USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 61
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On the 14th of February, 1898, William H. Burns was married to Axie Head, who was born in Texas, February 18, 1875, a daughter of the Rev. Edmond H. Head, a Baptist clergyman who is now living retired in Portland, Oregon, and Mrs. Amanda (Sal- ter) Head, who died October 29, 1897. Mrs. Burns came to Idaho with her parents from Oklahoma in 1889 and has lived in the Payette valley since 1894. By her marriage she' became the mother of six children, four of whom are living, while two have passed away. Angie, born December 28, 1898, was married October 2, 1916, to Purl Story and they have one child, Wayne Story, born November 14, 1918. Cecilia, the second of the family was born September 4, 1901, and was married on the 18th of May, 1918, to Floyd A. Groat, by whom she has a daughter, Joyce Loraine, born October 1, 1919. George W., born September 22, 1903, died on the third anniversary of his birth. William E., born November 17, 1906, is at home. Elliott, born December 9, 1908, is also with his parents. An infant daughter died unnamed.
The family reside upon a ranch which is one of the best in Gem county of its size and is devoted to the raising of hay, grain and cattle. Mr. Burns is a Mason and is also connected with the Woodmen of the World. In politics he is a democrat and has served as chairman of the school board of his district but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He stands loyally for all those interests, however, which are a matter of benefit to the community and he cooperates in every plan and project which promises to advance the welfare of his section of the state.
CHRISTIAN ANTON NISSON.
Christian Anton Nisson owns and occupies a well improved ten-acre ranch on Boise Bench, two miles southwest of the capital city. To this place he recently removed from the Wood River valley of Blaine county, where he owned a ranch of two hundred and forty acres that he sold on coming to Ada county. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, June 28, 1867. His parents, both of whom are now deceased, never came to the United States. The son was sixteen years of age when he bade adieu to friends and fatherland and crossed the Atlantic to the new world,
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making the trip with acquaintances. He landed at Castle Garden, New York, and spent a few months in the state of Michigan. He then came to Idaho, which was yet a territory, arriving in 1884. From that date until 1919 he lived in the Wood River country in Blaine county, where for a few years he engaged in mining and afterward gave his attention to ranching and farming. He took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and later purchased eighty acres more, so that he became the possessor of a valuable property of two hundred and forty acres, which he developed from a wild state. He lived upon this place for many years and con- verted it into a very highly cultivated and improved farm.
On the 6th of March, 1888, Mr. Nisson was married in Halley, Idaho, to Miss Maria Christiansen, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in the same neighborhood where her husband's birth occurred. Her natal day was January 6, 1868, and she is six months the junior of her husband. They were reared in the same neighborhood and were sweethearts before he left for the new world, Miss Christiansen making the trip to America in order to become Mr. Nisson's bride. They had corresponded throughout the interim and were married as soon as she reached her destination. They have a family of eleven children, eight sons and three daugh- ters. Ellen, born January 9, 1889; Clara, whose birth occurred May 22, 1890; Charles, whose natal day was November 26, 1891; Frank, born September 26, 1893; Otto, who was born on the 4th of January, 1895; Carl, born October 28, 1897; William, whose birth occurred on the 1st of March, 1899; Warren, born January 11, 1901; Raymond, born March 11, 1903; Annie, born May 2, 1905; and Ivan, born July 10, 1907. Ellen Clara, Charles, Frank and Carl are married. Otto Nisson volunteered for service in the United States army in August, 1917, and has spent two years at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, but will be released in June, 1920.
Mr. and Mrs. Nisson are Lutherans in religious faith and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. While both Mr. and Mrs. Nisson were born in Germany, his mother was of Danish birth, and both parents of Mrs. Nisson were of Danish birth but were living In Germany at the time when Mrs. Nisson was born. The eleven Nisson children are therefore of three-fourths Danish descent. The family, however, is strictly American in interest as well as association. Mr. Nisson has no desire to change his place of residence, having for many years made his home in Idaho and having high appreciation of the opportunities here offered-opportunities which he improved until he is now one of the prosperous citizens of the district in which he lives.
