History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 56

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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In 1876 Mr. Elison was married to Miss Mary M. Worthington, a native of Grants- ville, Utah, and a daughter of Samuel R. and Sarah N. (Mackintosh) Worthington. Mr. and Mrs. Elison have become parents of seven children: Estella, who is now the wife of Charles L. Haight of Oakley and has six children, Mary Zina, Mabel Louisa, Charles Elmo, Harlow, Oleen and Lloyd; J. Ross Elison, who married Hazel Allred,

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES G. ELISON

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of Bull; Sadie A., who married E. B. Michael of Twin Falls and has four children, Lavon, Bernice. Allan and Mary; Frederick Elison, who married Gertrude Halver- son and has two children, Ruth and Charles Glendon; Melvin Elison, who married Nellie Daley of Oakley and has one child, Betty; and Anna and Maud, who complete the family.

Mr. Elison and his family are adherents of the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. There is no phase of pioneer life in the west with which he is not familiar. In an early day he hauled merchandise from Nevada to the Idaho basin, where gold mines were established, and on such trips saw many Indians. In fact, his connection with the country dates from the time when the red men were about as numerous as the white settlers and when it was no more unusual sight to see an Indian tepee than it was to see the cabin of some frontiersman. Great indeed have been the changes which time and man have wrought and Mr. Elison has borne his full part in planting the seeds of civilization and improvement upon the western frontier until now Idaho is behind no state in the Union in its advantages and its opportunities, while its im- provements in all that has to do with municipal progress show that the promoters and upbuilders of its towns and cities have been actuated by the most enterprising and progressive spirit.

CHARLES CLICK.

Charles Click is proprietor of the Palace Meat Market of Emmett, which he opened in 1915 and which is one of the two first-class establishments of the kind in the city. His birth occurred on a farm in Minnesota on the 4th of April, 1882, his parents being Frank and Catherine (Hairs) Click. He was left an orphan at the age of four years and was reared in the home of an aunt. When a youth of seventeen he came to the northwest, making his way first to Washington because of the fact that he had a half brother living at Cashmere, that state. There he began learning the butcher's trade and completed his apprenticeship when twenty- one years of age. Through the intervening years he has conducted business along that line in the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho and formerly owned a meat market at Cashmere, Washington. In 1915 he removed from Ontario, Oregon, to Emmett, Idaho, where he has since carried on business as proprietor of the Palace Meat Market, which is a most modern and well appointed establishment, up-to-date in every particular. He has a slaughter house in connection with the market and kills all of the meats which he handles. His business methods are such · as to win the confidence and support of the public, so that he enjoys an extensive patronage and is meeting with well deserved prosperity.

On the 20th of August, 1905, at Cashmere, Washington, Mr. Click was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Grant, who was born in Montana, March 30, 1884. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a valued member of the Emmett Commercial Club, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Loyal Order of Moose. His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged and all who know him speak of him in terms of warm regard.

ALBERT F. PRICKETT.

Albert F. Prickett, a farmer who resides on a splendid eighty acre ranch three and a half miles southeast of Boise, was born in Montgomery county, Kansas, Feb- ruary 25, 1882, and is a son of Marion and Martha (Fulk) Prickett. The father was killed in Indian Territory while trying to arrest some desperadoes, serving at that time as United States marshal. He was thirty-seven years of age at the time of his death and left a wife and four children, all of whom are still living, Albert F. being the second in order of birth. The other three reside in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, these being: Estella, now the wife of A. Dellamore; Grover C .; and Mrs. Catherine Leffman. After the death of the father, the mother married again, but

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the second husband also passed away, and she is once more a widow, living in Los Angeles.

