USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 88
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DAVID R. CLARK.
David R. Clark, who is interested in farming at Iona, Bonneville county, and has served as county commissioner, was born in Lehi, Utah, in January, 1882, and is a son of David and Sarah (Ferguson) Clark, who were also natives of that state. The father was a farmer in Utah until 1884, when he came to Bonneville county, Idaho, and took up a homestead near Iona. This he improved and cultivated until 1900, when he removed to Oregon and purchased land, making his home thereon throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in 1908. The mother survives and yet lives in Oregon.
David R. Clark largely spent his boyhood and youth in Bonneville county and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He remained with his parents through the period of his minority and on reaching adult .
age took possession of the home farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1903, when his father sold the property. David R. Clark then purchased land elsewhere and also cultivated rented land and has since engaged in farming. He is now active in dry farming, but formerly was the owner of Irrigated land. He is likewise a stockholder in the Farmers Equity and is keenly interested in everything that has to do with the agricultural development and progress of the state.
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In July, 1900, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Mary A. Ward, and to them have been born seven children: Charles, Levar, Freda, Ora, Chester, Reed and Vera. Mr. Clark is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has served as superintendent of the Sunday school and elder in the church. His political endorse- ment is given to the democratic party, and he has filled the office of county commissioner in Bonneville county. He has never allowed business to monopolize his time and atten- tion to the exclusion of activity along other lines, especially those which have to do with the political and moral progress of the community, and his aid and influence are always on the side of right and advancement.
ALEXANDER KINGHORN.
Alexander Kinghorn, who follows farming at Lewisville, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 22, 1869, his parents heing Alexander and Jane (Campbell) Kinghorn, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The son was reared and educated in Salt Lake City and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-four years he began farming on his own account in Jefferson county, Idaho, having removed to this district with his parents in October, 1884. He purchased land and also received land from his father when the latter divided his place among his boys. Alexander Kinghorn of this review devoted his attention to the improvement of his farm until 1917, when he sold the property and made investment in his present place of sixty-six acres adjoining the town of Lewisville. Upon this tract he has since resided, his residence being within the corporation limits of the town.
On the 18th of January, 1893, Mr. Kinghorn wedded Mary I. Marler, a daughter of William and Lucetta M. (Gates) Marler, the former a native of Mississippi and the latter of Michigan. The father, who was a farmer, went to Utah at an early day, settling in Ogden, where he purchased land and carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. He also followed farming in other sections of the state and finally removed to Clifton, Oneida county, Idaho, where he bought land and engaged in farming through- out his remaining days. He passed away June 26, 1888, having for a decade survived the mother, who died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Kinghorn became the parents of the follow- ing children: Alexander, Jr .; William C .; Mary G .; Neona; Ford and Fay, twins, the former of whom died at the age of six weeks and the latter when twenty-two months old; Leah; Clyde M .; and Lola J. The son Clarence enlisted December 6, 1917, was for thirteen months engaged in active duty overseas and was discharged June 20, 1919, having been in a repair camp in France.
Mr. Kinghorn belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which he is now an elder. He has also done missionary work in Idaho. Politically he is a democrat and was for two terms a member of the town board. The greater part of his attention, however, is given to his farming interests, and the industry and enter- prise which he has displayed in the conduct of his farm have constituted the basis of his growing success.