WILLIAM W. YOUMANS.
Idaho with its pulsing activities and commercial opportunities is constantly drawing to it men of business capability and power who find here a chance for the exercise of their industry and energy-their dominant qualities. Such is the record of William W. Youmans of Burley, who is the proprietor of the Burley Saddlery and Auto Top Manu- facturing Company. He was born in Lewiston, Minnesota, December 25, 1855, his parents being William and Eliza (Covell) Youmans. The father died when his son William was but two years of age and the latter accompanied his mother on her return to Steuben county, New York. There he lived to the age of five years and then went with his mother to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where his boyhood days were largely passed and his education acquired in the public schools. When twenty-three years of age he went to Sumner county, Kansas, where he was employed by E. N. Andrews in the saddlery business for a short time. He then returned to Michigan, where he again lived for a brief period, and on once more leaving that state took up his abode in Wheat- land, North Dakota, and entered land in Dickey county near Ellendale. He bent his energies to the improvement and development of that place, which he purchased at a dollar and a quarter per acre, securing one hundred and sixty acres. He proved up on the property, complying with the law, which finally brought him title to the farm, and while residing in that locality he also became postmaster of the town of Port Emma, at the head of Big Sand lake. On leaving North Dakota he went to Caldwell, Kansas, where he worked in a saddlery shop and carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase the business, which he then carried on independently for a period of fifteen years. At the end of
Mayor Whoyoumand
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that time he sold his saddlery shop and made a trip to Mexico, where he engaged in prospecting.
The year 1899 witnessed Mr. Youmans' arrival at St. Anthony, Idaho. where he established a saddlery business which he conducted with growing success for a period of ten years. Not only did he figure prominently for a decade in the industrial and commercial circles of St. Anthony but was also a recognized power in its public life, serving for four years as a member of the city council and for two years as mayor, during which period he exercised his official prerogative in support of many plans and measures for the public good. He afterward took a business trip through Washington and Oregon and later went to Twin Falls, Idaho. In 1910 he made his way to Burley, where he established a saddlery business, and through the intervening period his pat- ronage has steadily grown. He now occupies a new brick building which was erected especially for him on Main street. He now has a department devoted to the manufac- ture of auto tops, in which he is doing an extensive business. His patronage has steadily increased, for the public recognizes that the saddlery which he manufactures and handles is of the highest workmanship and, moreover, his prices are reasonable and his treatment of patrons at all times just and fair. In addition to the conduct of his commercial interests he operates a farm of forty acres.
In 1876 Mr. Youmans was married to Miss Nettie Lane, a daughter of Edmund and Melissa Nettie Lane, who were farming people of Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Mrs. Youmans was born. She became the mother of four children, William, George, John and Ross. She passed away May 14, 1917, at Burley, when fifty-nine years of age. The son Ross has recently returned home from overseas service. He was with the Twin Falls company known as Company D, under Captain McRoberts, and served on the Mexican border. He then went overseas with the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Field Artillery, participated in the battle of Chateau Thierry and was in the St. Mihiel drive. He was fourth major officer. William is a resident of Boise, where he is connected with the Pioneer Tent & Awning Company.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church, and in political belief Mr. Youmans is a republican. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to public office since he became a resident of Burley, where he has served on the town board and likewise as mayor of the city, giving to Burley a businesslike and progressive administration. He has studied closely the questions of municipal progress and upbuilding with regard to Burley's specific needs, and his labors have been directly beneficial and resultant.
BISMARK YOUTSLER.
