USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 7
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On the 23d of January, 1895, in the capital city, Mr. Kieldsen was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Raaen, a native of Norway, who came to the United States in 1888, making her way direct to Boise. They have become the parents of four daughters and a son: Lucy Hope, Helen Johanna, Karen Marie, James Norman and Harriet Ingeborg, the youngest now twelve years of age. The eldest daughter is a graduate of the University of California and is now language teacher in the Caldwell high school. The second daughter, Helen Johanna, will graduate from the University of California in 1920. The third daughter, Karen Marie, is now a senior in the Boise high school and is president of her class, while the son, James Norman, is a sophomore in the Boise high school.
Mr. Kieldsen has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and in politics is an independent republican. He and his family are all connected with the Christian Science church. Mr. Kieldsen has made steady and substantial progress
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since starting in business in Boise and has had no occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made continued advancement.
ROY L. BATTAN.
Roy L. Battan, identified with the automobile trade as proprietor of the Letha Motor Supply Company at Letha, Idaho, was born at Grove City, Illinois, August 18, 1880, and is a son of John and Mary (Dickinson) Battan, who were natives of Ohio and of North Carolina respectively. The mother is now living in Hastings, Nebraska, but the father passed away in 1911.
Roy L. Battan spent his early life in Illinois and Nebraska and was twelve years of age when his parents removed to the latter state, settling in Hastings. After mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools he entered the Univer- sity of Nebraska at Lincoln, from which he was graduated on the completion of a civil engineering course in 1907. In the summer of that year he made his way west- ward to Spokane, Washington, where he followed his profession for several years, also working along the same line in Idaho. In April, 1915, he settled at Letha and established the first lumberyard of the town, conducting it for a year. He afterward disposed of the business to the Gem State Lumber Company, for whom he acted as manager for three years. Retiring from the lumber business, he established a garage, opening the first garage at Letha. The business has developed rapidly and is now one of substantial and gratifying proportions. The Motor Supply Company owns a good building, well equipped for handling all kinds of repair work and doing all kinds of garage service, and he carries a good line of automobile tires and accessories.
On the 4th of November, 1908, Mr. Battan was married in New Plymouth, Idaho, to Miss Hattie Hinchcliff, who was born in Rio, Illinois, May 17, 1882, a daughter of Winfield Scott Hinchcliff, who resides at New Plymouth, and of Edna (Biggart) Hinch- cliff, who passed away March 18, 1887. Mrs. Battan was a successful teacher in Canyon, Elmore and Blaine counties for five years prior to her marriage and is a lady of innate culture and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. Battan have four children: Thelma Francis, who was born February 6, 1912; Richard Winfield, born June 12, 1914; Edna Mary, July 3, 1917; and John Charles, March 2, 1920.
Mr. Battan and his wife are republicans in their political views, giving earnest support to the party and its principles, and fraternally he is a Mason. Both are mem- bers of the Baptist church, in which he is serving as a trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday school. They own a fine bungalow, one of the prettiest homes in Letha, built in 1916, and, moreover, it is the abode of warm-hearted and generous hospitality, being the center of a cultured society circle.
MORTIMER J. PHILLIPS.
Mortimer J. Phillips, president of the Gem County Garage at Emmett, handling automobiles and motor car supplies as well as doing all kinds of repair and battery work, was born at Wood River, Nebraska, January 31, 1890, his parents being Samuel and Esther (Cooley) Phillips, who are now residing near Fruitland, Idaho, where they own an apple orchard. The son was reared upon the old home farm in Nebraska and pursued his education in the public schools of that state. His father was a mechanic and blacksmith and from early age the son has worked with tools and along mechanical lines. He seems to have inherited his father's natural aptitude for mechanics and at the age of fifteen years he made a miniature gas engine which would run and which he still has in his possession. At eighteen years of age he built a model for a farm tractor. It was also about that time that he took up automobile repair work at Wood River, Nebraska, and he has been more or less closely connected with the automobile business continuously since 1908 or for a period of twelve years.