Albert F. Prickett was but nine years of age when his father was killed. He found a home with his grandfather, John F. Prickett, a Civil war veteran, and his youth was largely spent in southeastern Kansas. When seventeen years of age he made his way westward to Colorado and at the age of eighteen took up his abode in Ada county, Idaho, making the trip to this state with his mother and stepfather, Robert Green, who, with the family, located on a torty acre tract of land in the same neighborhood in which Mr. Prickett now resides. In fact the latter's eighty acre ranch joined the forty acré tract. Much of the land was then in possession of the state and could be purchased at a low figure-about ten dollars per acre. Today it is worth three hundred dollars per acre. In 1902, when twenty years of age, Albert F. Prickett bought his eighty acre ranch for fifty dollars per acre, at which time it was a wild and undeveloped tract all covered with sagebrush save ten acres. He bought the property on time, and such was his recognized ahility that the bar- gain was completed although he had not yet attained his majority. He had some assistance from the late Horace Oakes, who lived in the vicinity.

Mr. Prickett at once occupied his farm, on which stood a little frame house. There he kept "bachelor's hall" for seven years, but grew tired of living alone and on the 25th of December, 1907, was united in marriage to Miss Erma Gekeler, the youngest daughter of David Gekeler, a pioneer of that locality and now a prominent and well known citizen, still residing on the Gekeler homestead just across the road from the Prickett ranch. Erma Gekeler was horn upon that ranch February 1, 1882, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Albert Marion, who was born September 23, 1908; Catherine, horn March 3, 1911; Carrie Belle, September 19, 1913; and John P., October 9, 1918. Mrs. Prickett has lived in the same neighborhood throughout her life, her present home being only a half mile from the house in which she was born.

Mr. Prickett is a republican in his political views and is the present road overseer of district No. 8, a position which he has occupied for ten years. His wife is a member of the South Boise Presbyterian church and they are people of sterling worth who occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move, their many admirable traits of character gaining for them the friendship and regard of all who know them.

JOHN S. CONNELL.

John S. Connell, the proprietor of the Central Garage and the manager of the real estate department of the Idaho Title & Loan Company of Rigby, was born in Cedar City, Iron county, Utah, October 7, 1876, a son of Alma and Elizabeth (Har- ris) Connell, the former originally from England and the latter a native of Cedar City, Utah. The father followed farming during his early life in his native land. When he came to America in 1857, he immediately immigrated to Utah, where opportunities for men of his vocation at that time were very numerous. He bought land near Cedar City and there he worked at tilling the soil and developing his farm until 1901. In that year he came to Jefferson county, Idaho, and here bought a farm which he cultivated successfully until 1918. At this time, having given the hest years of his life to his farming interests, he retired and came to Rigby, where he now lives enjoying the fruits of his labor. His wife died May 31, 1918.

Until he was twenty-four years of age, John S. Connell remained with his parents on the farm near Cedar City, Utah, and it was there that he received his early education. It was in 1901 that he decided to start out for himself and he bought a piece of land covered with sage brush in Jefferson county, Idaho, which tract he cleared and cultivated successfully. With this start he continued to buy and improve land in Idaho until he had acquired seven different ranches. Along with his work as real estate manager, Mr. Connell continued his connection with farm- ing when he came to Rigby, for he still retains his agricultural interests in different parts of Jefferson county.

On January 17, 1900, Mr. Connell was united in marriage to Anna M. Ford and to them has been born one child, Pearl, on October 4, 1904. Mrs. Connell was born in Washington, Washington county, Utah, June 30, 1878, a daughter of Alfred

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and Emma (Tegan) Ford, the latter of whom was a native of Denmark. Alfred Ford came to Utah in the '50s and located near Cedar City, where he began farming. He remained in Utah the rest of his life, having bought and sold three different farms. His death occurred in Kanab, that state, in 1882. The mother spent her last years in Rigby, Idaho, where she died August 26, 1905.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Connell are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, which the former has served in official capacity. From 1908 until 1918 he was bishop of Clark ward and previously had served as superintendent of the Sunday school and as counselor to the bishop. In politics Mr. Connell has not affil- iated himself with any party since he feels that one is a better citizen who exercises his right of franchise independently.

BRIGHAM H. ELLSWORTH.

