho and located on his present home of one hun- dred and sixty acres about five and a half miles southwest of Caldwell. The place was practically a desert tract at that time, on which grew nothing but sagebrush. Mr. Rose worked on the various irrigation ditches for three years and as soon as water was available for irrigation purposes he concentrated his entire time and attention upon the development of his farm. He now has forty-five acres planted to potatoes and he raises a large amount of clover seed. He also cultivates corn, wheat, oats and barley and during the winter months he feeds a large number of cattle which he buys in the fall. He has a fine, imposing home and is planning extensive improvements thereto. There is also a splendid silo upon his place and large and commodious outbuildings, which were erected at a cost of several thousand dollars and which furnish ample shel- ter for grain and stock.

In 1888 Mr. Rose was united in marriage to Miss Grace Vanderburg, of Iowa, and they have become the parents of eleven children. Thomas G., who died at the age of twenty-seven years, was married and left one daughter, Gilberta. Jessie was burned to death in Oklahoma when but three years of age. Margaret is the wife of Robert Brown, living near Star, and they have one son, Blaine. Charley B., twenty-two years of age, marrled Merle Kaiser. William J., twenty years of age, was a member of the Quartermaster's Corps of the United States army in France during the great World war. Guy A., eighteen years of age, is assisting his father upon the home farm. The

MR. AND MRS. F. L, ROSE

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other members of the family are as follows. Irene; Estelene; Frank and Fred, twins; and Ima Rose.

The members of the family are well known socially throughout their section of Canyon county and in business circles Mr. Rose has made a creditable name and place, for he has been found to be a man of thorough reliability as well as enterprise and pro- gressiveness. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to try his fortune in the northwest, for here he has found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization is making steady progress toward the goal of prosperity.

CHARLES O. PICARD.

Charles O. Picard is now living retired in Caldwell, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits. For many years he was actively engaged in the butchering business in Caldwell and his progressive commercial methods and undaunted enterprise brought to him substantial rewards of labor. Mr. Picard was born in Montreal, Canada, January 20, 1848, and is a son of Louis and Louise (Wait) Picard. The father was descended from Huguenot ances- try, his progenitors having left France on account of religious persecution. They settled in Quebec, where representatives of the name have since lived. The mother of Charles O. Picard was born in Montreal and was of Scotch and British stock. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Picard removed from Montreal to Shefford county, Quebec, during the youth of their son Charles. The father was a farmer and stock grower there and for many years conducted business along that line. Both he and his wife passed away in Quebec.

Charles O. Picard remained a resident of his native land until 1878, when, at the age of thirty years, he removed to Wyoming and there was employed by Marsh & Hutton in the butchering business for five years. He was also inter- ested in the sheep business with Don Cameron, but disposed of his interests to the editor of the Rod and Gun. In 1883 he removed to Caldwell, where he became engaged in the butchering business as a partner of Mike Roberts in 1885. He was thus associated until February, 1919, or for a period of a third of a century. He then leased his interest in the business to Dave Baird for five years but still retains his share in the business block which houses the shop. This is a building twenty-five by one hundred and twenty feet on Main street, in the heart of the city. He also owns a ninety acre ranch two miles west of Caldwell, but he has practically' retired from active business life.

It was after coming to Idaho that Mr. Picard was married to Miss Char- lotte Moe, a native of Trondjem, Norway, who came to Idaho in 1880, making the trip by stage to Silver City from Winnemucca, Nevada, then the nearest rail- road point-a distance of more than two hundred miles. Mrs. Picard has a sister living here, Mrs. Josephine Bronsell, whose husband was one of the earliest and best known of the pioneers of the state, and he and his wife lived in Silver City for more than forty years. The only relative of Mr. Picard living in this section of the country-is Mrs. Charles Oakes, who is his niece. Mr. and Mrs. Picard are people of gentle breeding and natural refinement, whose genuine worth is recognized by all with whom they have come in contact, and in Cald- well, where they have so long resided, they have a circle of friends almost co- extensive with the circle of their acquaintance.

L. B. MAKINSON.

The farming interests of Payette county find a worthy representative in L. B. Makinson, whose life of diligence and determination has resulted in the attainment of a substantial measure of success. His place, today a valuable property, was a tract of wild land when it came into his possession, but the sagebrush has been replaced with a fine orchard and fields of grain. Mr. Makinson was born in Wis- consin, July 22, 1859. His father, Evan Makinson, a native of England, became a resident of Wisconsin in 1848. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Frances Carpenter, was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Illinois and both are

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now deceased. The father died during the infancy of L. B. Makinson, and the mother in 1864 went with her family to Minnesota, settling in Wabasha county.