Mr. Phillips left his native state in 1911 and came to Idaho, planting an apple orchard of fifteen acres near Fruitland, constituting the property that is now occupied by his father. While waiting for his orchard to grow he took up auto repair work in Fruitland and in 1917 removed to Emmett, where for more than a year he occupied
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the position of head mechanic in the M & M Garage, owned by Madden & Madden. In February, 1919, he joined O. U. Chambers and J. I. Barry in the purchase of the Wilson Garage of Emmett, and soon afterward they changed the name to the Gem County Garage and incorporated the business with Mr. Phillips as president, Mr. Chambers as vice president and Mr. Barry as secretary and treasurer. Their garage, which is one of three in Emmett, is located at No. 201 Main street and is one of the best and most complete institutions of this character in Gem county. They have the agency for both the Overland and Oakland cars in this county, and not only do they store cars but also do expert auto repairing, first-class battery work, all kinds of welding and make a specialty of starting and lighting troubles, guaranteeing all work. Because of their efficiency they have gained a liberal patronage.
On the 4th of May, 1914, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage at Fruitland, Idaho, to Miss Olive Tanquary, a native of Illinois hut a resident of Idaho from the age of nine years. Three children have been born to them: Merne, born November 1, 1915; Anita, December 3, 1916; and William, born June 27, 1919. Mr. Phillips is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and he belongs to the Emmett Gun Club. He has entered upon a line of work for which nature evidently intended him and his expert skill in this direction is the foundation of his growing success.
HENRY J. FLAMM.
Henry J. Flamm is a prominent exponent of commercial enterprise at Rexburg, where he is conducting business as the president and manager of the Henry Flamm Company, having one of the leading mercantile establishments in his section of the state. Nor are his efforts confined alone to this line. He recognizes his duties and responsibilities in other connections and particularly in relation to the moral prog- ress of the community and he is now a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints.
He was born in Logan, Utah, July 14, 1870, and is a son of Henry and Helena (Bock) Flamm, who were natives of Switzerland and of Germany respectively. They came to America in early life with their parents and hoth families established homes in Pennsylvania. Henry Flamm worked in the woolen mills of that state until 1852, when he crossed the plains with ox teams to Utah, settling at Cottonwood, where he lived for several years, being employed in various ways there. He afterward went to Logan, Utah, where he engaged in farming for a number of years, and then turned his attention to merchandising, in which he engaged until 1883. In that year he removed to Oneida county, Idaho, settling in a section which is now included within the borders of Madison county. He engaged in farming until 1886, when he once more took up mercantile pursuits and established the store which has since been de- veloped into the large department store now carried on under the name of the Henry Flamm Company. This is the largest and oldest mercantile institution of this char- acter north of Pocatello. Mr. Flamm continued in active connection with the busi- ness throughout his remaining days, and his progressive spirit, close application and unfaltering enterprise were dominant factors in its upbuilding and success. He died August 19, 1913, leaving a handsome competence a's the reward of his business en- deavors and an honorable name, which came as the result of an upright life. He was in the stake presidency at Rexhurg in connection with Thomas E. Ricks, being first counselor to the president. He first came to Rexburg at the call of the church to assist in colonizing the district. Mrs. Helena Flamm passed away in Decem- ber, 1883.
Henry J. Flamm, whose name introduces this review, spent his youthful days in Logan, Utah, and Rexburg, Idaho, and in both places attended school, becoming even- tually a student in the Ricks Academy, while later he continued his education in the Brigham Young College at Logan, Utah. He then returned home and took charge of his father's office, continuing in that connection for four years. At the end of that time the business was incorporated and Henry J. Flamm hecame general man- ager of the Henry Flamm Company and has been hoth president and manager since his father's death. The business is capitalized at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the department store which they own and control would be a credit to a city of much larger size. The store comprises one building ninety-four hy one hun- dred feet and another thirty-eight by thirty-four feet, and they utilize two floors and
HENRY J. FLAMM
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basement. They carry the largest stock of merchandise in the state, and the firm name has ever stood as the expression of most progressive and modern business meth- ods. They have always maintained the highest standards in the personnel of the house, in the line of goods carried and in the treatment accorded patrons. Mr. Flamm has valuable farming interests in this section of the state. He is also identified with banking as the vice president of the First National Bank and one of its directors. This is one of the oldest and strongest moneyed institutions of Madison county and Mr. Flamm was numbered among its founders. He is also a partner of R. J. Com- stock in irrigation and land projects at Mud Lake, Jefferson county, where they are reclaiming a large tract of land, owning now ten thousand acres.
