History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 91

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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Mr. Pyke is a loyal member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Daughters of Rebekah, the ladies' auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a republican and his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. His has been an active and useful life, and the many sterling traits of his character have gained for him the confidence, respect and goodwill of his fellowmen, while his laudahle ambition and energy have made for him a creditable place in the business circles of his city.

THOMAS G. TAYLOR.

Thomas G. Taylor, the only stock buyer in Ririe, Jefferson county, Idaho, carrying on an extensive business, was born in Ogden, Utah, in September, 1883, a son of Newel and Martha (Lowder) Taylor. The father remained in North Carolina, his native state, until 1875. when he immigrated to Utah and there homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in the vicinity of the city of Ogden. Five years later Martha Lowder left Virginia, the state of her birth, and settled in Utah, where she met and married Newel Taylor. Together they worked on the farm which the latter had homesteaded in 1875, bringing it into a habitable condition. Their united efforts had scarcely borne fruit when the death of the husband occurred one year after the hirth of their son, Thomas G. The mother survived until June, 1905.

Thomas G. Taylor spent his early life on the old homestead near Ogden, Utah, where he received a common school education. Sometime after the completion of his schooling he hegan buying and selling live stock and with the exception of three years he has engaged in this occupation ever since. Until he came to Jefferson county all his husi- ness had been carried on near the place of his birth and on his arrival here in 1915 he located in the then new town of Ririe where he has since resided. Here he found conditions very favorable for his husiness since the land is specially adapted to the grazing of cattle and sheep. At present the general resources of the country do not serve as his oniy advantage for he is the only man in this section who engages in the stock-buying business, a fact which shows his honesty in dealing with the public in the absence of immediate competition. The volume of his business at present can hest be seen in the annual shipments which average one hundred carloads, and for each carload Mr. Taylor pays the stock raisers of the Ririe country approximately three thousand dollars. He also is the owner of some Jefferson county farm land which he leases owing to the fact that his stock buying consumes most of his time.

In April, 1907, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to May Hill, a daughter of George and Harriet C. (Harmon) Hill. The father, who was originally from England, came to the United States when he was a hoy of fourteen years and soon after his arrival he located with his parents in Utah where he grew to manhood. There he married Harriet C., Harmen and with the valuable aid of his good wife carried on farming very successfully until 1884. In that year he left Utah and, bringing his family with him, located on a homestead six or eight miles west of Rigby. After farming here for twelve years, he sold this tract and bought a farm one mile southeast of the county seat, where

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he resided the rest of his life which ended in May, 1911. His wife had passed away In July, 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born the following children: Ancel, in June, 1908; Ivan, in September, 1909; Virgil, in July, 1911; and Stanley, in September, 1912. They give their spiritual and material support to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are rearing their children according to the tenets of their faith. Mr. Taylor takes his stand with the republican party and is always found participating in all movements for the promotion of the general welfare and civic betterment. When the town government of Ririe was organized in 1916, he was chosen as one of the members of the original town board and he continued in this office until April, 1919. Furthermore, it has been his privilege during the last two years as presi- dent of the Commercial Club of Ririe to leave the imprint of his personality upon the business progress of the town. Again, as chairman of the local unit of the American Red Cross he has had the honor to take more than a layman's part in the great humanitarian movement for which this organization stands.

THOMAS J. KILLEN.

Thomas J. Killen, owner of a splendid farm of seventy-five acres four miles west of Boise and known as the Joseph Bown ranch, which Mr. Killen bought in the fall of 1917, has lived in Idaho since 1910, coming to Boise valley in February of that year from Knox county, Missouri. He was born August 3, 1880, a son of Hugh M. and Rachel ( White) Kil- len, both of whom are still living in Shelby county, Missouri. The father was born in Pike county, Illinois, January 26, 1857, and the mother in West Virginia, near Wheeling, June 10, 1854. They are farming people and have been engaged at agricultural pursuits all their lives.

