USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 87
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CLAUD FROST.
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Claud Frost, successfully engaged in the live stock business at Star, is a representa- tive of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Ada county. His grandfather, Wil- liam Frost, and his father, William Isaac Frost, had crossed the plains from Iowa in 1862, bringing with them one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle. They did not have a great deal of trouble with the Indians as they traveled westward, but one night the red men shot one of the steers with an arrow while the animals were being herded for the night. Wil- liam I. Frost was on duty at the time and out of the dark came the bawl of a steer, of which he took no special notice at the time, but the morning light showed the animal with an arrow in its flank. Traveling westward, William I. Frost and his father passed through Idaho and continued on to" California, where they engaged in freighting until 1865, when they returned to this state and settled on the Boise river in the Boise valley eighteen miles west of what is now the capital city. There W. I. Frost home- steaded a tract of land, on a portion of which his son Claud now resides. When passing through Idaho in 1862 the grandfather, William Frost, was offered forty acres of land in what is now the center of Boise, the Sonna block-one of the finest business structures of the city-now standing upon that property, which Mr. Frost could have secured for a team and two hundred and fifty dollars in money. Today the property is worth several thousand dollars. As the years passed the grandfather and father bore their part in the work of development and improvement, contributing largely to agri- cultural progress. The home in which W. I. Frost lived is now occupied by his son George and is on the southwestern side of the original tract which Mr. Frost had homesteaded and taken up as a culture claim, while he had also purchased an eighty acre tract adjoining. Both the father and grandfather, together with other settlers of the locality, had assisted in building a fort about three miles southwest of Star on the Boise river in 1865 in order to afford protection for their families from the Indians. On one occasion when word was received that the Indians were coming the men were all working in the harvest fields. William Frost, who was the recognized leader in the community, ordered them to stop and get their families into the fort, which they did. The white men then went to meet the Indians, who beat a hasty retreat into Owyhee county south of the Snake river. Those early days were ones of constant vigilance and nerve-racking anxiety. The old Indian trail from the Owyhee mountains to the Sawtooth range passed through the homestead property of the Frost family. There is a slough which runs through the place and the old Indian crossing over this is the only trace left of the trail.
Claud Frost was born March 9, 1881, on the old homestead, a portion of which he now owns and occupies. He attended the schools of the district, worked with his father in the fields through the summer seasons and remained at home until he had attained his majority. He then took up stock raising and farming on his own account on a part of the old home place given him by his father. He both bought and sold live stock which fed on the ranges around the Meridian country. In fact almost the entire
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state at that time was an open range and Claud Frost rode many days, months and years after the cattle. He is familiar with every phase of cowboy life and has lived to see remarkable changes occur in the state as Idaho has become thickly settled and the land has been taken up for farming purposes. He has improved his own place and has a splendid farm, in the midst of which stands a beautiful, modern and commodious home within one mile of Star. His property is indicative of the success which has crowned his efforts, for the prosperity which he has achieved enabled him to secure his present residence and to add to his ranch all modern equipment and conveniences.
In 1901 Mr. Frost was married to Miss Ora Jessee, a native of Harrison county, Missouri, who came to Idaho with her parents, Elisha and Nan (Glendenning) Jessee. Her father has passed away but her mother survives and is living at Homedale, Idaho, at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have two children: Chester C., sixteen years of age; and Myrl A. The progressive work instituted by his grand- father in pioneer times and carried on by his father is being continued by Mr. Frost and thus three generations of the family have been active factors in the development and cultivation of Idaho's rich farming country.
EDWARD DE MEYER.