T. M. HASHBARGER.
T. M. Hashbarger, a well known farmer of Ada county and a man of broad vision and progressive ideas in matters of citizenship as well as in business affairs, was born in Rosedale, Park county, Indiana, April 5, 1868. He was but two years of age when his parents, John and Minerva (Gregg) Hashbarger, removed with their family to Bar- rington, Missouri, where he pursued his education in the public schools. In the spring of 1882 the family started for Oregon and while crossing the plains the father died of mountain fever at Green City, Wyoming, on the 1st of July, 1882. The mother, her . three sons, T. M., Henry and Joseph, and three daughters, Etta, Anna and Elmira, proceeded on their way with the rest of the party and their travels covered three months and twenty days, their destination being the Grande Ronde valley of Oregon. They spent the first winter in the northwest in that valley and as the mother was not con- tented they decided to return to Missouri. Accordingly in March, 1883, they started with a four-horse team, but on arriving at Boise they found a good opportunity to put their teams to work to good advantage in the construction of the Oregon Short Line
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Railroad on Indian creek. The summer was there passed, after which the teams were shipped, together with the remainder of the construction outfit, to Denver, Colorado, where they unloaded and thence proceeded to Buena Vista, Colorado, where the Hash- barger brothers assisted in the completion of a construction job, after which they re- turned to Denver. From that point they reshipped to Columbus, Nebraska, and from there with their outfit returned to Missouri in company with their mother and sisters, their destination being Harrisonville, Cass county, where the brothers took up the occupation of farming.
T. M., Hashbarger continued in Cass county for two years, by the end of which time his brothers were old enough to take care of the farm, and he, then at the age of eighteen years, started out in life independently. He was employed by a farmer in the home neighborhood by the month and through the winter seasons attended school, thus completing his education. He continued in the employ of the farmer for two summers, during which period he received a wage of fifteen dollars per month and out of that sum saved enough money to buy a wagon and team, the team, however, consisting of one very large and one very small mule. He later traded the large mule for two small ones and in that way became the possessor of three mules. After this Mr. Hashbarger, his mother and his brothers rented a farm in partnership, cultivating it for a year, at the end of which time T. M. Hashbarger cultivated a rented farm independently for two years, his sister Belle, who was the widow of Edward Duckworth, acting as his housekeeper. On the expiration of the two year period he lett the farm and went to Kansas City, Missouri, entering the employ of the Kansas City Cable Railway Company as gripman and conductor, being so employed for two and a half years. In 1893 he worked for the Chicago City Railway Company and took advantage of the opportunity to see a great deal of the World's Columbian Exposition. He then spent the winter with friends and relatives in Harrisonville, Missouri, and in February, 1894, again made his way to Boise, Idaho.
Mr. Hashbarger was desirous of looking over the Long valley country, but as it was too early in the season to do this he went to San Francisco, California, and there secured a position with the Market Street Railway Company, remaining in that city until the 1st of August, when he resigned his position and went to Weiser, Idaho, from which point he proceeded by stage to Long valley via Middle valley, Salubria valley, Indian valley, Council valley and Meadow valley to the Payette lakes at the upper end of Long valley. There he spent a month, which proved one of the most enjoyable in his entire life, hunting, fishing and viewing the beauties of nature. In the fall of 1894 he settled on eighty acres of land a quarter of a mile south and a mile and three quarters east of the present site of Meridian, but at that time the town had not been founded. His eighty acre tract was covered with sagebrush and he built a small shack and hegan to clear and Improve the place, which he continued to farm for fourteen years. He paid eight dollars and twelve and a half cents per acre for the property and sold it for one hundred and twenty-five dollars, while since that time it has brought one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
After disposing of his land Mr. Hashharger took up his abode at Council, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of deeded land, also homesteaded eighty acres and took a desert right of one hundred and twenty acres additional. During the hoom of 1909 he sold the deeded land and the desert claim but retalned the homestead and proved up on the property. He also bought sixty acres a half mile south of Meridian, which he sold for two hundred dollars per acre. He and his family now maintain a home in Meridian that the children may have the opportunity of the best educational facilities offered in their section. They are planning a trip in the summer of 1920 to California and other points on the coast for pleasure and also for the purpose of selecting a suitable college to which to send their sons and daughter.
It was on the 5th of February, 1895, that Mr. Hashbarger was married to Miss Flora A. McCall, of Boise, Idaho, and their children are: Theodore J. R., now deceased; Alvin R., who at the age of eighteen years was killed near Rheims, France, while serv- ing as a member of Company L, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment of the Forty- second or Rainbow Division, his death occurring July 15, 1918, previous to which time he had engaged in all the heavy fighting in which the American troops participated. The third child of the family is Ruth H., who has graduated from the high school and is preparing for college. Marion E., seventeen years of age, is attending school. H. Gene and H. Dean, fifteen years of age, were twin brothers, hut the latter has passed away. The two brothers of Mr. Hashbarger are now residing on farms in the Twin Falls
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country, but his sisters and the mother still remain in Missouri, the latter being eighty years of age.