Bismark Youtsler, a farmer of Letha whose ranch home is located just outside of the corporation limits of the town to the northwest, has lived in the Payette valley since 1880, or from the time when he was nine years of age. He is now in the prime of life, being forty-nine years of age. He was born in Kansas, January 29, 1871, and is a son of Jacob and Mary V. Youtsler. The mother passed away in the fall of 1918, but the father is still living and has reached the age of seventy-five years. He yet enjoys excellent health. He was born in Effingham county, Illinois, August 5, 1844, a son of Ransom and Rachel (Carson) Youtsler, both representatives of old American families. The Youtsler family is of Holland Dutch descent, being founded in America, however, prior to the Revolutionary war. The paternal great-grandfather of Jacob Youtsler served as a drummer boy all through the war for independence and in recog- nition of his services was afterward given a large grant of land in southern Indiana. The Youtslers became early settlers in Kentucky. It was in 1865, in Sangamon county, Illinois, that Jacob Youtsler wedded Mary V. Woosley, who was born in Chris- tian county, Kentucky. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are living in Idaho. In 1880 Jacob Youtsler and his family removed to this state from Missouri and settled in the Payette valley near New Plymouth. The family has since resided in this state, nearly all of the time in the vicinity of New Plymouth or of Emmett. Jacob Youtsler now makes his home with his children but owns property on North Fourteenth street in Boise.
Bismark Youtsler, brought to Idaho when a lad of nine years, has been reared in this state and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. The first nine years of his life had largely been passed in Kansas
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and he is truly a western man in spirit and in interests as well as through training. For twenty years he was employed in the Payette valley sawmills in various responsible positions, first working at Payette and later at Emmett. He also proved upon a home- stead in Boise county but sold that property in 1918 and has since lived on his present ranch near Letha, having here an excellent tract of land which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and which annually returns to him a substantial income.
On the 1st of January, 1910, Mr. Youtsler was married to Miss Crystal Ricketts, who was born in Illinois, December 20, 1889, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Williams) Ricketts. Her father passed away in 1904 but her mother is still living. A younger sister, Nina, now in Portland, Oregon, made a splendid record in France as a Red Cross nurse. Mr. and Mrs. Youtsler have become the parents of five children: Ione, born October 27, 1910; Beth, July 9, 1912; Nina, December 29, 1913; Ada, November 22, 1915; and Mary, August 6, 1918.
Mr. Youtsler is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in politics maintains an independent course. His wife's people and also Mr. Youtsler's father are members of the Adventist church. The family is well known in the Payette valley and the diligence and enterprise of Bismark Youtsler have gained for him a creditable position in agricultural circles.
CHARLES KISER.
Charles Kiser is actively and successfully engaged in the operation of a ranch of twenty acres which he owns in Gem county, the tract being located two miles south and a quarter of a mile west of Emmett. He was born in Iowa on the 18th of January, 1864, a son of Louis and Nancy Kiser. On leaving his native state he removed to Wisconsin and thence made his way to Idaho about thirteen years ago, locating near Council, in Adams county, this state, where he continued to reside for eleven years. On the expiration of that period he removed to a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres at the west edge of the town of Letha and resided there until the spring of 1920, when he moved to his present ranch.
Mr. Kiser has been married twice. It was in Iowa, in 1886, that he wedded Miss Dora Mallor, who passed away in 1913, leaving three children, namely: Earl; Glenn; and Ruth, who is now deceased. Both sons are married, but Earl lost his wife through influenza. On the 16th of August, 1918, Charles Kiser was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Laura Stowe, the widow of Matthew Stowe. She bore the maiden name of Laura Davis and was born in Virginia, March 22, 1873, a . daughter of Andrew and Martha (Wilson) Davis. By her first husband she has a son, Fred Stowe, whose natal day was December 10, 1905. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kiser enjoy an extensive and favorable acquaintance throughout the community in which they reside and in which the former has won recognition as a prosperous and pro- gressive ranchman.
JAMES B. POTEET.
James B. Poteet, formerly a well known sheepman but now practically living retired although engaged in cultivating a seven acre ranch on Broadway in South Boise, has lived in the capital and vicinity for the past thirty years, having come to Idaho territory in 1889. For twelve years before he had been a resident of Pendleton, Oregon, and up to that time had made his home in California, his native state. He was born in Eldorado county, California, November 13, 1856, a son of Thomas J. Poteet, who was born in Floyd county, Indiana, May 6, 1827, and went to California as one of the gold seekers in 1852, accompanied by his wife, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Rebecca Ann Kiger. This couple was marrled in Iowa and in 1852 crossed the plains to California, where they resided for a number of years and then removed to Oregon, where Mrs. Poteet passed away. The father afterward returned to California, where his death occurred when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He often visited his sons in Idaho, four of the number being residents of this state.
