History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 79

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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After reaching his destination Mr. Matlock engaged in working in the mines and also followed teaming and farming until June, 1893, when he took up a homestead a mile west and two and a quarter miles north of Meridian, thus securing one hundred and sixty acres of land which was covered with a native growth of sagebrush, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made upon the place. He and his eldest son, William Henry, then began clearing the property and brought it to a high state of cultivation,

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the family home being maintained thereon until 1918, when Mr. Matlock rented the farm to his son, James Clarence, and purchased a home in Meridian, where he and his wife now reside, surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries which go to make life worth the living. As the years have passed he has become numbered among the successful farmers and stock raisers of his section, his business affairs being carefully, systematically and energetically conducted, so that most desirable results have accrued. Mr. Matlock has raised some of the finest registered Percheron horses in the state and now has a three year old colt weighing more than a ton. He has never failed to win a prize on any horses that he has ever exhibited at the fairs held in Idaho. He has also engaged in raising fine hogs and the various branches of his busi- ness have brought to him very gratifying financial returns.

Mr. and Mrs. Matlock not only have reason to be proud of their success hut have still greater reason to he proud of their family. Their sons, Henry and Dave, under the firm style of Matlock Brothers, are proprietors of the finest garage in Meridian, it being thoroughly up to date in every particular. The family also numbers twin daughters, Ada May and Ida Fay. The former is the wife of H. A. Bentley and they have five children, Lilly, Gladys, Clinton, Robert and Carrol. Ida Fay is the wife of Elmer Adams. James Clarence and Clara Elizabeth are also twins. The latter is the wife of Luther Jenkins. Cassie is the wife of Henry Bates and resides in the eastern part of Idaho. The eldest son, William Henry, wedded Georgia Hicks, a native of West Virginia, and they have three children, Eula Louise, Grace Marie and Claude. The son James Clarence married Maude Young and is the father of three children, Alta, Olin and Johnnie. The son Dave, mentioned before as a successful garage proprietor at Meridian, returned in 1919 from France, where he was a member of the Fortieth Division of the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Infantry. The armistice was signed before he entered the actual fighting. He served as a member of President Wilson's bodyguard in Paris, being one of the two hundred and fifty picked men from the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Infantry who were selected for that duty.

The father of this family, Clinton Matlock, deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. It was a resolute will, a stout heart and determined purpose that enabled him and his little family to come to Idaho thirty-eight years ago, braving the hard- ships of a long trip hy team across the plains. In the years which have since come and gone Mr. Matlock has horne his part as a progressive farmer of Ada county and today is enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.

"How hlest is he Who crowns in shades like these A youth of lahor With an age of ease."

JAMES H. MASON.

James H. Mason, a market gardener residing at Parker, was born in Louth, Lin- colnshire, England, September 28, 1841, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Bulmer) Mason, who were also natives of England. The father was a worker in fancy wire in the old country. He remained a resident of England throughout his entire life. The mother, however, became a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and came to the new world in January, 1849. She made her way across the country to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she lived for three years, and then made the journey across the plains in a wagon drawn by oxen and cows. She settled in Salt Lake City, where the family remained from 1852 until the mother's death on the 21st of March, 1885, when she had reached the age of eighty years. After coming to this country she became the wife of Levi Savage, who was a pioneer of Utah and who passed away at Malad, Idaho.

James H. Mason was seven years of age when he came with his mother to the new world. They were nine weeks upon the ocean in a sailing vessel. After reaching Salt Lake Mr. Mason attended school, but when only eleven years of age found it necessary to put aside his textbooks and provide for his own support. In the early days he dug potatoes on shares. When about nineteen years of age he purchased land in Morgan county, Utah, and this he improved and cultivated for eight years, after which he established his home in the city of Morgan. While farming he taught school in the winter months and following his removal to Morgan he was elected county superin-

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tendent of schools and occupied that position for two terms. While there residing he was chairman of the board of school examiners for a number of years. He was also elected county assessor and collector and filled that position for one term.