Mr. Hashbarger has contributed in substantial measure to the growth and develop- ment of Meridian and the surrounding country. He helped to build the first church there, contributing both time and money to the enterprise, and he drove some of the first nails used in the construction of the first parsonage. He also contributed toward the grading for a switch for a siding on the railroad, as the town had no siding and the railroad would not do the grading for it. He has always sought the development and upbuilding of this section of the country, doing everything in his power to advance progress and improvement. He is a gentleman of democratic manner, courteous and obliging, a man of broad ideas and wide knowledge, and is most likable. While now past fifty years of age, he looks to be a man ten years his junior and is most vigorous and enterprising, holding to high ideals for the community, while his devotion to his family and their welfare has ever been one of his most strongly marked character- istics. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to return to the north- west, for the opportunities which he has utilized have brought him to a commendable position in Ada county.
SAMUEL BRIGGS.
Samuel Briggs, living a mile and a half northeast of Lewisville, in Jefferson county, was born at Lehi, Utah, February 4, 1887, and is a son of William and Sarah (Empey) Briggs, who are also natives of Lehi. The father followed farming in Utah until about 1887, when he came to Jefferson county, Idaho, then a part of Oneida county, and filed on one hundred and sixty acres, a portion of which now belongs to his son Samuel. He at once began the task of cultivating and improving the land and continued the opera- tion of his farm until 1915, when he divided a portion of his land with his sons, selling to each a part of the place. He then practically retired from active business and removed to Rigby, where he has since made his home. Indolence and idleness, however, are utterly foreign to his nature and he is now filling the position of field man with the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. The mother is also living.
Samuel Briggs was but six months old when brought by his parents to Idaho and under the parental roof he remained until he reached adult life. In fact he has never been away from the old homestead farm for any length of time since the family home was established in this state. In early manhood he purchased forty acres from his father and has since greatly improved the place, which is now a highly cultivated and very valuable tract of land. He continues to engage in general farming and also in stock raising and has an imported Shire stallion, making as much money from breed- ing as he does from his farm. He specializes in the handling of pure bred Shire horses and is one of the leading stockmen of his section of the state.
In 1910 Mr. Briggs was married to Miss Lilly Kinghorn, daughter of William King- horn, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have two children, Vera and Wayne. Politically Mr. Briggs is a republican and he has membership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His aid and support are always given to measures of public benefit and his life has been actuated by high and honorable prin- ciples. From infancy he has lived in Jefferson county and that his career has been an upright one is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present.
OLIVER SEETIN.
Oliver Seetin, a prosperous ranchman who owns and resides upon a well improved farm property a mile and three quarters south of Emmett, first came to Idaho in 1906 from Miami county, Kansas. He is a native son of the Sunflower state, his birth hav- ing occurred in Franklin county, Kansas, May 20, 1881, his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth (Phillips) Seetin, the former born in Ohio and of Irish descent, his parents having come from the Emerald isle.
Reared In his native state, Oliver Seetin pursued his education in the public schools of Kansas and after attaining his majority was married in Miami county,
OLIVER SEETIN AND FAMILY
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that state, on the 11th of December, 1905, to Miss Winnie Woods, whose birth occurred in Franklin county, Kansas, on the 10th of September, 1889, her parents being Joseph and Ann (Shelton) Woods, who came to the United States from England, the former coming in March, 1883, and the latter in April, 1884.
