History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 44

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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Mr. Berry is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he maintains an independent course nor has he ever been ambitious to hold office.

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He has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and as the result of his close application and energy has developed one of the fine ranches of his section of the state. The O. K. Dairy Farm is unsurpassed among the dairy ranches of this section and is splendidly developed with all mod- ern improvements, including a large silo, dairy house and splendid dairy barn. His own residence is an attractive home where hospitality abounds and is a favorite resort with the many friends of the family.

CHARLES L. JELLISON.

Charles L. Jellison is the senior partner in the firm of Jellison Brothers, pro- prietors of marble and granite works in Boise. In this undertaking he is associ- ated with his brother, C. Orrin Jellison, and they maintain a business also at Twin Falls, carrying the largest stock of finished monuments in the state. Charles L. Jellison was born at Mattoon, Illinois, March 1, 1877, and is the fourth son of Edward A. and Nancy ( Sanders) Jellison, who now reside at No. 716 East Jeffer- son street in Boise, where they have lived since 1906, coming to this city after their son, Charles L., who took up his abode here in 1897. The first of the family to ar- rive in Boise, however, was an elder brother, John S. Jellison, who settled here about 1891 but afterward removed to Huntington, Oregon.

When Charles L. Jellison was a small child his parents became residents of . Sherburne county, Minnesota, where he spent his youth upon a farm. In 1897, when twenty years of age, he came to Boise, where his elder brother was then liv- ing, and here engaged in the stone business. He became a partner of his brother John in the undertaking and was thus connected until 1906, when they sold their stone quarry, which was east of Boise, to the state of Idaho. In 1907 Charles L. Jellison and his two brothers, Edward A. and Clarence Orrin, formed a partner- ship in the marble and granite business under the firm style of Jellison Brothers. The elder brother, Edward A., died June 28, 1914, and since that time the other two partners have conducted the business. Their Boise establishment has always been located at Fifth and Main streets and is the largest marble, granite and monu- ment works in southern Idaho.

On the 8th of June, 1907, Mr. Jellison was married to Miss Anna Rechsteiner, who was born in Germany, but at the time of her marriage was living at Boise, Idaho. They are well known in this city, where Mr. Jellison has made his home for twenty-three years and where throughout the entire period he has been num- bered among the active and enterprising business men, contributing largely to its commercial development.

JAMES E. WILEY.

James E. Wiley is a ranchman residing two miles south of Emmett, where he has a good property which he owns jointly with Wallace A. Cannon, who also re- sides on the ranch, the latter's mother, Mrs. Emma Cannon, acting as housekeeper for them. Mr. Wiley was born in Hall county, Georgia, January 11, 1858, and is a son of George Wiley, a Confederate soldier who was killed in the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge. His mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Pittman and both parents were natives of Georgia. In that state James E. Wiley of this review was reared upon a plantation and in 1883 he went to California, spending seven years on the Pacific coast.

In 1890 he came to Idaho and took up a homestead in Long Valley, in what was then Boise county but is now Valley county. He resided upon that place for many years, engaged largely in raising cattle. He finally disposed of that property and afterward resided at New Plymouth, Idaho, for a year, there owning an apple orchard. After disposing of that property he bought a ranch near Sweet, Idaho, and later sold it and camped out in the hills for a time. Then in connection with Mr. Cannon he purchased a splendid forty-acre ranch two miles south of Emmett, which they now own and for which they paid eight thousand dollars. Mr. Wiley and Mr. Cannon are not related in any way save through the ties of friendship. Mr. Can-

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non, like his partner, is a native of Georgia, as is his mother, who bore the maiden name of Emma Taylor. Both Mr. Wiley and Mr. Cannon have other business in- terests aside from the ranch in which they are equal partners. Mr. Wiley intends to leave the management and operation of the ranch largely to his partner, who is much younger, Mr. Wiley having attained the age of sixty-two years and believing it to be time to "take things easy." He is an excellent rifle shot and is fond of hunting and fishing. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, but he has never sought or desired office, preferring always to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs.