In December, 1891, Mr. Flamm was married to Miss Lorena Eckersell and though they have no children of their own they have reared two: John E. Terry, who op- erates a farm belonging to Mr. Flamm; and May Darley, now the wife of Renaldo Harper, living at Albion, Idaho.
Mr. Flamm is a stalwart supporter of the democratic party and has served as a member of the city council for five terms. His father was the first mayor of the town and chairman of the first village board, while Henry J. Flamm has served as chairman of the city council. He has also been a member of the board of education for five or six terms and is at present its chairman. In religious belief he is connected with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is bishop of the second ward, having occupied the position for seven years. He was previously counselor to the bishop of the first ward for fifteen years and has worked in the various church organizations. The name of Flamm is inseparably interwoven with the history of Rex- burg and the development of the city and surrounding district and Mr. Flamm is numbered among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of the city.
ROBERT W. BARBER.
Robert W. Barber is the superintendent of construction for the Boise Artesian Hot & Cold Water Company and is well known in the capital city and vicinity, having spent his entire life in Idaho. His wife is equally well known throughout the state and in fact throughout the northwest as the owner of the largest and most successful rabbit warren in Idaho, her fame in the development of the business making her name a familiar one throughout this section of the country.
Mr. Barber was born at Sweet, Idaho, November 22, 1879, a son of Robert W. Barber, Sr., who died when his namesake was but nine years of age. The father had come to Idaho in pioneer times, settling in the vicinity of Sweet when that district was entirely wild and undeveloped. He became a large ranch owner and prominent dealer in live stock, controlling extensive business interests. He married Charlotte Barber, who has also passed away.
Robert W. Barber of this review was reared on Idaho ranches, first living near Sweet and later in Long valley. He naturally gave his attention in early life to the pursuits which had claimed his attention in his boyhood and was foreman of a large ranch near Nampa when twenty-two years of age. He has always been keenly inter- ested in everything pertaining to the welfare and development of the state and for several years he was in the service of the Ridenbaugh Ditch Company. Boise, low- ever, has been his home and headquarters for many years and for fourteen years he has been connected with the Boise Artesian Hot & Cold Water Company in one capacity or another and for the last two years has been its superintendent of con- struction, capably meeting the responsibilities and duties that devolve upon him in this connection.
Mr. Barber was married in Caldwell, Idaho, about eight years ago to Mrs. Selina Foster. She was born in England. July 13, 1880, and is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Charlton) Davidson, both of whom are now residents of Springfield, Illinois. When their little daughter was but a year old they came to the United States, leaving her in England with her grandparents, and she there remained until she was fourteen, when she came alone to the United States and joined her parents, then residents of Streator, Illinois. Her education was obtained in England. Mr. Barber has two step- sons, Harry and Russell Foster, aged twenty and sixteen years. The former is a veteran of the World war, having served for fourteen months with the American Expeditionary Force as a truck driver. The mother, Mrs. Barber, is one of the best
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known and most successful breeders of rabbits in the state of Idaho. She was formerly treasurer of the Idaho Poultry & Pet Stock Association and is now the secretary of the Idaho Rabbit and Pet Stock Association. She is also superintendent for the state of Idaho for the National Federation of Flemish Giant Breeders of America. Mrs. Bar- her has been a winner in the poultry shows of Idaho, Oregon and Utah and at the Idaho State Fair and Utah State Fair for many years, winning many prizes on Flemish Giant rabbits. A large number of specimens of the Barber rabbitry have weighed as high as sixteen pounds. She raised one Blue Flemish Giant doe that weighed sixteen and three fourth pounds. Mrs. Barber has won many medals and silver cups as the poultry and pet stock shows and scores of blue and red ribbons. She specializes in the Flemish Giants and she makes extensive shipments to other states. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barber have a wide acquaintance in Boise and he is a member of the Chamber cf Commerce, while at all times both are keenly interested in the development and upbuilding of the state and are supporters of all those plans and projects which are looking toward a greater and better city and commonwealth.