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James B. Poteet was reared in California and Oregon, going with his parents to the latter state. He has been a ranchman and dealer in live stock throughout his entire life. For thirteen years he was extensively engaged in sheep raising and in the undertaking was associated with his brother, Iven A. Poteet, now living at South Boise, Idaho. The firm of Poteet Brothers often had as many as twenty thou- sand head of sheep. In 1900 the brothers sold out, at which time they were the owners not only of twenty thousand head of sheep but also of twenty-seven fine sheep dogs and about thirty saddle horses. They had splendid equipment for the conduct of their business and their interests were profitably conducted.
On the 6th of November, 1901, Mr. Poteet was married to Miss Lessie Hand, a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Mary Jane Hand, of South Boise. Mr. and Mrs. Poteet now have a daughter, Dorothy Evelyn, born November 27, 1904.
In the year of his marriage Mr. Poteet purchased his present seven acre ranch on the corner of Broadway and Linden streets, in South Boise, and upon which there were no improvements at the time of the purchase. In 1902 he erected thereon a resi- dence which he and his wife now occupy. The place is today well improved with good buildings and with fruit and shade trees, all planted by him. He has a large part of the seven acres in alfalfa and keeps eight good dairy cows. While he is a retired ranchman and sheepman, he is now doing some intensive farming on a small scale, for indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he cannot be content without some occupation or business interest.
Mrs. Poteet is a member of the Congregational church and her daughter is of the Methodist faith. Fraternally Mr. Poteet is an Odd Fellow and is a past grand of the order. He possesses a gold badge of honor, awarded him in 1915 by Boise Lodge, No. 77. For thirty-five years he has been connected with this organization. In politics he is a republican but has never held nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed and have brought to him a gratifying measure of success.
EDDY F. WELLS.
The ranch property of Eddy F. Wells is situated in the Bramwell neighborhood, about eight miles west of Emmett, and the neat and attractive appearance of the place indicates the careful supervision and progressive spirit of the owner, who came to Idaho in 1910 from Kansas and resided on a sixty acre ranch until the spring of 1920, when he purchased his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, formerly owned by Frank Burns, paying twenty thousand dollars for it. Here he has a beautiful home and good ranch buildings. He was born in Smith county, Kansas, December 21, 1876, and is a son of Madison E. and Sarah C. (Bennett) Wells, both of whom have now passed away. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, served as a soldier of the Union army during the Civil war. He was born in Ohio in 1839 and had therefore just attained his majority at the time of the outbreak of hostIlities between the north and the south. He became a member of the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry, in which he served as first sergeant, and in days of peace he always followed agricultural pursuits. He was a leader in reformed politics in every community in which he resided. His death occurred December 28, 1917, in Idaho, and his wife passed away February 11, 1919. They were the parents of four children, of whom Eddy F. Wells is the only son. The three daughters were Ada, Blanch and Bessie, and Ada and Blanch have passed away. The surviving sister is the wife of Henry Burmood, of Wood River, Nebraska.