Wallace A. Cannon was born in Dawson county, Georgia, November 13, 1881. His father, James T. Cannon, died at New Plymouth, Idaho, September 15, 1918. It was on the 20th of February, 1873, that James T. Cannon wedded Emma Taylor and they resided upon a plantation in Dawson county, Georgia, from the time of their marriage until 1902, when they removed to Montana and afterward became residents of Oklahoma, whence they came to Idaho in 1912. Mr. Cannon lived at Gooding for a time and later at New Plymouth. The son, Wallace A. Cannon, was married ten years ago, but his wife passed away in 1917, leaving two sons, James and Harold, aged eight and seven years respectively. He has two sisters: Mrs. Ella Haacke, of Montana; and Mrs. Effie Rogers, living at New Plymouth, Idaho. The household consists of Mr. Wiley and his partner, his mother and his two children.

Mr. Wiley also owns, in addition to the ranch property, one hundred and sixty acres near Banks, Idaho, in Boise county, and has mortgages on several valuable properties. He is a man of kindly nature, generous-hearted and whole-souled, whose home is one of hospitality and who always has a cheery greeting for every guest. His many admirable traits of character have won him high regard and his friends in Gem county are numerous.

T. A. CLEMENT.

T. A. Clement, who carries on farming in Jefferson county about a mile north of Lewisville, was born in Plain City, Weber county, Utah, April 7, 1865, his parents being Thomas A. and Margaret E. (Shoemaker) Clement, the former born in Tompkins county, New York, March 24, 1842, while the latter was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 31, 1847, being the first white female child and the third child born there. The father came to Utah with his parents when but two years of age and in consequence was reared and educated in Salt Lake. In early life he began earning his living by working as a farm hand and he resided with an uncle for a number of years as his parents died when he was very young. Later he pur- chased land in Weber county, Utah, and was among the first settlers of Plain City. He developed and improved his property and continued its further cultivation until about 1892, when he removed to Jefferson county, Idaho, and again took up the occupation of farming on land in Menan. There he continued until December, 1906, when he went to Arizona, where he acquired a farm that he tilled and improved throughout his remaining days. He passed away July 28, 1908, while the mother is now living in Mesa, Arizona, at the age of seventy-two years.

T. A. Clement spent his early life in Plain City, Utah, and his education, which he there began, was continued in the high school at Ogden, Utah. In early man- hood he purchased land near Plain City and was there engaged in general farming until 1895, when he removed to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he bought a relinquish- ment, using his rights to secure property there. He was among the first settlers on the west side in the district called Moreland and there he followed farming until 1904, when he became a resident of Jefferson county, Idaho. He bought one hundred and ten acres a mile north of Lewisville and has improved this property to an extent that makes it one of the finest farms in the state. He has since con- tinued its cultivation and all of the accessories, conveniences and equipment of a model farm are found upon the place. He makes a specialty of handling pure bred Poland China hogs and other stock and his stock raising interests are constituting an important source of revenue to him.

On the 19th of October, 1887, Mr. Clement was united in marriage to Miss Anna J. Green. She was born in Plain City, Utah, March 31, 1868. and is a

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daughter of Peter C. and Elsie M. Green, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of P. B. Green on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Clement have had nine children: Luetta J., who died December 15, 1888; Walter A., a res- ident farmer of Jefferson county; Thomas L., who is also farming in Jefferson county; Horace P., who was engaged in railroading but is preparing to go on a Mexican mission for the Latter-day Saints; Elsie M., the wife of Thomas Jackson, a farmer of Jefferson county; Eva, Albert L. and Melvin L., all at home; and Wil- ford J., who died July 7, 1917, at the age of fifteen years.

Politically Mr. Clement is a republican and keeps well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire office. He belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which he is a high priest, and formerly he was counselor to the bishop at Moreland. The interests and activ- ities of his life are well balanced. He has been and is a most successful and en- terprising farmer, and at the same time he has recognized and fully met his duties and obligation in every connection.

WILLIAM W. KEEFER.

William W. Keefer, a prominent contractor who has done work of an extensive and important nature throughout Bonneville county and that section of the state, makes his home at No. 311 Ridge avenue, Idaho Falls. He was born in Pennsylvania Novem- ber 15, 1852, and is a son of Abraham and Ruhannah (Rosenberry) Keefer, who were also natives of the Keystone state, where the father followed farming throughout his entire life. He passed away in 1915 at the notable old age of ninety years, while his wife died in 1917 also at the age of ninety years.