Edward De Meyer, a rancher residing upon a valuable and well improved tract of land of ninety acres seven and a half miles northwest of Boise, in the White Cross school neighborhood, was born in Belgium, June 7, 1867. His parents died in that country, neither ever coming to the United States. He was reared in his native land, where he remained to the age of twenty-four years, and in 1891 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making the journey alone to the new world. He left Belgium in order to become a resident of Idaho and after landing at New York he at once started across the country with this state as his destination. He has since made his home in Boise or vicinity. He worked for wages for several years, being employed at farm labor. He was also for a time in the employ of Seraphin De Cloedt, who is also of Belgian birthi. Mr. De Meyer, however, was ambitious to engage in farming on his own account and utilized every opportunity that would enable him to advance his financial resources and ultimately become the owner of property. At length he purchased his present ninety- acre ranch from Mr. De Cloedt in 1897 and has since resided thereon. All of the improvements upon the property have been placed there by Mr. De Meyer, who paid twenty dollars per acre for this land, which is today worth three hundred dollars per acre. The farm is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. It presents a neat and attractive appearance, indicative of the progressive spirit of the owner.
Mr. De Meyer was married December 19, 1894, to Miss Emma Gevaert, who was born in Belgium, July 11, 1878, and came to the United States with Mrs. Seraphin De Cloedt in 1892, living in the De Cloedt home for several years. Mr. and Mrs. De Meyer have become the parents of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, all living: Albert A., who was born June 22, 1896; Edgar, born April 10, 1898; Emma, October 14, 1900; Henry, August 30, 1902; Cora, January 15, 1905; Raymond, April 28, 1906; Emil, October 8, 1907; Fred, April 27, 1909; Rosa, September 27, 1911; Alice, February 23, 1913; Joseph, October 24, 1914; Walter, November 23, 1917; and an infant son, April 20, 1920.
Mr. De Meyer and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. The eldest son answered the call to the colors during the World war and went to France with the American Expeditionary Force, serving on the battle front of Europe for fourteen months. Mr. De Meyer has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has gained a creditable place among the substantial farmers of Ada county.
GEORGE E. FROST.
More than twenty years ago the residence now occupied by George E. Frost was built by his father, William Isaac Frost, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Idaho and who secured a homestead claim that is now owned by his son. In fact no history of Ada county would be complete without extended reference to William Isaac Frost
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and his father, Elijah Frost, who were worthy pioneer settlers of this state. They removed from Iowa in 1862 and traveled westward across Idaho to California, where for about three years they were engaged in freighting. In 1865, however, they returned to this state and both the father and grandfather engaged in farming and stock ralsing. They were of the more progressive and advanced type of pioneer settlers and Elijah Frost was regarded as a leader in his community, his advice and counsel being sought on many occasions. Both took up land, securing homestead and timber culture claims and otherwise acquiring property, and throughout the intervening period from 1865 until the present the Frost family has figured prominently in Ada county, where are now found its representatives in the fourth generation.
George E. Frost was born January 24, 1886, on the old homestead, a part of which came into his possession. The opportunities of his youth were such as most boys of the period enjoyed. He attended the district schools, dividing his time between the attainment of an education, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He continued to assist his father in his general farming and live stock interests until the father's death, at which time he inherited the residence and a part of the home farm. He has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and the raising of live stock on his own account and his efforts have brought to him a gratifying measure of success.
In 1906 Mr. Frost was married to Miss Maud Sandy, daughter of the late Reuben H. and Kate (Rhodes) Sandy, who came from Missouri to Idaho in 1901. Mrs. Sandy is now living upon a farm two miles south of the home of her daughter. To Mr. and Mrs. Frost have been born two children, Alta and Leta, both now in school. The resl- dence which the family occupies was erected by Mr. Frost's father more than twenty years ago and is a fine old type of ranch house, kept in the best of condition. In fact all three of the Frost brothers are noted for neatness and care in the management and cultivation of their farms and all have beautiful homes, surrounded by beautiful and well kept grounds. The family has been a valuable addition to the citizenship of this section, making worth while contribution to the development and improvement of Ada county. George E. Frost maintains the unassailable reputation that has ever been connected with the family name and like his brothers is today a representative agri- culturist and stockman of eastern Idaho.