In 1884 he removed to Oneida county, Idaho, which was afterward divided into several other counties, so that Mr. Mason has lived in three counties, yet without removing from one place to another. He filed on land five miles south of Parker, on the Egin bench, and he also has a preemption claim at Parker. Throughout the interven- ing period he has carried on farming and gardening and has met with substantial prosperity. In 1899 he turned his farms over to his sons and purchased a small tract of land of two and two-thirds acres in Parker and has since devoted that place to the raising of garden produce. He has also done considerable soliciting in the sale of books and household utensils and in that way has added materially to his annual income.

On the 10th of August, 1861, Mr. Mason was married to Miss Pamela Bullock and to them were born eleven children: James T. B., who was born September 20, 1862; Pamela J. H. and Henrietta L. B., twins, born June 30, 1865; Frank H., born August 5, 1867; Mary H., July 26, 1869; Edith Constance, January 4, 1872; Fred H., August 18, 1874; Horby W., August 30, 1876; Gertrude E., October 12, 1878; Norman H., January 14, 1881; and Ernest P. B., October 6, 1883. Of these children two are deceased : Henrietta, who died October 19, 1865; and Norman, whose death occurred on the 17th of August, 1914. For his second wife Mr. Mason chose Clara E. Eardley, whom he wedded April 9, 1867, and they became the parents of seven children: John E., born October 8, 1868; Clarence G., who was born November 13, 1870, and died December 19, 1902; Louis C., who was born May 14, 1873, and died August 17, 1887; Harry R., who was born March 30, 1876, and died February 8, 1882; Cecil E., born September 15, 1878; Clara L., January 21, 1881; and Joseph H., January 14, 1885. The death of the second wife occurred February 2, 1913.

Mr. Mason is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for sixteen years he was a member of the High Council in the church. His political endorse- ment is given to the democratic party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never been an office seeker. His progressive spirit is manifest in many ways and his business enterprise has been a dominant factor in the attainment of substantial success.

JAMES H. McCLENAHAN.

James H. McClenahan, a rancher on the Boise bench, his home being a half mile northwest of the Idaho State Fair Grounds, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, April 29, 1858, and is a son of James and Grizzella (Stewart) McClenahan, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. The paternal grandparents were John and Mary (Urie) McClenahan, who came to the United States from Ireland and eventually took up their abode in Guernsey county, Ohio.

Upon the home farm in his native county James H. McClenahan of this review was reared and he supplemented his common school education by a college course. He also taught school for a few years in early manhood and throughout his entire life he has been interested in all of the questions which have to do with world progress and the welfare of the race.

On the 8th of January, 1884, Mr. McClenahan was married in Guernsey county, Ohio, to Miss Ella Turkle, who was there born November 15, 1861, and who had been a schoolmate of his youth, they being reared upon adjoining farms. Mrs. McClenahan is a daughter of Francis and Mary (Nace) Turkle, both of whom were natives of Ohio and of Irish and German descent respectively. Her grandfather, John Turkle, came from Ireland in 1818. Mr. and Mrs. McClenahan began their domestic life in Ohio, where they continued to reside until 1911 and then came to the northwest, settling in Idaho. In 1913 they took up their abode upon their present ranch on the Boise bench, where they have an attractive suburban home with five acres of land, worth perhaps two thousand dollars per acre. Near by they own another tract of eight and a half acres which is also well improved. Mr. McClenahan is engaged in raising pure bred live stock, including registered Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. He is a lover of good stock and'all the animals on his place are pure bred. In addition to his other interests Mr. McClenahan is a director of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Cald-

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well, Idaho, which was established in 1908 and which on the 1st of July, 1919, had almost · eight million dollars of insurance in force.

To Mr. and Mrs. McClenahan have been born three children. Eula, the eldest, is the wife of Rev. C. H. Beall, of Pennsylvania, a Methodist minister. Raymond is married and lives in Canyon county, Idaho. Mary, living at home, is secretary of the Boise Young Woman's Christian Association and is a graduate of the domestic science depart- ment of the University of Idaho. Mr. McClenahan and his family are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as an elder, and his older daughter was for six years a missionary at Alexandria, Egypt, prior to her marriage. They have ever been most active workers in behalf of moral progress and the uplift of their fellowmen and Mr. McClenahan has ever been numbered among the citizens of Ada county whom to know is to esteem and respect.

HIRAM H. McGUIRE.