Mr. Killen, of this review, was reared on his father's farm in Knox county, Mis- souri, and was educated in the district schools. He was married there, January 24, 1906, to Nellie M. Cunningham, also a native of Knox county, born December 12, 1885, and a daughter of John H. and Jeanette (Smith) Cunningham, the former now deceased, but the latter is still living in Iowa. John H. Cunningham was born in Harrison county, Maryland, July 14, 1840, and died in Iowa, June 13, 1919, aged seventy-eight years and eleven months. During the Civil war he served in Company D, Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command up to the time of his discharge. Mrs. Killen was reared in Knox county, Missouri, where she and her husband attended the same school.

About four years after their marriage, they removed from Missouri to Idaho, and at first lived on a ranch near Buhl, where they remained for nine months. They then came to Boise valley and have lived in the vicinity of Boise ever since, at one time living on the old Frank Smith ranch, just outside the city limits, on the Hill road. In 1917, Mr. Killen acquired his present place, which contains seventy-five acres of land, four miles west of Boise. Since coming into possession of this farm, Mr. Killen has effected many improvements, including the erection of a well built bungalow. He car- ries on a first-class dairy farm, in which he specializes, and keeps a fine herd of regis- tered Holstein cattle, usually having about sixteen cows in milk, the product of which goes to the Idaho Creamery Company of Boise. He takes considerable pains to preserve the best possible strain of Holstein cattle for dairy purposes, and this branch of his busi- ness has proved very lucrative. He is generally regarded as one of the most successful farmers along this line in the Boise valley.

Mr. and Mrs. Killen are the parents of one daughter, Evelyn Frances, who is a pupil in the local public schools. Mrs. Killen takes a warm interest in all community affairs intended to advance the general welfare of the people among whom she lives.

JOHN R. POOLE.

The memorial annals of Menan, Jefferson county; would not be complete without the name of the late John R. Poole, one of the earliest settlers of that vicinity, who died in September, 1894. He was born on his father's farm near Leedsville, Jackson county, Indiana, in May, 1829, a son of Micajah and Rebecca (Wralston) Poole. Both

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parents were pioneers of Indiana, where the father followed the occupation of farmer throughout his mature life, and there they died, never leaving that state.

John R. Poole did not find life easy during his boyhood. He received no education save that of a very practical nature which he acquired behind the plow or in the clear- ings on his father's farm and when he was but a lad he worked as a hand on the neigh- boring farms. As he approached maturity the great west made a strong appeal to him. Finally in 1848 he joined a party of immigrants and began the then hazardous journey toward the setting sun. Eventually after undergoing the many hardships and priva- tions incident to overland travel in those days, the group of fearless settlers arrived in Utah. There Mr. Poole bought land where, thanks to his earlier experiences in pioneer- ing, he became one of the most prosperous farmers of his neighborhood. After thirty- one years of residence in Utah he found that state no longer on the frontier and his pioneer instinct with all its pristine potence prompted him to remove to newer fields where he would be instrumental in wresting greater treasures from the wilderness. Southeastern Idaho seemed to him such a place and in 1879 he brought his family thither and located on a homestead near the present site of Menan in what was then Bingham county. In those days conditions here were not the best for agriculture as the land was new and the settlers encountered many difficulties in marketing their crops because of limited transportation facilities, but Mr. Poole, although a man past the prime of life, met these obstacles with his characteristic energy and soon success crowned his efforts. He remained on his farm, applying himself assiduously to its improvement and giving his best to the development of the community which he had helped to found, until his death.

In December, 1863, Mr. Poole was united in marriage to Harriett Bitton, who was born in England in April, 1846, and is still residing in Menan. She is the daughter of William and Jane (Evington) Bitton. Her father had been a mariner until his failing eyesight compelled him to give up the sea in 1863, in which year he and his good wife, accompanied by their daughter, left England, their native land, to establish their home in the new world. Soon after their arrival they located near Ogden, Utah, but the family had scarcely become established when the father died in June, 1864. The mother survived until January 17, 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Poole were born eight children, of whom two are deceased, namely: James and Bert. Those living are as follows: Walter, Lewis, Benjamin, Ida, Ethel and Emmett.