MRS. IDA F. MELLINGER.
Mrs. Ida F. Mellinger is the owner of a valuable ranch property situated about three miles west of Boise and her place is being further developed and improved through the efforts of her son Clarence, who is one of the most progressive and enterprising ranch- men of this section of the state. Mrs. Mellinger has made her home in Idaho since 1901 and in Boise and throughout the surrounding country has an extensive circle of warm friends. She is a native of Burlington, Iowa, and is a daughter of George W. and Sarah J. (Harris) Yaley. Her father was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, July 22, 1842, and now makes his home at Stronghurst, in Henderson county, Illinois, at the age of eighty-eight years. The mother was born in Burlington, Iowa, August 6, 1844, and passed away in her native city, June 25, 1918, when almost eighty-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Yaley had traveled life's journey together for more than a half century, in fact had celebrated their golden wedding on the 19th of March, 1913, for which occasion Mrs. Mellinger returned to Burlington, Iowa.
Mrs. Mellinger was one of a family of five children, three of whom are now living, all having been born in Burlington. She spent the days of her girlhood under the parental roof and pursued her education in the public schools of that city. On the 12th of October, 1882, she became the wife of Marshall M. Mellinger, who was also a native of Burlington, his birth having there occurred October 27, 1857. He was a son of Samuel and Emeline (Marshall) Mellinger, who were natives of Pennsylvania and who went to Burlington, Iowa, in 1850, casting in their lot with the early residents of that city. They reared a family of three sons and three daughters and spent their last years in Burlington, each attaining the age of about eighty-five years when called to the home beyond. Their trip to Burlington constituted their wedding journey and therefore their entire married life was passed in that city.
Marshall M. Mellinger was reared in Burlington and acquired a public school educa- tion, supplemented by a three years' college course. His early business career was
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CLARENCE M. MELLINGER
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devoted to general merchandising, in which he engaged successfully for some time, and then took up the business of raising fine Hereford cattle in Kansas, becoming owner of one of the most valuable ranches in the Republican valley. There he con- tinned until 1901, when, in quest of a milder climate, he came to Idaho. Here he purchased an excellent ranch property formerly owned by C. E. Rust, who had been a successful nurseryman and had planted many varieties of fruit upon his place. In 1903 Mr. Mellinger erected a fine modern residence upon the ranch supplied with every comfort and convenience known to the best city homes of the present day. He also built excellent barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and had converted the place into a very valuable farm property at the time of his death, which resulted from a most unfortunate accident. He was driving to his home from Boise when his team became unmanageable at sight of a road engine at work along the fair grounds. He was thrown from the buggy and never thoroughly recovered from the injuries then sustained. In the fall of 1912 he went to California, hoping to improve his health in the mild climate of that state, and while there his death occurred, his remains being brought back to Boise by Mrs. Mellinger for interment in the Morris Hill cemetery. In his political views Mr. Mellinger was an earnest republican and was at all times loyal to any cause which he espoused. In business affairs he was progressive and thoroughly reliable and by reason of his enterprise and undaunted industry in the management of his live stock and farming interests was able to leave his family in very comfortable financial circumstances and to them he also bequeathed the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mellinger were born three children: Clarence M., who was born in 1885; Ida M., who was born in 1888 and is the wife of Howard Curtis, of Boise; and Mary V., born in 1896. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Mellinger and her chil- dren have remained upon the ranch, which is now being most ably conducted by her son Clarence, who bears the reputation of being a model young man as well as a model farmer. He has never tasted tobacco or liquor in his entire life and in this respect follows in the footsteps of his honored father. He has managed the ranch since his father's death and the place is the visible evidence of his splendid business qualities, for the Mellinger property is one of the best ranches in the entire Boise valley. Neatness and thrift characterize the place in every particular and it is said that each feature of the farm is in perfect condition. No equipment or accessory of the model farm property is lacking upon this place, which is largely devoted to the raising of hay and grain, cattle and hogs, and there is also an excellent orchard upon the land The crops and the live stock, however, claim the greater part of the time and attention of Clarence Mellinger, who manifests a most progressive spirit in all that he undertakes and in the conduct of the farm follows scientific methods.