Hiram H. McGuire, a rancher residing two miles northwest of Boise, where he has twenty-two and a half acres on the bench, took up his abode on this place in the fall of 1919, removing from a ranch near the Whitney school, southwest of Boise. Mr. McGuire is a native of Missouri. He was born April 2, 1884, and is a son of James W. and Sarah Adelaide (Hilliard) McGuire, the latter now deceased, while the former is still living. The youthful days of Hiram H. McGuire were spent in his native state, where he acquired his education in the public schools, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youtlı.

While still residing in Missouri, Mr. McGuire was married to Miss Kate Goodwin, who was born in Missouri, October 30, 1890. The wedding was celebrated in Barry county, Missouri, on the 22d of July, 1906. Mrs. McGuire is a daughter of James W. and Mary E. (Brattin) Goodwin, who are now living near Meridian, Idaho. For eight years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McGuire continued residents of Missouri and in 1914 came to Ada county, Idaho, where he has since followed the occupation of farming. He continued to cultivate rented land until 1919, when he purchased his present ranch, comprising twenty-two and a half acres, upon which are good buildings and a consider- able amount of fruit. He is also conducting the place as a dairy ranch.

To Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have been born three children: Cora M., who was born April 23, 1908; Clarence S., whose hirth occurred October 5, 1909; and James Goodwin, whose natal day was October 6, 1912. Fraternally Mr. McGuire is connected with the Woodmen of the World. Both he and his wife give their political support to the republican party. They are Protestants in religious faith and both are members of the Parents Teachers Association of the Cole school district. They are interested in all the vital problems which have to do with the progress, prosperity and advancement of the community and the commonwealth and are especially giving careful consideration to all the questions which affect the welfare of children.

JACK R. MOON.

Jack R. Moon, a rancher residing on the old Storey place just west of Boise and near the County Hospital, purchased and took possession of this ranch in the fall of 1919, removing to Ada county from St. Anthony. He owned a large ranch in Fremont county and resided upon it for several years but disposed of that property in the spring of 1919. His father, Carlos H. Moon, was a pioneer of Fremont county, where he took up his abode in 1886, removing from Nebraska. He was born at Le Raysville, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1837, and following the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted as a soldier in the Union army at Springfield, Illinois, in 1861, serving with the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry until the close of the war. He afterward took up his abode in Iowa and was there united in marriage to Sarah Ann Cowell, by whom he had a family of three sons and one daughter, namely: Alvin D .; Lena D., now the wife of Caleb Jones, of Spokane, Wash- ington; Jack R., of this review; and C. Redman, who is living at St. Anthony, Idaho. All survive with the exception of the first-born, who was killed in a railway accident when a young man. The mother was a native of Columbus, Ohio, and a daughter of Christopher Cowell. With his family Carlos H. Moon removed from Iowa to Nebraska

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and after living in that state for a time came to Idaho in 1886, settling on a desert claim in Fremont county. He became the founder of the city of St. Anthony, which stands upon land that he formerly owned. He passed away at St. Anthony about ten years ago and his widow survived him for two years.

Their son, Jack R. Moon, was born at Center Point, Linn county, Iowa, October 10, 1872, and was therefore a youth of about fourteen years when his parents came to this state. He assisted in developing the Moon ranch in Fremont county and in his youth worked in the fields, also engaged in cow punching and breaking bronchos. Throughout his entire life he has been a rancher save for five years which he spent in Pocatello, Idaho, where he was employed as a fireman on the Oregon Short Line Railroad.

Mr. Moon was married in St. Anthony on the 8th of December, 1897, to Miss Dell Parker, a native daughter of Idaho, born in Bingham county. Her parents are Wyman M. and Eliza (Grover) Parker, who were pioneers of Bingham county. Mr. and Mrs. Moon have a son and two daughters: Carlos E., horn November 13, 1900; Kathryn, whose birth occurred February 9, 1905; and L. Verna, whose natal day was April 15, 1909. The son, though now only twenty years of age, is a veteran of the World war, hav- ing entered the service as a volunteer when a youth of eighteen. He served in France for nearly two years and was with the division that made the first independent initial American onslaught in the war. He was seriously wounded at Chateau Thierry and as a result of his injuries lost his left leg. He is now attending college at Corvallis, Oregon, while the daughters are students in the public schools. The military history of the son is that of the Forty-second Regiment of the Rainbow Division, he being with the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Machine Gun Corps, the history of which records con- nection of the division with some of the most difficult fighting on the fields of France.