In the year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Seetin came to Idaho and spent one winter at Emmett. In the spring of 1908 they removed to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near Sweet, Idaho, and he proved up on that property. He also pur- chased another tract of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining, making his farm then one of three hundred and twenty acres. Still later he further increased his holdings, extending the boundaries of his property until it embraced four hundred and eighty acres. Upon that ranch he resided until the spring of 1918, when he sold the property and afterward spent a year at La Grande, Oregon. But both he and his wife preferred Idaho as a place of residence and in the spring of 1919 they returned to this state and made investment in their present excellent ranch south of Emmett. This is one of the most attractive forty-acre farms in the Emmett section. Throughout much of his life Mr. Seetin has given his attention to agricultural pursuits, although in Kansas, in early life, he was a railroad fireman and brakeman, following that line of business for about eight years in all, first in Kansas and later in Oregon. His efforts are now concentrated upon his agricultural activities and he raises hay, grain, beef cattle and hogs.
To Mr. and Mrs. Seetin have been born five children; Bernice Winifred, born January 20, 1907; Evian Pearl, December 25, 1908; Eva Olive, born January 18, 1911; Lena Blanche, April 6, 1913; and William Oliver Jackson, commonly known as Jack, born February 28, 1916. Both Mr. and Mrs. Seetin are supporters of the democratic party. He has never sought or held office other than school director, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs, which have been well directed, and his energy has brought to him a substantial measure of success.
STEPHEN CHARLES COMERFORD.
Stephen Charles Comerford, a prominent ranchman and contractor, resides eight miles northwest of Boise. He made his way to the capital city from Ogden, Utah, about thirty years ago, being then a young contractor who removed to Idaho for the purpose of doing contract work on the Phyllis and the New York and Ridenbaugh ditches, which were then being constructed. He was a subcontractor under W. H. Thomp- son and from that time forward has been identified with constructive work in Ada county.
Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Sioux City, December 26, 1866. He is a son of Matt and Sarah (Kennedy) Comerford, both of whom were of Irish descent. They became residents of Iowa and there Stephen C. Comerford was reared upon a farm to the age of sixteen years. Since that time he has been dependent upon his own resources and started out in the business world as a farmer and stock raiser, while later he took up general contracting, including the building of dams, reservoirs, railroads, canals and public highways. He has been active as a con- tractor for more than thirty years. He spent several years in Colorado and from Utah removed to Idaho. Since his arrival in this state he has been actively engaged in the construction of ditches and also assisted in building the Great Northern Railway in both Idaho and Washington. He has likewise worked on the Twin Falls Canal and Railroad, has been connected with the construction of various public highways in Ada county and also in Elmore, Washington, Adams and Lincoln counties. His work has been of a very important nature. He is now executing large contracts at Jerome and in Jerome county. The excellence and thoroughness of his work and his entire reliability in fulfilling the terms of his contract to the last degree have been potent forces in his continued success.
About twenty-seven years ago Mr. Comerford was married in the state of Wash- ington to Miss Belle Beasley and they have four children, two sons and two daughters; Guy A .; William R .; Violet May, now the wife of David Joplin; and Grace, who is sixteen years of age and is the youngest of the family. His two sons responded to the call to the colors, both doing active overseas duty, and the younger son is still in France.
Fraternally Mr. Comerford is connected with the Elks and with the Odd Fellows. In politics he is a republican but has never been a candidate for office, nor has he desired to serve in that connection. He is fond of motoring, hunting and fishing and
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turns to these for recreation. He makes his home about eight miles from Boise, where he has ranching interests which he supervises. His attention, however, is chiefly con- centrated upon his contract work, which has steadily grown in volume and importance, and through this avenue he has contributed in very substantial measure to the growth, development and improvement of his adopted state.
MRS. JESSIE M. EMBREE.
Mrs. Jessie M. Embree was formerly the owner and manager of the Yellowstone Hotel at Pocatello but has recently sold that property and has purchased the home with three lots on a corner two blocks from the depot and two blocks from the center of town, where she will soon erect one of the most modern and exclusive hotels in the west. A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Mrs. Embree was brought to the United States by her parents during her infancy. Her father, Gilbert Paterson, is a large mine owner residing at Cooke, Montana, at the age of seventy-six years. He was one of the pioneers in the opening of the mines at Red Lodge. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Macintosh, is now seventy-four years of age. The brothers of Mrs. Embree are: Robert M. Paterson, clerk at the Yellowstone Hotel; and John Paterson, who is engaged in mining in Montana. The family on coming to America resided for a short time in Penn- sylvania and then removed to Des Moines, Iowa, from which point they went to Montana.