William W. Keefer was reared in Pennsylvania and remained under the parental root until he attained his majority. He devoted two years to teaching school in early manhood and in 1879, when twenty-seven years of age, made his way westward to Idaho, settling at Eagle Rock, now Idaho Falls, where he assisted in building the rail- road shops. He is a carpenter by trade and has developed high skill and efficiency along that line. After doing railroad work he had charge of a construction gang for the Utah & Northern Railroad for six years. He then located at Idaho Falls, where . he has since engaged in contracting and building, his contracts being often of a most extensive and important character. The biggest piece of work he has done here was the construction of the dam across Snake river after other contractors had failed on the job. He has also erected a number of the best business blocks and finest residences of the city, and his efforts have been a valuable contribution to the promotion of this district.

On the 11th of April, 1886, Mr. Keefer was married to Miss Dora V. Shoemaker, and they have become the parents of seven children: Phillip; Ruby, now the wife of Howard J. Brace, of Boise; Fred and Frank, twins; Irene, the wife of Claude Black, engineer for the Idaho Canal Company; Louise; and Clyde, who married Rilla Kaler.

In his political views Mr. Keefer is a republican and is serving for the second term as a member of the city council. On one occasion he was also a candidate for the office of county sheriff and for two years he served as county coroner. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, and he is ever loyal to its teachings and the high ideals inculcated thereby. He and his family occupy an attractive home at No. 311 Ridge avenue, Idaho Falls, which he erected, and he also has two other residences which he rents, together with fifty town lots. He has thus made judicious investments in real estate and his holdings are gradually advancing in price. He is today recog- nized as a leading contractor of Idaho Falls and this section of the state, his work being an important element in the building projects of Bonneville county.

GUSS D. AMEN.

Guss D. Amen is the owner of an excellent ranch property of seventy-five and a half acres two miles south of Emmett and has been a resident of Idaho since 1902, removing from Longmont, Colorado. He was a young man of twenty-three years when he arrived in this state and after a few weeks spent at Nampa he came

WILLIAM W. KEEFER AND FAMILY

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to Enimett and has since lived in this vicinity, being connected with various lines of business but devoting his attention exclusively to farming during the past six years. He was born in Linn county, Missouri, June 15, 1878, and is a son of John and Louisa Amen, who were natives of Sweden but were married in Minnesota. They settled in Missouri in 1867 and the mother is still a resident of that state, at the age of eighty years, but the father there passed away November 28, 1912. Their family numbered five children, all of whom are living, but G. D. Amen is the only one in Idaho.

As stated, he came to the northwest when a young man of twenty-three years and he is now the owner of an excellent ranch property which is a part of the old Miller homestead that was entered by his wife's parents, Abraham and Amanda (Patrick) Miller. Their eldest daughter, Eliza, who is now Mrs. Amen, was born on the old homestead property but not in the house which she and her husband now occupy, her birthplace being the old Miller home on another part of the one hundred and sixty acre tract of land and now owned and occupied by Oliver Seetin and his family. The original Miller homestead of one hundred and sixty acres is now divided into three farms-two of forty acres and the one of seventy-five and a half acres now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Amen. The remaining four and a half acres of the original tract is covered by the irrigation ditch. It was on the 12th of June, 1907, that Mr. and Mrs. Amen were married and in 1912 he and another man purchased the entire Miller homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, later dividing it, so that the west half fell to Mr. Amen. He has put upon it a complete set of improvements in the way of new buildings that furnish ample shelter to grain and stock, while his home is an attractive and comfortable residence just a quarter of a mile west of the old Miller home. To him and his wife have been horn four children: Ellen Marie, born January 20, 1908; Arnold Halley, May 24, 1910; Agnes Lovise, July 26, 1912; and Elsie Eliza, October 2, 1916. Mr. Amen is a member of the Yeomen and of the Loyal Order of Moose. His attention, however, is mostly given to his agricultural interests and he has one of the best small farms in the vicinity of Emmett.