Mr. Poole, as is his wife, was an ardent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his efforts were tireless in furthering the best interests of this denomination, which he served as a member of the Seventies, as acting bishop and as high priest. Although he was a lifelong democrat, he would not consent to accept the honor and emoluments of public office. Even though he preferred to remain in private life, not one of his fellow citizens was more vigilant than he in the performance of his civic duties. A quarter of a century has passed since the death of Mr. Poole but the efforts he put forth during his residence in Jefferson county are today bearing fruit. His business ability was of a high order, and his strict honesty and exemplary daily life gaincd the high regard of all who knew him. There was no movement of public concern hut what was subjected to his searching scrutiny, and his conclusions were based upon the rugged sense of justice which he had acquired in his lifelong struggle with the conflicting forces of the frontier.

LARS P. LARSEN.

Lars P. Larsen, who is engaged in ranching on Rock Creek, in Twin Falls county, was born April 1, 1882, on the ranch where H. P. Larsen is now living. His parents were Lars and Catherine Larsen, natives of Denmark, who, coming to America in early life were married in the Cache valley of Utah. They had crossed the Atlantic with their respective parents when children of but five and six years and were reared in the Cache valley. After reaching adult age Mr. Larsen homesteaded land, which he cultivated and improved until 1877. He then left Utah to become a resident of Idaho, settling on Rock Creek in Twin Falls county, where he secured as a homestead the farm upon which his brother, H. P. Larsen, now resides. There he built a log cabin and in true pioneer style began life in this state. He bent every energy to the develop- ment and cultivation of his farm and continued its further improvement until the spring of 1894, when he sold the property to his brothers, H. P. and Nephi Larsen,

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and returned to the Cache valley of Utah. His first wife died in 1893 and in Utah he married Mrs. Emily J. Jardine. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres after his return to Utah and for nine years continued the cultivation and improvement of that farm. He then sold the property and again came to Twin Falls county, settling on Rock Creek, where he built a house and continued to make his home until his death. He passed away, however, in Salt Lake City as the result of an operation in November, 1905, when forty-eight years of age. His widow survives him and returned to the Cache valley of Utah, now making her home in Logan. The children of his first marriage were Paul, Lars P., Carl, Marion and Katie. There were two children of the second marriage, Emily R. and Vaunda. The father was a republican in his political views and filled the office of deputy sheriff of Cassia county, Idaho, for a number of years.

Lars P. Larsen spent his boyhood days in Cassia county, Idaho, now Twin Falls county, and pursued his education in this district and also in the Cache valley of Utah. After reaching man's estate he engaged in the raising and selling of horses and later he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres on Deep Creek, near Rogerson. He then developed and improved the property, living thereon for three years, at the end of which time he was appointed postmaster of Rock Creek and filled the position for three years. Later he made investment in two hundred acres of land east of Rock Creek and at once began the further development and improvement of the property, on which he lived for eight years. He then sold the ranch and invested in sixteen acres near Rock Creek, at the same time conducting the Norton ranch in Rock Creek canyon, comprising four hundred acres of land. To these business interests he is now devoting his attention and is a well known rancher and cattleman of this section of the state.

On the 30th of August, 1910, Mr. Larsen was married to Miss Ona Murray, a native of Albion, Idaho, and a daughter of A. P. and Enga (Charlstrom) Murray. Her mother, who was born in Drammen, Norway, came to the United States in 1879, mak- ing her way to Salt Lake City, Utah. A. P. Murray who is a native of Idaho, became a well known stockman and also served as deputy sheriff at Albion, Cassia county, this state. Subsequently he removed to Rock Creek, Twin Falls county, where he again turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Larsen have been born three children, Dorothy, Lucetta and Lars Kenneth.

Mr. Larsen belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose and he gives his political support to the republican party but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking, as he prefers to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and is meeting with well deserved success therein.

JOHN A. HULTSTROM.