Mrs. Embree spent about sixteen years in Billings and Red Lodge, Montana, and for about the same length of time has been a resident of Idaho. When visiting a sister in Pocatello she became interested in the country and took up her residence in the city which is yet her home. She had gained considerable knowledge concerning the hotel business from her mother, who was experienced in the conduct of hotels, having for a long period managed a hostelry at Red Lodge. Mrs. Embree opened the Nicollet Hotel in Pocatello about five years ago and conducted it successfully for three years, at the end of which time she sold the property for eighteen thousand dollars. While still conduct- ing the Nicollet she opened the Caledonia at Rupert, Idaho, but sold this in 1918 at a good profit, for she was also conducting the Yellowstone Hotel at Pocatello and found that owing to war conditions three hotels were too much of an obligation at that time. The Yellowstone Hotel was one of the finest in the west, being modern in every respect and thoroughly equipped. The Little Orpheum theatre was also under her management for one year, after which she sold her interest in that business to her brother-indaw. She has an able assistant in the hotel in her sister, Mrs. Tena Snow. In addition to the hotel property Mrs. Embree owns one of the finest homes in Pocatello at No. 355 South Arthur street and all of the rooms in her residence were connected with the switchboard of the hotel. The furnishings and decorations of the Yellowstone reflected her good taste and judgment in such matters as well as her business enterprise. Her natural geniality and her womanly desire for the comfort of others, combined with her business and executive force, make her an ideal hostess.
ALEXANDER KINGHORN, SR.
Alexander Kinghorn, Sr., of Rigby, Idaho, now deceased, was born at Greenridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, January 27, 1839, his parents being George and Elizabeth (Wat- son) Kinghorn, who were also natives of the land of hills and heather. Coming to America in 1852, they settled first in Missouri, where the father was employed in coal mines for a year and a half, his death occurring in 1854. The mother survived only until 1858, when she, too, passed away.
Alexander Kinghorn, Sr., was reared and educated in Scotland to the age of thirteen years, when he accompanied his parents to the new world. He, too, worked to some extent in the coal mines and was employed in pulling coal out of the pits with engines. In 1862 he went to Utah and settled in Salt Lake City, working in the mountains at chopping logs. He was likewise employed in sawmills and with the building of the railroads into the state he secured employment of that nature. He became an engineer on a construction train, so acting until the road was completed, when he was given a passenger train. He ran the first train south of Salt Lake and was employed as an engineer for twenty years. In 1884 he removed to Rigby, Jefferson county, Idaho, where
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he took up a homestead, and his sons secured also three quarter sections, the four tracts being all in one piece. Mr. Kinghorn improved and cultivated his land, residing thereon until his death. The farm is situated about four miles from Rigby.
In August, 1859, Mr. Kinghorn was married to Miss Jane Campbell, a daughter of David and Jane (Izat) Campbell, who were natives of Scotland, the former born in Auckenbore, September 10, 1809, while the latter was born at Habarth, January 7, 1809. They came to America in 1854 and for a time resided in Missouri and later in Illinois, where they lived for eight years, removing then to Utah. It was in 1862 that Mr. Campbell arrived in Salt Lake City, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1877. The mother died in 1873. Their daughter, Mrs. Kinghorn was born in Roshaw, Scotland, December 15, 1843. By her marriage she became the mother of thirteen children, all of whom are yet living: George, born December 13, 1860; David, May 6, 1862; James, October 30, 1864; William, February 7, 1867; Alexander, March 22, 1869; John, July 30, 1871; Joseph, August 5, 1873; Jennie, December 5, 1875; Elizabeth, March 21, 1878; Margaret, October 25, 1880; Bella, June -10, 1883; Emma, November 6, 1885; and Agnes, September 11, 1889. The first two were born in Belleville, Illinois, the last two in what is now Jefferson county, Idaho, and the others were all born in Salt Lake.
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