Brigham H. Ellsworth, residing at Lewisville, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, November 23, 1850, a son of Edmund and Elizabeth (Young) Ellsworth, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was reared and educated in his native city, remaining with his parents to the age of nineteen years, when he was married. He then learned the machinist's trade and later took up railroad work, becoming an engineer, being the only practical machinist working as engineer on the Utah Northern. He continued in railroad work for five years and in 1882 came with his brothers and others to Jefferson county, Idaho. Here he filed on land adjoining the town of Lewisville and with characteristic energy began to transform the raw tract into cultivated fields. He continued the operation of his farm for fifteen years and then sold the property, establishing his home in Lewisville, where he opened a blacksmith shop, which he has since conducted, remaining an active factor in the industrial circle of the city.

In December, 1869, Mr. Ellsworth was married to Helen A. Gibson, a daughter of Henry and Eliza (Gibbs) Gibson, who were natives of New York. The father was born at Oswego, that state, and in 1848 became a resident of Salt Lake, casting in his lot with the earliest pioneers of the state. His wife was born on the plains while her parents were en route to Utah. In 1849 Mr. Gibson left Salt Lake for California, where he remained for eighteen months and then removed to Millcreek canyon, Utah, while later he lived in Willard and subsequently in the Cache valley, where he resided for a number of years. He afterward became a lumber merchant of Ogden, where he continued in business for several years, and then went to Clearfield, where he purchased land and carried on farming for a considerable period. His last days were spent in Ogden, where he died October 19, 1912, at the age of eighty-six. The mother had passed away in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth became the parents of eleven children: Charles; Marian Lee; Claude; Lovell; Curtis A .; Vere; Alice, who became the wife of Rastus Walker and died in April, 1908, at the age of thirty-seven years; John W., who died in 1876, when but four weeks old; Joseph Owen, who died in 1877, at the age of four months; Sarah Eliza, who was born in June, 1890, and died in the following October; and Brigham, who was the second in order of birth and died in 1880 at the age of seven years and eleven months.

Mr. Ellsworth belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has done home missionary work. He was ordained a member of the Seventy and remained active in that branch of the church work for a number of years. Politically he is a democrat and has served as justice of the peace.

G. W. GORDON.

G. W. Gordon is leading an active and useful life as a farmer and merchant, being identified with the commercial interests of Emmett, while since 1892 he has been the owner of an excellent farm property of one hundred and sixty acres two miles south and two miles west of Letha. Almost every state of the Union has furnished its quota of citizens to Idaho and among those who have come from Missouri is Mr. Gordon, who was born in Holt county of that state, January 3,

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1858, his parents being W. L. and Zilpha Ann (Philpott) Gordon, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Virginia. The father was a physician and engaged in the practice of medicine in connection with farming in Missouri. He and his wife were pioneers of that state and passed away in Holt county in 1883 and 1904 respectively. They had a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, G. W. Gordon and one sister, however, being the only members of the family who left Missouri. Four of the brothers are now deceased and the others of the household are all yet living.

G. W. Gordon acquired his early education in Missouri and in 1888 went to Colorado. In the spring of 1889 he removed to New Mexico and in June of the same year arrived in Idaho. He homesteaded two miles north of where he now lives, securing one hundred and sixty acres of land which he improved. He planted six acres of this to orchard and used the balance for pasture and stock raising. In 1904 he sold the homestead to D. J. Wampler. Some years before, or in 1892, he purchased his present place of one hundred and sixty acres two miles south and two miles east of Letha and thereon he carries on general farming, raising wheat, corn and hay. He also does some dairying and milks fifteen cows. He likewise raises hogs and thus adds materially to his income. In addition he owns and con- ducts a retail hardware and implement business at Emmett, where he carries a stock valued at five thousand dollars, and owns the block in which his establishment is located and the lot on which it stands. He has been the president and one of the directors of the Enterprise ditch and is interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he resides.

In 1883 Mr. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Emma Clark, a native of Missouri, while her parents were natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have become the parents of a daughter, Stella, now the wife of Robert G. Offutt. of Kansas City, who is a son of one of the old-time Stock Exchange men of · that place. Mr. and Mrs. Offutt have four children: Emma, Henry Gordon, Georgiana and Margaret.