ARTHUR M. WHELCHEL.
Arthur M. Whelchel, a photographer of Emmett, was born in Allen county, Kansas, August 3, 1879, and is a son of William Henry and Irene Melissa (Walton) Whelchel, who were natives of Indiana and Illincis respectively. The family came to Idaho ahout thirty-five years ago and they took up their ahode upon a homestead near Falks Store, between Emmett and New Plymouth. The father proved up on this property, securing title to the same, but afterward sold the place and removed to Caldwell, where he and his wife now reside.
Arthur M. Whelchel has spent practically his entire life in Idaho, coming to this state with his parents when a little child. After he had completed a public school education he started out to make pictures in 1902. During the years 1902, 1903 and 1904 he simply did kodak work on the outside. In 1905 he built the first photographio gallery in Emmett and he has since been engaged in photographic work here almost steadily from that time, having today the only studio of the kind in the town, although many others have located in Emmett within this period and tried to build up a business but soon gave it up, as Mr. Whelchel has always received the major portion of the patronage here. This is merely a survival of the fittest, for he does excellent work in his line and, moreover, he has that artistic sense which enables him to recognize the value of light and shade and of pose, enabling him therefore to get most natural and lifelike results.
In 1905 Mr. Whelchel was married to Miss Emma Belle Neal, a native of Idaho, who was born near Falks Store and was a childhood acquaintance of her husband. They have become the parents of four children, Harold, Marie, Robert and Ralph. Theirs is one of the attractive homes of Emmett, a handsome six-room bungalow, which was erected by Mr. Whelchel in 1919 and is located on the east side, in one of the best residence sections of Emmett.
TIMAN ADOLPH JOHNSON.
American biography teaches us the fact that it is under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in men is brought out and developed. A proof of this statement is found in the record of Timan A. Johnson of the Boise Produce & Commission Company, whose determined effort, keen business sagacity and enterprise have brought him to a prominent position in the business circles of the capital city. He comes to Idaho from Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Jackson county of that state on the 2d of April, 1876, his parents being Elias and Eline (Swein) Johnson, who were natives of Norway. The father arrived in the new world in 1849 and cast in his lot with the pioneer farmers of Jackson county, Wisconsin, where he resided until his life's labors were ended in death in 1892, when he was fifty-nine years of age. He was married in that state, his wife having come to America in the early '50s with her parents. She is now a resident of Bellingham, Washington.
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T. A. Johnson of this review was the seventh child in a family of twelve. He obtained his education in the public schools of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and when eighteen years of age became a student in the Black River Falls Business College. Having in the meantime started out in life on his own account, first working for fifty cents per day. He scorned no labor that would yield him an honest living but was at all times ambitious to win advancement. On the 6th of June, 1898, he came to Boise and secured a position as driver of a delivery wagon for the American Gro- cery Company at a salary of twenty-five dollars per month. He was afterward em- ployed as bookkeeper by the Central Lumber Company of Caldwell, Idaho, but when he had spent four months in that place he returned to Boise, where he opened a little grocery store. The undertaking, however, was unsuccessful and he found himself after a short time without funds. He then accepted a position in the store of the John L. Day Company, a firm to which he was indebted to the amount of five hun- dred dollars. He worked out his indebtedness by paying over one-half of his salary of fifty dollars per month. He continued with the house until it was reorganized, becoming the Boise Produce & Commission Company, and under the new organization he soon became manager, in which position he has continued to the present time, being now also one of the principal stockholders of the company. Thus in the face of diffi- culties and obstacles which would have utterly discouraged a man of less resolute spirit he has made steady progress and is today active in the control of one of the important commercial interests of the city. He is one of the directors of the Boise Association of Credit Men.
On the 2d of April, 1912, at Boise, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Mrs. Lottie M. Wilson, daughter of Mrs. Edith Carter of that place. Their attractive home is the abode of warm-hearted hospitality which is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Politically Mr. Johnson maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment, and his religious faith is that of the Christian Science church.
HENRY CLAY BRANSTETTER.