Because of the long connection of the Miller family with the pioneer develop- ment of Gem county, it will be interesting to know something more in detail about the worthy pioneer couple who settled here when much of the land in this section of the state was still unclaimed and uncultivated. Mr. Miller was born in Nash- ville, Tennessee, in 1844, and his wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Ellen Amanda Patrick, was born in Elkhart county, Indiana. They were married in Missouri and came to Idaho about thirty-five years ago. They have since remained in the northwest and are now residing near Eugene, Oregon, both enjoying good health. Mrs. Miller was the daughter of Hiram and Eliza Ann Patrick and the lat- ter lived to the notable old age of ninety-four years. Hiram Patrick was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1812, and his wife, whose family name prior to her mar- riage was Legore, was born in Washington county, Ohio, July 4, 1818. They were married in the latter county and had a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, five of whom are yet living: Mrs. Teresa Stagner, who is the widow of John Stagner and is now seventy-eight years of age, living at Emmett; Joseph Patrick, who is a veteran of the Union army and resides in Missouri; Mrs. Ellen Amanda Miller, of Landax, Oregon; and Mrs. Eliza Brown, the wife of Clint Brown, of Emmett, Idaho. It will thus be seen that the family has become weli represented in the northwest and the Amen children are the representatives of the Miller family in the third generation to reside in Gem county.

THOMAS RICHARDS FAULL.

Thomas Richards Faull, who is engaged in ranching near Emmett, is one of Idaho's pioneers and a most interesting man because of his reminiscences of pioneer days and his varied experiences in Idaho through the period of its early epochal development. He was born in the county of Cornwall, England, April 20, 1855, and is a son of James and Rachel (Holman) Faull, who always remained residents of England, the father there following mining pursuits, working in the tin mines of Cornwall.

It was there that Thomas Richards Faull began his labors when but twelve Vol. III-24

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years of age. He was employed in the tin mines with his father all through his youth and upon reaching manhood he crossed the ocean to Canada, spending eighteen months in Ontario. He then came to the United States, making his way to Idaho more than thirty years ago. He followed mining pursuits for more than two decades in this state and had previously for a time engaged in mining in Mono county, California, and in other parts of that state. It was about 1885 that he took up his abode in Idaho and worked in the mines until about 1908, since which time he has engaged in ranching in the vicinity of Emmett. He owns a sixty-acre ranch property.

In 1904 Mr. Faull was united in marriage to Mrs. Syrena A. Berntson nee Smith, who died a few years ago, leaving three daughters who were born of her first marriage and two sons born of the second marriage. Mr. Faull has always regarded his step-daughters as his own children and they have adopted his name. These are: Emma, now the wife of Arthur Fender; Leetha, and Hansena. The two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Faull are Lowell and James Henry, aged respectively nine and eight years. Another son, Morley, died at the age of two years and eight months.

Mr. Faull is a man of strong native intellect who from the experiences of life has learned many valuable lessons. He possesses much originality and initiative and his success in the business world is attributable entirely to his diligence and determination. He has never had occasion to regret having formulated the plan that brought him to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady advancement. At the same time the sterling worth of his character has gained him the friendly regard of all with whom he has been associated.

JOSIAH CALL.

Josiah Call, a prominent farmer and banker of Rigby, was born in Willard City, Utah, April 18, 1862, a son of Homer and Nancy (Merrill) Call, the former a native of the Buckeye state and the latter of North Carolina. Homer Call was one of the early settlers of northern Utah, having located in Willard City in 1851. As soon as he had established himself in his new home, he began farming and stock- raising, in which he was more or less interested the remainder of his life. In those early days improved methods in the harvesting and grinding of grain were not used in that part of Utah where he had settled, and he performed a signal service for his neighbors by building and operating the first grist mill in northern Utah. It was he, too, that brought the first threshing outfit to that section and he continued in the threshing business, along with farming and stockraising, the rest of his life. His death occurred in July, 1908, after he had reached the age of seventy-three years, and that of his wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, in April, 1882.