Mr. Gordon was formerly prominent in fraternal circles but is not at the present time. He has always been a stalwart champion of the cause of education and in his youth he had the advantage of training in the Kirksville Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri. He has been a member of the school board in his district and does everything in his power to advance the interests of the schools and raise the standards of education. His wife is of much assistance to him in conducting the store at Emmett, having charge of this during the absence of her husband on the farm. The ranch property is a most attractive one and his orchard of eight hundred apple trees is a most beautiful sight in the springtime when, covered with its pink and white blossoms and a thing of still greater beauty when the fruit has reached . perfection in the fall.

IVER L. NELSON.

Iver L. Nelson is now a retired merchant of Boise, residing at No. 1910 North Eighth street. For a long period he was connected with commercial interests and the success which he achieved enables him now to rest from further labor. He was born in Denmark, May 24, 1845, and when twenty-one years of age he came with an elder brother, Nels Nelson, to the United States, crossing the Atlantic in 1866. Iver L. Nelson spent a month on Long Island, New York, and then made his way westward to Wisconsin, establishing his home in Dane county. He after- ward lived in the states of Minnesota and South Dakota for a number of years and it was not until 1912 that he came to Boise. For a number of years he had followed the occupation of farming but abandoned agricultural pursuits when thirty years of age and for a period of forty years he was a successful merchant in the various towns of Minnesota and South Dakota in which he made his home. He prospered and gained a competence as the years passed- a competence sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life during his remaining days.

While in Wisconsin, Mr. Nelson was married on the 17th of March, 1873, in the city of Madison, to Miss Anna M. Peterson, who was born in Denmark, November 14, 1851. He had previously made a visit back to Denmark and there met the

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lady whom he decided to make his wife. They were betrothed but resolved to wait until they reached Madison, Wisconsin, and there celebrate their marriage. They made the voyage on the same ship, however, accompanied by a sister of Mr. Nelson. Three children have been born to them: Catherine, now the wife of John W. Whit- son; Thomas N .; and Anna I. The only son is a merchant of Boise, being one of the owners of the Cash Bazaar, a leading mercantile house of the capital city. His father is also interested to some extent in the Cash Bazaar and spends much of his time in assisting in the work of the store, which is one of the large department stores of the city, widely known for its moderate prices.

Fraternally Mr. Nelson is an Elk and also an Odd Fellow, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He now occupies a very substantial and comfortahle home at No. 1910 North Eighth street and he has many friends in the city who esteem him highly hy reason of the splendid traits of character which he displayed throughout his business career.

JAMES KINGHORN.

James Kinghorn, actively identified with farming interests in Jefferson county, his home being about four miles west of Rigby and two miles southeast of Lewis- ville, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 20, 1863, and is a son of Alexander and Jane (Campbell) Kinghorn, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The son was reared in Salt Lake City, pursuing his education in the public schools there until he came with his parents to Jefferson county, Idaho, then a part of Bingham county. Following his removal to this state he filed on his present place, then comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land. He now has one hundred and twenty acres, constituting a highly cultivated farm, which at the time it came into his possession was a tract of wild sagebrush land. His labors have greatly changed the appearance of the place until it is difficult to imagine that it was once an arid tract. His fields bring forth good crops, and all of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm property of the twentieth century are found upon his farm.

On the 9th of January, 1889, Mr. Kinghorn was married to Miss Luna C. Jardine, a daughter of Richard F. and Luna C. (Ellsworth) Jardine, who were pioneers of Jefferson county, arriving in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Kinghorn became the parents of eleven children, of whom three are deceased, namely: Wilfred, who died June 11, 1904; Marian, whose death occurred on the 12th of May, 1904; and Darrel, who died June 12, 1904. Those who survive are: James F., Ray, Leland, Lulu, Ruby, Elreita, Ellen and Grace E.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and Mr. Kinghorn has served as counselor to Bishop Lee. He also filled a three years' mission to the Tonga islands. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and about twenty-three years ago he served for two years as constable. Otherwise, however, he has not sought nor desired office but has con- centrated his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, and aside from his farm- ing interests he is now foreman for the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company and is cultivat- ing two hundred and forty acres for that corporation. He is thus leading a most busy and useful life and his activities are contributing in marked measure to the agricultural development of the district in which he resides.