Henry Clay Branstetter, who enjoys the distinction of having resided in Boise longer than any other living citizen, took up his abode here in 1863, removing from Richmond, Missouri. The little hamlet into which he came hore no resemblance to the thriving metropolitan city of the present day. A fort and a few scattered houses through the region constituted Boise and around was a great unbroken tract of sage- brush land. In 1872 Mr. Branstetter located on the southeast corner of Sixth and Jefferson streets, where he still makes his home, having here resided for forty-seven years. "Uncle Clay Branstetter," as he is familiarly known to every man, woman and child in Boise, is now in his eighty-fourth year but is as strong and vigorous as many men of sixty-five years. He was born in Ray county, Missouri, January 5, 1837, a son of Daniel Branstetter, who was commonly known as Judge Branstetter and who was born in Pennsylvania in 1793. In 1836 he removed to Ray county, Mis- souri, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that district, in which he spent his remaining days. He served for many years as county commissioner and also repre- sented his district in the state legislature. He passed away in 1858, at the age of sixty-six. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Winifred Slaughter, was born in east Tennessee in 1793 and died in Ray county, Missouri, in 1850, at the age of fifty-eight years.
The boyhood days of Henry C. Branstetter were spent upon his father's farm. On the 18th of July, 1853, or sixty-seven years ago, he began work in a store at Knoxville, Ray county, Missouri, accepting a clerkship there. Later on he was interested in a mercan- tile business at Mile's Point in Carroll county, Missouri, as a partner of an older brother, Jacob Branstetter, now deceased. After coming to Boise he worked for wages for several years in various kinds of employment and in the fall of 1868 he was elected sheriff of Ada county and served for one term, being succeeded by William Bryon. He was one of the early sheriffs of the county, filling the office from 1869 until 1871. He was also receiver of public moneys in the United States land office at Boise during Grover Cleveland's first presidential administration from 1885 until 1889. Still higher political honors came to him, for Ada county elected him to the state senate at the first general election after Idaho was admitted to the Union in 1890 and for two
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years he remained a member of the upper house of the general assembly. In 1892 he was again elected sheriff of Ada county, serving in that capacity from 1893 until 1895. He has always been a democrat in his political views and a loyal supporter of the party. Besides the offices mentioned above he has served for several terms as a member of the city council of Boise and has exercised his official prerogatives in support of many plans and measures for the benefit and upbuilding of the city. At the same time he has figured in business circles and for about twenty years was prominently known in connection with the butchering business in Boise, at times conducting two meat markets. His attention was given to the trade from 1873 until 1892 and during that period the Branstetter meat markets were the principal ones in Boise.
It was on the 16th of April, 1872, that Mr. Branstetter was married in Boise to Miss Mary Thews, who was born in Maryland, December 1, 1852, and died March 24, 1915, in her sixty-third year. She was a daughter of William and Charlotte (Innis) Thews, who were natives of England and were reared and married in that country. Com- ing to the United States, they first lived in Maryland and later in Illinois, while in 1869 they removed to Idaho and for many years were residents of Boise. They had a family of four children: William B. and Charles I., who have passed away; Mary, who . became the wife of Henry Clay Branstetter; and Alice, who has continuously resided in Idaho since 1869. She was born at Rock Island, Illinois, and was one of the early teachers of this state. She also served for eight years as postmistress of Malad, Oneida county, Idaho, and was treasurer of Oneida county for four years. She has recently completed ten years' service in the state land office at Boise and thus she has been very active in the public life of the community, doing splendid work in these various connections. She is a member of St. Michael's Episcopal church and she is the only surviving member of the Thews family of which Mrs. Branstetter was a repre- sentative. To Mr. and Mrs. Branstetter were born five children. Mrs. Winifred Schmitter is the wife of Colonel Ferdinand Schmitter, a surgeon of the United States army, having the rank of lieutenant colonel. Mrs. Alice Yeomans is the wife of Eugene W. Yeomans, of Boise, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mary Innis is living with her sister, Mrs. Schmitter, in Washington, D. C. The two other children of the family have passed away-Thomas Innis, who was killed in the Civil war; and Charlotte Blanche, who was the wife of Francis Newton and departed this life November 8, 1913.
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