John A. Hultstrom, a prosperous rancher owning forty-three acres six miles west of Boise, was born in Sweden, May 22, 1858. His parents, both now deceased, never came to the United States. He was reared in his native country and when twenty-one years of age crossed the Atlantic, coming alone. He landed in New York city, December 4, 1879, and afterward spent a short time in Nebraska and Wyoming, whence he came to Idaho in 1882. For several years he lived in the Wood River valley but later took up a homestead on Camas prairie in 1884. He relinquished the latter, however, and secured another claim, which he proved up, but finally sold in 1905. By the time he disposed of the property his original one hundred and sixty-acre homestead had been developed into a large ranch of several hundred acres. After leaving Camas prairie he decided to visit his father and other relatives in Sweden, his mother having passed away when he was but thirteen years of age. In 1906 he returned to his native land and came again to America in 1907, being accompanied on the trip by his wife. Mr. Hultstrom was married to Miss Annie Garddet, a native of Sweden, with whom he had been acquainted in their school days. They were married in Hailey, Idaho, in 1887 and Mrs. Hultstrom was called to her final rest in 1914. On the 15th of May, 1916, Mr. Hultstrom wedded Gerda S. Erickson, who was also born in Sweden, her natal day being August 10, 1878. She came alone to the United States in 1901, joining a sister in Berkeley, California, and in 1906 she returned to Sweden. On again coming to the United States she formed the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. Hultstrom and kept up a correspondence

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with Mrs. Hultstrom for some years. On a visit to the exposition at San Francisco in 1915 Mr. Hultstrom had the fortune of again meeting Miss Erickson, which later result- ed in their marriage. They became the parents of two children, of whom the elder, June Ingeborg, who was born June 15, 1917, died on the 22d of April, 1920. The younger daughter, Gerda Marguerite, was born November 13, 1919.

Mr. Hultstrom is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife belongs to the Apple Blossom Club of Ustick. In politics he maintains an independent course voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. Just before visiting Sweden in 1906 he purchased forty acres of land, constituting his present ranch, although he has since added three acres to the original purchase. He now has an excellent property, pleasantly and conveniently situated six miles west of Boise, and he devotes his time and energies to its further cultivation and improve- º ment, having already converted it into an excellent ranch, from which he derives a substantial annual income. He is thorough and systematic in all that he does and in the improvement of his land he follows the most progressive methods.

HORACE B. BAKER.

A most beautiful sight is presented in the orchards of Horace B. Baker when his apple, prune and peach trees are all in blossom and they vie in equal beauty when the fruit hangs heavy on the trees in the late summer and fall, for today Mr. Baker is giving his attention largely to orcharding, having an excellent ranch property on the south slope of the Payette valley five miles southwest of Emmett. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres of land, largely devoted to fruit raising.

Mr. Baker is one of the substantial citizens that New York has furnished to Idaho, his birth having occurred in Broome county of the Empire state, September 10, 1861. He is a son of Henry and Mary (Hollister) Baker, both of whom have passed away. The father was born in Massachusetts, January 12, 1812, and lived to be more than ninety years of age, while the mother, who was born in Connecticut, had passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey ere called to her final rest. In their family were seven children, five sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, John J., was killed in the battle of Atlanta while serving in the Civil war.

Horace B. Baker was reared and educated in the Empire state. He had liberal educational opportunities and took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in New York for a time, and for twenty-four years through the winter seasons after coming to Idaho in 1882. He made for himself a place among the able educators of the state, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge which he had acquired. His own zeal and enthusiasm in the work were an inspiring influence over the pupils, and many districts in which he taught bear splendid testimony concerning his ability. It was to assist in the survey of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, however, that he came to the west and later aided in the survey, work of the Oregon Short Line Rail- road. Establishing his home in Idaho, he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres within a half mile of his present residence and while giving the winter months to teaching he devoted the summer months to the work of the farm. He proved up on that property, secured title to the same and occupied the place for many years, since which time he has lived in the vicinity of the original homestead. He today has one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land on the south slope about five miles southwest of Emmett and is giving his attention largely to horticultural pursuits, raising apples, prunes and peaches for commercial purposes. One attractive feature of his place is one hundred and eighty young Delicious apple trees just coming into hearing.