L. B. Makinson was at that time a lad of but five years. He was there reared and educated and after attaining sufficient age he took up farming on his own account in Minnesota and was thus engaged until he reached the age of twenty- four, when he went to Nebraska and became actively engaged in merchandising at Linwood in addition to carrying on agricultural pursuits. The year 1903 witnessed his arrival in Payette county, Idaho, and he purchased sixty acres of land two and a half miles west of New Plymouth, thereon devoting his attention to general farm- ing, including the raising of hay, grain and fruit. He produced about two carloads of apples in 1919. He has improved his place from the raw sagebrush land and the tract which seemingly gave no promise when it came into his possession is now a valuable farm. equipped with all modern conveniences and bringing to him a substantial financial income.

Mr. Makinson takes a most active interest in everything that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of his section and his state. He has served as manager, as president and member of the hoard of the Noble . Ditch Company and at the present writing is the ditch rider. He served on the school board for twelve years and was instrumental in developing the district from a primary to a high school district. He is now the president and manager of the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company of Fruitland and any project that has to do with the upbuilding of the community finds in him a stalwart champion.

In 1888 Mr. Makinson was married to Miss Alice Slocum, a native of Missouri and a sister of Mrs. William Homan and Mrs. J. W. Boor, who are residents of Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Makinson have four children. Ralph C., twenty-nine years of age, married Alice Whealdon and served as a member of the Hospital Corps in France during the World war. James H., twenty-six years of age, was a member of Company L, Three Hundred and Twelfth Infantry, Twenty-eighth Division, and was wounded in the battle of the Argonne hut is now at home. Ethel is the wife of Arthur Eldridge and the mother of one daughter, Ruby Marie. Clyde S., seven- teen years of age, is at home.

By reason of his alert and progressive spirit, his recognition of the opportuni- ties of the district and his utilization of these opportunities Mr. Makinson is spoken of as a "live wire" and has indeed been a dynamic force in the development of his section of the state.

HARRY A. ROBB.

Harry A. Robb was a notably progressive and enterprising business man who contributed much to the development and upbuilding of Nampa, where for many years he was identified with commercial pursuits. He was born at Creston, Iowa, and was but thirty-four years of age when death claimed him on the 26th of Jan- uary, 1913. He was a son of William and Kate (White) Robb, the latter of Cres- ton, Iowa, but now deceased. In that city Harry A. Robb pursued his education in the graded schools and after his textbooks were put aside served for two years as business manager of the daily paper published by his father, when owing to ill health and in accordance with the doctor's advice, he went to Pueblo, Colorado, where his uncle, A. H. White, of the firm of White & Davis, conducted the largest mercantile business of the city. There Mr. Robb became advertising manager for the store and so continued during the four years of his stay in the city.

Mr. Robb was not satisfied with his opportunities hut was constantly on the alert to secure a suitable location for the establishment of a business of his own. After thorough investigation he made Nampa his objective and in 1903 opened the first exclusive men's and boys' wearing apparel establishment in the city under the name of the Robb Clothing Company. In 1905 he established a similar store at Roosevelt, Idaho, a mining camp, conducting the business there under the name of the Robb Mercantile Company, and in 1906 he opened still another ex- clusive men's furnishing store at Weiser. It was his plan to establish a chain of such stores in the principal towns of Idaho, but death claimed him before he was able to further expand his interests. He was a man of keen business ability, am- bitious both for his own interests and for the development of the state. He was