The new home of Mr. Moon and his family is a forty-acre ranch which is very valuable and is situated on the Boise bench, where lands are selling at five hundred dollars per acre. Mr. Moon is a democrat in politics but has never sought or desired office. On the contrary he gives his undivided time and attention to his business affairs and is making substantial progress in the care and improvement of his place.

ALVIN S. JACKSON.

A life of intense activity, intelligently directed and guided at all times by honorable purposes and worthy motives made Alvin S. Jackson one of the highly respected citizens of Parker. His death was therefore the occasion of deep and widespread regret, but his memory remains as an inspiration to all who knew him and his example is well worthy of emulation. Mr. Jackson was born in the Cache valley of Utah, August 8, 1875, and was a son of Henry W. and Mary A. (Soames) Jackson, who were pioneers of Utah. The father was a farmer and carpenter, following those occupations throughout his entire life. He lived for many years in Utah and on coming to Idaho in 1897 settled in Fremont county. Here he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits and at the same time followed the carpenter's trade for a number of years but has now put aside the more arduous cares of business life and is living in St. Anthony. The mother died November 6, 1914.

Alvin S. Jackson was reared and educated in the Cache valley and also attended Ricks Academy of Rexburg, Idaho, for one winter. He learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of his father and came to Idaho with his parents. Here he was associated with his father in the operation of the Hopkins ranch on Egin bench for some time. He afterward removed to Parker and worked at carpentering in addition to farming throughout his remaining days. He purchased twenty acres of land, well irrigated, and later sold the place and purchased a dry farm, which he continued to cultivate until the time of his death. He also operated two different sawmills in the locality and for a long period he did considerable business as a contractor. He was the promoter of a large warehouse built at Parker and was very active along many lines, proving a zealous worker at all times for the benefit of the community.

On the 4th of April, 1900, Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Effie M. Mangum, a daughter of James H. and Amy L. (Bigler) Mangum. The mother was born while her parents were crossing the plains on their way to Utah. The father is a native of southern Utah. He was a railroad man, engaged in construction work for several years in Montana in his younger days. In Utah he took up freighting and in 1890 he came to Idaho, settling at Parker, where he filed on land which he improved and cultivated

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until 1901, when ill health obliged him to put aside the active work of the farm. He has suffered greatly from rheumatism for years and for the past two years has been helpless. He now resides in Arizona. The mother passed away November 29, 1891. Their daughter, Mrs. Jackson, was born in Nephi, Utah, May 19, 1881, and by her marriage became the mother of eight children: Alda, who is eighteen years of age and is attending school at Provo; Lester, aged seventeen; Lloyd, thirteen; Laura, seven; Geneva, three; Theron, who was born July 3, 1904, and died on the 9th of December of the same year; Naomi, who was born August 4, 1910, and died on the 7th of November of that year; and Lola, who was born November 15, 1913, and died May 10, 1914.

It was on the 1st of December, 1917, after a three weeks' illness, that Mr. Jackson passed away at the age of forty-two years. He had been a prominent, influential and valued citizen of his community. He served for three terms as a member of the town council and was village clerk for three years. He proved a most helpful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for two years filled a mission in the western states. He was a member of the stake Sunday school board, was a member of the ward superintendency of Sunday schools and belonged to the council of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Quorum of Seventy. He was likewise a ward teacher and at the time of his death was acting as superintendent of Sunday schools and also as chairman of the old folks' committee. At all times and in every relation of life he commanded the respect and confidence of his fellowmen.

Mrs. Jackson is still operating the dry farm of three hundred and twenty acres. She has a nice home and three acres of land in the town and also owns two lots in St. Anthony, where she expects soon to build a residence.

ELMER LEE ROSE.

Elmer Lee Rose is known in business circles as a successful farmer, live stock dealer and melon grower of Gem county, owning and occupying an excellent ranch home eight miles west of Emmett. His attention, however, is concentrated not only upon his business affairs but also upon the moral progress of the community and he is now serving as bishop of the Bramwell ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a native son of Utah, his birth having occurred at Farm- ington, Davis county, December 25, 1872, his parents being Erastus Francisco and Josephine Elnora (Robinson) Rose, who were natives of Iowa and Utah respectively, but both have now passed away. Their family numbered eight children-four sons and two daughters who are yet living, while two sons have passed away.