Mr. Baker was married in Boise by the Rev. R. M. Gwinn on the 24th of November, 1887, to Miss Letitia Sarah Kirby, who was born at Cambria, Wayne county, Iowa, November 9, 1866, and came to Idaho in 1885, when nineteen years of age. They have six children, three boys and three girls: Della A., now the wife of Frank Miller, who is in the United States forestry service in Idaho; Henry Kirby, who married Helen Kennedy and has three children, Henry, Mary and Richard, the last named being known as Dick; Ina Z., now the wife of Alva C. Jones, of Homestead, Oregon, and the mother of three children, Wayne, Jesse and Robert; Ray H., who married May Hart and was at Camp Lewis when the war ended; Edward Gray who is seventeen years of age and resides at home, and Thelma, eleven years of age, who completes the family. There

MR. AND MRS. HORACE B. BAKER

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are also four other grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Miller having four children, Lionel, Madge, Mildred and Frances.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Methodist church and the latter belongs to the Crescent Improvement Club of Gem county. In politics Mr. Baker is a republican. The influence of both is ever on the side of right, progress, advancement and improve- ment, and they have done effective work to promote the material, social, moral and intellectual interests of the community.

ADOLPH M. NIELSEN.

Adolph M. Nielsen, a well-known retired farmer, of Bingham county, was born in Norway, June 10, 1848, a son of Ole and Karen (Olson) Nielsen, also natives of Norway, where the father was engaged in the lumber trade up to the year 1877, when he decided to emigrate to America. Following his arrival in this country, he went to Utah, locating in Hyrum, Cache county, and there he lived retired up to the time of his death, which occurred in September, 1883. His wife predeceased him, dying in April, 1881.

Adolph M. Nielsen was reared and educated in Norway and worked for his father in the lumber business until 1871, when he came to the United States, preceding his father by some six years. His first location was in the state of Michigan, where lie resided for two years, but in 1873 he went to Utah and settled in Salt Lake City, where he worked in a sawmill for two years. In 1875, Mr. Nielsen went to Hyrum, Utah, and followed logging for a few years, after which he engaged in railroad contracting from 1879 to 1898. It was in the fall of 1897 that he came to Bingham county and purchased two hundred acres of land near Goshen, for which he paid nine dollars per acre. He immediately commenced to improve and cultivate his holding and operated it for some years, when he sold to his sons, retaining sixty acres for his own use, and it is estimated that this land is now worth three hundred dollars per acre. A few year after selling to his sons he removed to Shelley, where he built a fine brick house and engaged in the hotel and livery business for twelve years, at the end of this period retiring from active business affairs. He does little at the present time with the exception of looking after his sixty-acre farm.

On October 19, 1869, Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage to Mathea Hanson, and they became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Hyrum A .; Carrie, who was born in 1875 and died in 1883; Joseph H .; Josephine A .; Orson P .; Lydia E .; Norman W .; and Lillian. Mrs. Nielsen passed away in November, 1907, and on July 19, 1908, Mr. Nielsen was married to Olephine Olson, and they are the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Maude, Adolph, Thelma and Helen. Thelma died when eight months old, and the other children are now attending school.

Mr. Nielsen has been active in the affairs of the Mormon church, and has filled . missions to Norway in 1891-93, 1905-07, and 1915-17. He is president of the high priest quorum of the church and patriarch of the Shelley stake. Politically he supports the republican party, hut has never sought office. When he first settled in Bingham county, there was nothing as far as the eye could see but sagebrush. After years of labor he succeeded in developing a fine farm, which is now operated by his sons. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank and also owns residence property in Shelley, which he rents out. He has been eminently successful in all his undertakings and well deserves the high place he occupies among the citizens of Shelley.

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 91

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