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regarded as one of the greatest advertisers of the west and in advertising he used the slogan: "Robb, the Clothier. Don't be afraid of the name." This naturally canght the attention and awakened the interest of the public. His advertisements were never without a sense of humor, which caused the public to look forward to their appearance. His campaign of advertising forced other firms to resort to the same methods, so that the advertising business greatly increased and, as Mr. Robb humorously expressed it, when he and his family first came to Nampa they lived at the hotel, while the newspaper proprietor lived in a small house; but after a few years of advertising he was forced to live in a tent (upon the doctor's request), while the newspaper proprietor moved to the hotel. Mr. Robb always felt that advertising paid and paid generously. During the fire of 1906, which destroyed a considerable portion of the town, when the fire had broken out in the same block in which his store was located, he with his wife's help removed a stock valued at twenty thousand dollars to a place of safety, although he was quite ill at the time. The following day this stock was placed on sale in another business location. The determination of a man who was ill at the time gave renewed con- fidence to the population, who endeavored to take a more cheerful view of the calamity that had visited them. In twenty hours Mr. Robb put his business on a cash basis from a fifty thousand dollar credit business and promoted one of the largest sales ever made in the state, this, too, during a time of financial depression. He was a man of notable business genius and could have been a leader in any metropolitan city had his health permitted him to live in the east. One of the reasons of his success was due to his expressed belief that "all members of the firm should not be asleep at one time," and in this way he managed always to be just a little ahead of his competitors. Upon his death Mrs. Robb, a woman of attractive personality and fine business qualities, settled up the estate and closed out the stores, feeling that her family required her undivided attention.

It was in Pueblo, Colorado, in 1898, that Mr. Robb wedded Miss Florence M.' Evans, a daughter of John B. Evans, a native of Wales and an expert in the man- ufacture of steel. Her mother bore the maiden name of Anna Knoff and both parents are now deceased. The mother was born in Virginia and Mrs. Robb is also a native of that state. She has become the mother of three children: Ed, now seventeen years of age, who while attending school is also a clerk with the Oregon Short Line Railroad; Harry, aged eleven; and Bill, aged eight. With her three interesting sons Mrs. Robb has recently moved into a new home. She possesses literary talents and will doubtless be heard from in literary circles in the near future.

Mr. Robb was a Mason and a Knight of Pythias and was one of the most alert and enterprising members of the Commercial Club, cooperating most heartily in all of its well devised plans and projects for the general good. In his demise Nampa indeed lost one of her valued citizens-one whose worth was widely ac- knowledged and one who had made valuable contribution to her welfare and progress.

WILLIAM A. FORREST.

The rapid growth and development of our great western country is one of the wonders of the world, and yet, on careful consideration it is not so much a matter of marvel, for this section of the country has been settled by enterprising men from the east who have recognized the opportunities for advancement in a new section and have utilized their former experience in the upbuilding of this district in accordance with the most progressive ideas of business. To this class of men belongs William A. Forrest, one of the proprietors of the Buhl Department Store at Buhl, Twin Falls county.

He was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, on the 18th of April, 1875, and is a son of Alexander B. and Rebecca (Thomas) Forrest. His youthful days were spent under the parental roof in his native county and his educational opportunities were those afforded by the public school system of the state. Entering upon his busi- ness career at Neenah, he secured a clerkship in a dry goods store there and later he continued his education by attendance at Lawrence College at Appleton, Wis- consin, and in the Northwestern Indiana University at Valparaiso, from which he Vol. III-13

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was graduated with the class of 1901. He was thus splendidly equipped by liberal educational training for life's practical and responsible duties.

Seeking a favorable field of labor in which to give scope to his industry and en- terprise-his dominant qualities-Mr. Forrest removed to the west, settling first at Grand Encampment, Wyoming, where he obtained a clerkship in a general store, there remaining for seven years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Rock Springs, Wyoming, and became buyer for a large department store, in which he also acted as assistant manager. In May, 1912, he removed to Idaho Falls and was manager of the Neuber-Scott Dry Goods Company, with which he was asso- ciated for three years. He then entered into partnership with W. T. Wade and they purchased the business of the Swanner Mercantile Company of Buhl in May, 1916. The partnership with Mr. Wade has since been continued. They were one of the first to engage in the men's furnishing goods business in Buhl. They also handle dry goods and ladies' ready-to-wear garments, having an attractive store on Broad- way, conducted under the name of the Buhl Department Store. Their purchases are carefully made, their orders being judiciously placed, and they give to their customers the benefit of the most attractive goods placed upon the market by east- ern and western manufacturers. They maintain the highest standards in the per- sonnel of the house, in the line of goods carried and in the treatment accorded patrons, and thus they have secured a very gratifying business.

In 1905 Mr. Forrest was married to Miss Eleanor C. Rowen, a daughter of Judge J. Brown and Ellen C. (Trotter) Rowen, the former a native of Denver, Colorado, while the latter was born in Jacksonville, Illinois. Her father became a judge in Wyoming, to which state the family removed, and later they continued their westward journey to the Pacific coast, being now residents of Seattle, Wash- ington. Mr. and Mrs. Forrest have become the parents of five children: William A., who died May 5, 1918, at the age of eleven and a half years; John R .; Mary E .; Carola C .; and Rowena L.