Elmer Lee Rose is the only member of the family who resides in Idaho. He was reared at Farmington, Utah, and in his youthful days worked in the fields of his father's farm near-by. He obtained a good common school education and he has spent his entire life in Utah and Idaho save for a period of nine years when he was in Alberta, Canada. In 1902 he came from Alberta to Idaho and has since been engaged in general farming in the Payette valley, living through this period in what is now Gem county. He has always resided in the Bramwell neighborhood and has lived upon his present ranch for ten years, while the entire period of bis residence in this section covers eighteen years. He is the owner of two hundred and two acres of good ranch land, all in the same neighborhood, and although not all in one tract, is near enough to make it convenient for him to manage and farm the place. His home ranch comprises one hundred and sixty-two acres and in addition to his entire acreage he rents and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres near-by. He generally has about fifty head of cattle and about fifteen good dairy cows of the shorthorn breed.

On the 8th of October, 1903, Mr. Rose was married to Miss Sarah Mabel Harri- son, who was born in Utah, May 18, 1881, a daughter of William C. and Mary Eliza- beth (Forsyth) Harrison. The mother is now deceased, but the father is still liv- ing in Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have seven children, namely: Mabel Ardia, who was born August 13, 1904; Agnes Lee, whose birth occurred January 20, 1906; Elmer Lorraine, whose natal day was September 3, 1907; Ralph H., born October 8, 1909; Mary Ireta, born March 22, 1912; Vern Adel, born June 18, 1914; and Wendell H., who was born on the 29th of March, 1916.

Mr. Rose served for two years as a Mormon missionary in the eastern cities, in- cluding Chicago, New York, Buffalo, Boston and Montpelier, Vermont, and also Mon- treal, Canada. This was from 1909 until 1911. He is a member of the Bramwell

MR. AND MRS. ELMER L. ROSE

Vol. III-41

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school board, the schoolhouse being only a quarter of a mile from his home, and he is now also serving as road supervisor in his district. While he was away on his missionary lahors his wife remained on the homestead with her four young children and thus proved up on the property during his absence. She is president of the Women's Relief Society of the Bramwell district of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and both have been devoted to the church, putting forth every effort in their power to advance its interests and promote its growth.

FRANK LANGER.

Frank Langer owns and occupies a ranch of fifty-two acres on the Boise bench, three-quarters of a mile northwest of the County Hospital of Ada county. Through a period of twenty-seven years he has lived in Idaho, coming to this state across the plains in a covered wagon from Nebraska. He arrived practically empty-handed and his present financial condition is the direct result of his indefatigable industry and enterprise through the intervening years.

Mr. Langer was born in Austria, February 21, 1863, and came to the United States in 1882. when nineteen years of age. His time for several years was spent in differ- ent states. For a brief period he was at Baltimore, Maryland, and for a short time at St. Louis, Missouri. He also resided for two years in Greene county, Illinois, and for eight years in Nebraska, and in 1893 he came to Idaho, traveling across the country in a covered wagon, for his financial condition was not such as to permit of other mode of travel at that time. He was accompanied by his wife and two children, and when they reached Boise their cash capital consisted of but seventy-five cents. Mr. Langer was rich, however, in energy and determination and he at once began providing for his family by picking prunes and apples in an orchard that stood within the pres- ent city limits, working for one dollar per day. For two years he was employed at wages in and near Boise and in 1895 he purchased forty acres of land upon which he now makes his home. There were no buildings on the tract at that time, but it was partially cleared of its sagebrush. He made arrangements to purchase the property at fifty dollars per acre and was to be allowed eight years' time to complete the payment. So energetically did he work that he was enabled to clear off his indebtedness in four years' time, however. For several years he lived in a little rude cabin but now has a well improved ranch property of fifty-two acres with good buildings, fine orchards and other modern equipment In 1908 he purchased twelve acres adjoining, for which he paid two hundred dollars per acre. Among the horticultural features of his place is a ten-acre prune orchard, which is six years old and is now coming into full bearing.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 79

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