SAMUEL CALDWELL.

The year 1891 witnessed the arrival of Samuel Caldwell in Idaho and from that time until his death he remained a resident of the state, passing away August 27, 1908. In the interval he was connected with contracting and building for a number of years and later with the real estate business, and his carefully directed energy and industry brought to him a measure of success that enahled him to leave his widow in comfortable financial circumstances.

Mr. Caldwell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1845, his parents heing James G. and Nancy (Hogan) Caldwell, the former a sea captain who was lost at sea when his son Samuel was but eleven years of age.

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The boyhood days of Samuel Caldwell passed without event of special impor- tance. He was married in Colorado on the 22d of February, 1888, to Miss Annie E. Gibbs, a native of Lincolnshire, England, and a daughter of William Marshall and Annie W. (Bull) Gibbs. Her father, a wheelwright by trade, died in England during the early girlhood of his daughter. The mother was born at Wisbech, St. Mary's, Cambridgeshire, England, May 28, 1834, and was a daughter of John Bull. On the 4th of May, 1858, she became the wife of William Marshall Gibbs and she is now living in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Caldwell, at South Boise, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. She is still active, however, and in full possession of her faculties. Her eyesight is good and she is generally busy with knitting, crocheting or other needle work, specimens of which have won first prize at the Idaho State Fair for the past eight years. When her husband died in Eng- land she was left with four small children, the eldest of whom, Mrs. Caldwell, was then but eight years of age. Mrs. Gibbs is an educated woman and taught school in England until 1877, when she came with her children to the United States. All of her children are yet living, these being: Mrs. Caldwell; Alfred H., who is gen-

erally known as Harry and makes his home at Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Agnes E. Clark, of the state of New York; and Arthur W., living at South Boise. There are also fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Her son, Alfred H. Gibbs, of Colorado, has three children, one of whom, Paul J. Gibbs, served in France during the war as a non-commissioned officer. The daughter, Mrs. Agnes E. Clark, has six children.

Samuel Caldwell was a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served as a mem- ber of Company E of the Ringgold Cavalry of Pennsylvania. He made an excellent record and returned to his home with the honors of war. It was subsequent to this time that he removed to the west, living in Colorado for some time, and in 1891 he removed from Manitou, that state, to Idaho. For a brief period he resided in Boise and afterward made his home at Mayfield. He was engaged in mining at Neal, and farmed at Ten Mile prior to 1902, when he located in South Boise, where he engaged in the real estate business until his death. His activities were intelli -. gently directed and his energy and industry constituted the broad foundation upon which he builded his success.

Mr. Caldwell was prominent in Masonic circles, attaining the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and becoming also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He was a member and vestryman of St. Michael's Episcopal church and Mrs. Cald- well also belongs to that church and to the Eastern Star. She and her mother were very active in war work and Mrs. Caldwell is a member of the South Side Improvement Club, a woman's organization of South Boise, of which she formerly served as president and treasurer. She is now librarian of the South Boise branch of the Boise Carnegie Library. Her aid and influence are always given on the side of progress and improvement and she has ably supported many interests which are of cultural value in the community.

ANDREW WILLIAM JOHNSON.

Andrew William Johnson, who was one of the pioneer Swedish residents of Ada county but has now passed away, was born in Darsland, Sweden, May 27, 1829. He crossed the ocean to America about the year 1860 and resided for a time in St. Louis, Missouri. He afterward became a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois, and subsequently crossed the country to Idaho, where he took up his abode about three years prior to the birth of his son, Emil Herman Johnson, who is now a prosperous farmer of Ada county. He settled at Silver City, where he engaged in mining, being employed in a quartz mill. He afterward removed to the Johnson ranch, whereon his son Emil now resides and which is situated about ten miles west of Boise. It was then a tract of wild land covered with sagebrush. The father took up the land from the govern- ment, the name of Benjamin Harrison being on the original deed, which is now in pos- session of the son. The ranch was then a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. It has since been divided, however. The father continued the cultivation and improve- ment of this place to the time of his death, which occurred November 21, 1918, when he had reached the age of eighty-nine years.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 56

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