Josiah Call remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, ren- dering valuable assistance to his father in the development of the latter's farm- ing and business interests. It was also during this period that he made use of the limited educational facilities which the northern part of Utah at that time afforded. In the '70s and '80s the railroad facilities of the far west were in no wise so extensive as they are today and goods had to be freighted from points on the railroad far inland, and it was in this work that Mr. Call engaged after he left the home of his parents in 1880. From freighting he turned to railroad construction, at which he worked until he came to Idaho in 1884. In that year he located in that part of Oneida county which is now included in Jefferson and there took a homestead. With the energy which characterized his later activities, Mr. Call set to work to improve his farm, which was entirely of new land, and now it is one of the most highly developed in the entire county. A few years after his arrival he added to his holding by pre-empting a quarter section which is now included in town site of Rigby, and it was on this tract that he built a beautiful modern home, where he now resides, on the corner of Second North and State streets.

Although Mr. Call devotes the major portion of his time to his farming inter- ests, he nevertheless takes a prominent part in the business activities of Rigby. He is vice president of one of the most important financial institutions in Jeffer-

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son county-the First National Bank of Rigby, which depends much upon his good business sense and sound judgment. He is also a stockholder in the Bower- Schweitzer Mercantile Company and president of the Judd Motor Corporation.

In December, 1884, Mr. Call married Dove Facer and to this union were born ten children, all of whom are living. They are in the order of their births: Dr. O. F., a physician and surgeon of Rigby; Mary N., the wife of William J. Chand- Ier, who resides in Ririe, Idaho; Ethel M., who married W. W. Hymas and is now living in Rigby; Elmo J., who is attending school in Davenport, Iowa; Dove Alida, who is the wife of W. R. Dixon and is a student in California; Royal Glenn, a member of the Army of Occupation in Germany; and Vivian A., Allen W., Leland and Lola, all of whom are at home, The wife and mother died April 2, 1915, and Mr. Call was married April 24, 1918, to Mrs. Lettie E. Sessions.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Call are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, to which the former has rendered valuable and efficient service in mis- sionary work and as an officer. In his earlier years he was for two years with the southern states mission and furthered the interests of his denomination in the state of Kentucky. The Rigby ward was organized in 1886 and was one of the bishopric where he labored for twenty-two years, at the end of which time the Rigby stake was organized and he was called to the presidency, where he has since labored. In politics Mr. Call takes his stand with the republican party, and, although he has devoted little effort to acquiring public office, he has been a member of the city council of Rigby and has served as justice of the peace.

JONAS JOHNSON.

Jonas Johnson is a farmer whose forty-acre ranch lies two and a half miles southwest of Emmett. A native of Sweden, he was born June 13, 1861, and in 1873 came to the United States in company with his parents, brothers and sisters. His father also bore the name of Jonas Johnson, while the mother was in her maiden- hood Miss Martha Rasmus and was of Norwegian birth. The father died at Heber, Utah, about eight years ago and the mother is still living there, having passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. The Johnson family on reaching the United States proceeded to Utah, the parents having previously become converts to the teachings of the Mormon church. The family lived at Heber and there Jonas John- son of this review spent his youth and early manhood.

Having arrived at years of maturity, Mr. Johnson was married on the 29th of March, 1883, to Miss Ida V. Smith, who was born of Mormon parentage at Heber, Utah, December 14, 1863. She is a daughter of Phillip and Eliza Ann (Frampton) Smith, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They were among the earliest of the Mormon settlers of Utah and both have now passed away.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson resided for a number of years at Heber, Utah, remaining there from 1883 until 1901, during which period he en- gaged in mining pursuits. In fact he worked in the mines from the age of seventeen years until he came to Idaho, being engaged in silver mining and spending seven years employed in that way in the Ontario mines at Park City. Since removing to Idaho he has followed farming and purchased forty acres of land for thirty-five dollars per acre. For a considerable period he lived in a two-room cabin which still stands in the rear of the new, substantial and commodious residence which he has erected. He has brought his land under a very high state of cultivation, thus greatly enhancing its value, the ranch today being easily worth two hundred dollars per acre. The labors of Mr. Johnson are evidenced in the splendid appearance of his place, which is now supplied with modern equipments and all the accessories of the model farm property.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 44

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