In politics Mr. Forrest maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is serving as secretary of the board of education; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Methodist Episcopal church and in these associations are found the rules which govern his conduct and shape his relations with his fellowmen, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.

S. S. FOOTE.

A most progressive citizen, capable business man and one whose resourcefulness contributed in marked measure to the development of this section of the state passed away when on the 8th of August, 1918, S. S. Foote was called to his final rest. He was born December 10, 1846, in Hartford, Connecticut, a son of Asa and Caroline (Hale) Foote. His education was acquired there in the graded schools and in a college, although he did not complete his college course. Later he studied under a private tutor and was thus well equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. Moreover, in the school of experience he was constantly learning lessons of value. At the age of seventeen he left home and sailed before the mast, making his way around Cape Horn to San Francisco. During that voyage his leg was twice broken in rough weather. He afterward went to Sacramento, where he pursued a business course, and there he learned the milling trade. He devoted several years thereafter to the milling business in California and in 1867 came to the Boise basin of Idaho, where he followed mining for a year and then returned to Sacramento, where he was again identified with milling interests until 1872.

In the latter year Mr. Foote again came to Idaho and entered the employ of J. M. Stevenson, of Middleton, as a miller. Not long afterward, associated with Abner Pack- ard, he purchased the mill, which they conducted under a partnership relation for twelve years. People came from a radius of one hundred miles with wheat to exchange for flour and the wagons and teams crowded the streets of the little city. In 1885 Mr. Foote purchased the interest of Mr. Packard and in 1899 tore down the old mill and removed everything to Caldwell, where he rebuilt his mill, installing a modern plant upon the site of the present mill of the Idaho Milling Company. After conducting the business successfully for six years his plant was destroyed by fire, and the year before

S. S. FOOTE

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a store building which he owned was burned to the ground. Mr. Foote sold the mill site to another company, who put up a mill, after which he returned to Middleton and settled upon his ranch of three hundred and sixty acres, entering the real estate husi- ness in this city. The principal part of Middleton as it stands today has been built upon a portion of his ranch. He also laid out a Foote addition to Caldwell on the north side near the courthouse, and thus with resolute spirit and determined purpose he sought to retrieve the losses caused by the fire in Caldwell. At the time the mill burned it was filled with grain and flour and it was more than a month hefore the fire ceased to burn. Just before it was destroyed Mr. Foote had purchased the interests of all the Caldwell men who had subscribed liherally to the mill. He was a most resourceful and enterprising business man and contributed in marked measure to the development and upbuilding of the section of the state in which he lived. For some time he was asso- ciated with Mr. Wallace in the grocery business in Middleton but closed out the store just prior to his demise. He also figured in banking circles, becoming one of the founders and stockholders of the Middleton State Bank, of which he was made a direc- tor and the first president. He was also a stockholder and director of the Caldwell Commercial Bank when it was first organized and at the time of his demise he was a director of the Boise Valley Traction Company.

In 1885, at Sacramento, California, Mr. Foote was married to Miss Cordelia Wil- son, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of James Wilson, who was born in New Hampshire. They became the parents of four children. Georgia, the eldest, is the wife of Charles Gerhauser. She is a graduate of the State Normal School at Lewis- ton, Idaho, and she also spent four years in the preparatory department of the College of Idaho at Caldwell and continued her education as a freshman in that college after which she taught for two years at Moscow and four years in Caldwell. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerhauser has been born one child, Marion. Harold E., after fifteen months' foreign service, has returned home from France, where he was a top sergeant in the Engineers Corps. He was called with Idaho Guard to the border and patrolled railroads in Mon- tana. He was educated in the College of Idaho, spending four years in the academy. He and his brother have taken charge of the two ranches left by their father and are raising grain and stock, one ranch being located at Middleton and the other at Star. Joy Ruth is the wife of Everett Corn. She spent five years in the College of Idaho as a student and then served for two years as bookkeeper in the bank at Middleton. The. younger son is S. S. Foote, who is now farming with his brother. Excellent educa- tional advantages have been accorded the family. The younger son was for four and a half years a student in the College of Idaho and one year in Corvallis, Oregon.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 22

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