Mrs. Mellinger and her family are members of the Bethany Presbyterian church of Boise and all are active in church work. She also took a helpful interest in the Red Cross and has ever been an earnest friend of the canse of education and for six years was on the board of the Cole school. She is likewise active in the Ladies' Aid Society, and she and her family occupy a very prominent social position.
GEORGE KINGHORN.
George Kinghorn, a farmer residing three miles west of Rigby and three miles east of Lewisville, has for more than a third of a century been a resident of Jefferson county, having taken up his abode here in 1884. He was born in Belleville, Illinois, in December, 1860, and was one of a large family whose parents were Alexander and Jane (Campbell) Kinghorn. who in the year 1862 made the long and arduous trip across the plains with ox team and wagon. They settled in Salt Lake and there George King- horn spent the days of his boyhood and youth, while in the schools of the city he obtained his education. After reaching adult age he came to Idaho with his parents in 1884, being then a young man of twenty-three years. The family settled in Jefferson county, then a part of Oneida county, and George Kinghorn filed on his present place, securing one hundred and sixty acres of wild land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. In fact he had to clear away the sagebrush before he could till the fields. He bent every energy to the task and as the years passed carried forward the work of cultivation and improvement until he now has a splendid farm and is displaying the most progressive methods in the further development of
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his agricultural interests. He is also building roads for the county and has been em- ployed by the county in that way for several months, acting as overseer of the work throughout Jefferson county.
In February, 1882, Mr. Kinghorn wedded Miss Emma Blair, a daughter of Edward and Jane (Fenwick) Blair, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England. Coming to America in early life, they settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Mr. Blair worked at the carpenter's trade on the Mormon Temple, continuing a resident of the capital city until his death, which was occasioned by a fall from the structure on which he was working. He died in 1887, while the mother of Mrs. Kinghorn passed away in 1871. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinghorn have been born six children: George, who died in 1885; Ada, the wife of George B. Davis, of Rigby; Edward W., manager for the Western Elevator Mills at Ririe, Idaho; Arthur, who is farming with his father; Hazel, the wife of Frank Sorenson, a resident farmer of Jefferson county; and Floyd, at home.
Politically Mr. Kinghorn is a republican, and his religious faith is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served as Sunday school superin- tendent and was organizer of the Centerville or Bybee ward district school, of which he has been one of the trustees. He is interested in all that pertains to the develop- ment and upbuilding of the section in which he lives, and by his activities, enterprise and public spirit has contributed to the material, intellectual, political and moral progress of the district.
ORSON BALL.
Orson Ball, who follows farming and sheep raising about three and three-quarters miles southwest of Rigby and an equal distance southeast of Lewisville, was born at Vernon, Utah, November 24, 1879, a son of Alfred and Mary A. (Walker) Ball. His youthful days were passed at Union, Utah, where he pursued his education, and at the age of seventeen he began herding sheep. He afterward engaged in sheep raising on his own account and with his parents came to Idaho in October, 1900. He shipped his sheep from Utah to this state and has since been numbered among Idaho's successful sheep raisers. For a few years he also engaged in producing sugar beets. In 1901 he bought school land which he afterward sold and later acquired his father's old home ranch, trading for it another tract of land and securing one hundred and sixty acres, which he has since owned and cultivated. This he has in addition to the farm upon which he resides, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of land which he purchased in 1917. He has carried on the work of further development and improvement and upon his land are found fine buildings and all modern accessories and conveniences of the model farm of the twentieth century. He has erected a nice brick residence and his home is the abode of comfort and warm-hearted hospitality as well.