E. F. Wells was reared in Smith county, Kansas, pursued his education in the public schools and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for seven years prior to his marriage. It was on the 29th of May, 1903, that he wedded Frances Elwood, who is also a native of Smith county, Kansas, born September 22, 1880, a daughter of John and Lucinda (Aellig) Elwood, who are still residents of Smith county, the former a native of Wisconsin, while the latter was born in Stark county, Ohio, and is of Swiss descent. Mrs. Wells is the eldest of their family of nine children, all of whom are yet living, the others being: Charles P .; Lewis H .; Bertha May; Harry B .; Roy C. and Ray C., twins; Thurman Merle; and Cecil J. All live in Smith county, Kansas, with the exception of Mrs. Wells. The last named spent her girlhood days there and, like her husband, was educated in the public schools and began
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teaching, following the profession for five years prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have become the parents of two daughters: Regina Imogene, born January 13, 1905; and Arlene Delta Lavoe, born March 9, 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Wells began their domestic life in the Sunflower state but in 1909 sold their farm in Smith county and came to the west. They spent one winter in Oregon and then removed to Idaho, at which time Mr. Wells purchased a sixty acre ranch about eight miles west of Emmett, residing thereon until the spring of 1920, when he moved to his present beautiful ranch of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his old place. They have an attractive and modern home which is pleasantly situated and contains a furnace and many conveniences.
Mr. Wells belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is connected with the Daughters of the American Revolution. He is a democrat in politics and he belongs also to the Non Partisan League. He served as road supervisor for four years and is now a democratic committeeman from his precinct. He has also been a member of the school board in the Bramwell district and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Wells, in the fall of 1919, made a trip in their automobile to Smith county, Kansas, and return to visit their relatives and friends in that section of the country and again view the scenes amid which their childhood days were passed. They have no desire to return for permanent residence, however, for they are thoroughly satisfied with their present location and Mr. Wells is now developing an excellent ranch property which returns to them a gratifying annual income.
FRANK W. NEWMAN.
Frank W. Newman, a successful rancher and cattleman residing on one hundred and sixty acres of land nine miles west of Emmett, was born in Middleton, Canyon county, Idaho, August 1, 1888, and is the younger of the two sons of George W. Newman, who is now living in Weiser and who has been a resident of Idaho since eight years of age. He is today past sixty. He was formerly a well known live stock man of Middleton and later of Emmett. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Smith, died when her son Frank was twenty-one years of age, and the father afterward married again.
Frank W. Newman was reared and educated at Middleton and at Emmett, complet- ing the eighth grade work in the public schools of the latter place when sixteen years of age. He afterward spent several months in study in a business college at Portland, Oregon. His entire life has been devoted to farming and live stock raising and during his youth and early manhood he was in the sheep business with his father.
On the 22d of June, 1910, Frank W. Newman was married in Caldwell to Miss Laura A. Barnard, a daughter of James Barnard, a well known rancher and auctioneer, now of Emmett. Since his marriage Mr. Newman has been ranching in the vicinity of Emmett and in the fall of 1911 removed to his present place nine miles west of the city, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of good land, well adapted to cattle raising and highly improved in many ways. He has met with substantial success as a cattle raiser, keeping nearly one hundred head most of the time. These are largely high-grade shorthorns and he also keeps a number of good dairy cows.
To Mr. and Mrs. Newman have been born three children: Della May, born June 22, 1911; Alice Lucinda, in April, 1913; and Frances Marie, June 8, 1915. Mr. Newman is a democrat in his poltical views. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and is now serving on the Bramwell school board. He is fond of hunting ducks and pheasants and also makes hunting trips for deer and bear, seldom returning without excellent proof of his prowess at the chase.
JAMES O. DAVISON.
James O. Davison is a progressive farmer residing four miles southwest of Boise on an eighty acre ranch which he and his brother purchased in 1917. He is one of four brothers living upon the place and actively identified with its further develop- ment and improvement. James O. Davison was born in Franklin county, Indiana,
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March 4, 1874, and is a son of James H. and Rebecca (Phillips) Davison both of whom are now deceased. The father was born in Franklin county, Indiana, March 8, 1839, and his death occurred at Blair, Nebraska, August 29, 1912. He served for three years in the Civil war as a member of Company A, First Indiana Battery, and was at all times a loyal, progressive and patriotic citizen. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 29, 1836, died in Blair, Nebraska, October 14, 1897. They were married in Franklin county, Indiana, October 28, 1865, and had a family of four sons, all of whom are yet living and are associated in business and home life, living on an eighty acre ranch four miles southwest of Boise.
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