On the 29th of May. 1901, Mr. Ball was married to Miss Emily J. Harris, daughter of Martin and Mary I. (Corbett) Harris, who were natives of Ohio and of Iowa respec- tively. The father was a farmer and pioneer of Ut h and of Idaho. He went to the former state at a very early day, settling in Cache county, and in May, 1885, he removed to Jefferson county, Idaho, then a part of Bingham county, and took up a homestead which he cultivated until his death in September, 1913. The mother is still living in Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have become parents of eight children: Alvin, Norman, Wallace, Beulah, Leo, Orson, Lula and Archie.
The family are adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which Mr. Ball is an elder. His political support is given to the republican party and for two years he served as a member of the town board while living at Lewisville.
JAMES A. KESGARD.
James A. Kesgard is finding profit in ranching through the raising of corn, wheat and clover and also of cattle. He keeps about a hundred head of cattle all of the time and among these he always has fifteen or twenty good dairy cows of the Durham breed. In the summer season all of his cattle with the exception of his dairy stock are kept on the government domain, a hundred miles from his home, and Mr. Kesgard belongs to an association that employs a herder to look after the stock. As the years pass Mr.
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Kesgard is continually improving his ranch, has largely leveled his fields in order to facilitate irrigation and make all of his land productive and is today the owner of a valuable property, while he ranks with the most progressive farmers of Gem county. His place is situated about six miles west of Emmett and thereon he was born March 11, 1878, being the younger of the two sons of Christian Kesgard, who passed away in 1882 and whose widow still lives near the home of her son, James A., on an adjoining ranch at the age of eighty-four years. This worthy couple are mentioned elsewhere in this work.
James A. Kesgard of this review was reared upon the old home farm which he now owns. His ranch embraces two hundred and twenty-five acres and is one of the best improved properties of Gem county. Upon it is a modern nine-room bungalow and other good buildings and farm equipment, including two large silos with a com- bined capacity of three hundred and seventy-five tons. One is a concrete structure of two hundred and forty tons capacity, while the other silo is built of wood and has a capacity of one hundred and thirty-five tons. The soil is rich and productive, as is indicated by the fact that the red clover seed sold from a thirty-acre field in the fall of 1919 brought seven thousand, six hundred and ninety-two dollars or an average of two hundred and fifty-six and a half dollars per acre. This same field produced about forty-five bushels of wheat to the acre in 1918. In the year 1919 corn fields on the Kesgard ranch produced twenty-one tons of silage to the acre. Mr. Kesgard has ever been a man of keen discrimination and unfaltering enterprise. He sup- plemented his country school training by study in the Oregon State Normal School at Monmouth, Oregon, for a year and since that period he has steadily devoted his atten- tion to ranching and cattle raising. Mr. Kesgard has concentrated his efforts and atten- tion upon his ranching interests and success in substantial measure has come to him.
On the 25th of July, 1901, Mr. Kesgard was married in Boise, Idaho, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Gardner, who was born in Centerville, Idaho, April 18, 1877, and is the only living child of George and Julia (McAuliffe) Gardner both of whom are living and reside with Mr. and Mrs. Kesgard. They are natives of Ireland but were married in Boise. Mrs. Kesgard was reared and educated in Emmett and afterward spent a year in St. Theresa's Academy of Boise. She taught school for seven years prior to her marriage. She has become the mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: George "Chester, who was born August 12, 1902; Frances Catherine, born January 12, 1904; James Michael, October 11, 1906; David Christian, February 13, 1908; Raymond Vincent, April 30, 1912; Margaret Mary, May 12, 1915; and Marjorie Anna, December 24, 1918. Mrs. Kesgard and her children are communicants of the Catholic church.
Mr. Kesgard is a democrat in his political views and he served as one of the first commissioners of Gem county, having been appointed by Governor Moses Alexander. He occupied that office for a year and a half. Otherwise he has not been active as a public official, but his aid and cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen, and he is esteemed highly as a representative business man and one who is actuated in all that he does by a progressive spirit that brings results.
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