USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III > Part 92
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LUKE S. MAY.
Luke S. May, president of the Revelare International Secret Service, with executive offices in Pocatello, Idaho, has a most wonderful record in the line of his profession. He is yet a young man, his birth having occurred in Nebraska, December 2, 1886. He was educated in Salt Lake City, Utah, and pursued an academic course in chemistry and criminal law. In photography he is an expert in the finger print line. His studies were pursued while spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William May. The father, a native of Iowa, was a contractor but is now living practically retired in Utah. The mother was born in Germany and was but six years of age when brought to this country by her parents. Her father was a native of
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Luxemburg and has ever been a loyal American since coming to the new world. Both Mr. and Mrs. William May are still living.
Their son, Luke S. May, was a youth of eighteen years when he first took up his profession, which he has since followed with zeal and success. That he is endowed with remarkable genius for this line of work is evidenced by the fact that he is only thirty-three years of age, yet is at the head of a great detective bureau-the Revelare International Secret Service, which covers the entire northwestern portion of America. The high plane on which the agency is conducted has more than once been manifested when they have been offered great rewards for the apprehension of criminals but have flatly refused to accept them. They solicit only high-class investigations and many notable criminal cases have been successfully investigated by them, including the Ed White murder mystery, Danvers bank robbery conspiracy, Breckenridge murder, Alice Empey murder mystery, Lorenzen lava bed mystery, Mandoli holdup and Idaho, Mon- tana and Oregon burglar gang cases. All heavy criminal cases are personally super- vised by Mr. May, who has been ninety-seven per cent successful. Mr. May in this connection employs a large staff. of operatives, including handwriting, finger print, detectiphone and chemical experts. He has a wonderfully equipped office in Pocatello. The rooms are supplied with photographic apparatus partly concealed, so that the in- dividual does not know that his picture is being taken. There are all kinds of elec- trical appurtenances and cabinets that record the speech, finger prints and the tones of voice of the individual. The electrical apparatus is largely the invention of Mr. May, who has evolved some truly wonderful devices, including the wireless Revelaro- phone, a system of wireless telephony. This has recorders and transmitters so delicate that one does not have to use ear trumpets or anything similar. Mr. May is also an expert in the use of chemicals, often so necessary in the disentanglement of murder or crime mysteries. Moreover, Mr. May's detective sense has been developed to the utmost. He seems to find clews which are absolutely invisible and unknown to others and carries them forward until they bring a successful culmination to his purpose. His work indeed stands as the last word in detective service in the northwest.
In 1915 Mr. May was united in marriage to Miss Clara Douglas, of Nashville, Ten- nessee. Fraternally he is a Mason and devotes a great deal of time to masonic work. Other than this he has little time or opportunity for outside interests beyond his profession.
HON. WILLIAM G. BAIRD.
An excellent farm of four hundred and seven acres situated one mile from Drum- mond pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by the Hon. William G. Baird, who is numbered among the representative agriculturists of Fremont county. He is most widely and favorably known in the section in which he resides. His birth oc- curred at Heber, Utah, June 17, 1865, his parents being Robert and Jane (Cumming) Baird, both of whom have now passed away. The father was born in Ireland, while the mother was a native of Scotland, and it was in the land of hills and heather that they were married. In 1863 they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and went over the plains with ox team to Utah, settling near Heher. There the father died June 14, 1886, while the mother survived for a decade, passing away on the 24th of November, 1896. They had a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and with the exception of one daughter all are yet living. The parents came to the United States as converts to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
William G. Baird was reared and educated in Utah, spending his youthful days upcn his father's farm and early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. After leaving the public schools he was graduated from the University of Utah in 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Didactics. He afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for seven years, and while thus engaged he invested his savings in a small farm in the Provo valley of Utah. This he developed and improved but in 1900 disposed of that property and removed to Idaho, at which time he bought an eighty-acre ranch in Fremont county. He was owner of that property until 1901, when he disposed of his land and turned his attention to merchandising at Teton, Fremont county. A few months later, however, his store was destroyed by fire. Although he had some insurance upon it, when all
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claims were met he had but nine hundred dollars remaining. Thus he practically had to begin business life anew. He entered an eighty-acre homestead claim near Drummond, Idaho, took up his abode thereon and began its development while engaged in the work of dry farming. That he has prospered as the years have passed is indicated in the fact that his holdings now include four hundred and seven acres, all in the same neighborhood, so that he can farm his entire acreage conveniently. He has four hundred acres cf land under cultivation and his main grain crop is wheat. He raised eighty-five hundred bushels of small grain in 1918-a fact indicative of the success with which he is meeting in dry farming in the northwest. He also makes a specialty of the raising of registered Duroc Jersey hogs. He has led a most diligent life. There is no useless expenditure of time or labor on his part and his indefatigable energy and close application are bringing to him most gratifying success.
On the 2d of January, 1896, Mr. Baird was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Smith, who was also born and reared in Utah. They have become the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, namely: Reva, Glen, Blaine, Dean and Preal, whose ages range from twelve to twenty-one years. Glen, nineteen years of age, was in the United States military training camp when the armistice was signed.
In religious faith Mr. Baird is connected with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He did not unite therewith because it was the faith of the family, for he did not join the church until a few years ago. It was the result of his study and interpretation of the scriptures that led him to become identified with that denomi- nation. His political support is given to the republican party and he has been much interested in political affairs, recognizing the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship in this connection. In 1918 he was made the candidate of his party for the state legislature and was elected to the office by a handsome majority, so that he is now serving as a member of Idaho's general assembly.
WILLIAM S. STOKES.
While in the latter years of his life William S. Stokes engaged in stock raising and ranching at Albion, Cassia county, he was for many years identified with other lines of business in the west, contributing to the upbuilding and progress of various localities in which he made his home. The width of the continent separated him from his birthplace, for he was born at Sandy Creek, in Oswego county, New York, May 4, 1844, his parents being George and Delaney (Forbes) Stokes. The father was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1814 and in 1833, when nineteen years of age, came to the United States, settling in the state of New York. He was married at Clockville and before leaving his native country was licensed to preach in England in 1830. After spending some time in the Empire state he removed to Detroit, Michigan, and afterward to Kane county, Illinois, where he lived for two years. He next went to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, in 1847 and was there residing at the outbreak of the Civil war. Responding to the country's call for troops to aid in suppressing the rebellion in the south, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Wisconsin Infantry on the 20th of December, 1861, and organized Company F. He enrolled at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and became first lieutenant, thus serving until the close of the war. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing and was sent to Libby prison. On the 10th of December, 1862, he was made chaplain of his regiment and so continued until 1865. In that year he was detached from his command by order of General Sherman and was appointed superintendent of the Freedmen's Bureau in Huntsville, Alabama, thus serving until mustered out in 1865. Later he removed to Minnesota and his wife passed away in that state in 1875. In 1876 Mr. Stokes removed to Utah and was appointed postmaster of Beaver, occupying that position for a number of years. At a subsequent date he became a resident of Idaho, later returned to Minnesota, and his death occurred at Lansing, Mower county, that state, on the 29th of October, 1884. He was always a consistent and loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his influence was a potent power for good wherever he was known. In politics he was an earnest republican and was ever loyal to any cause which he espoused.
William S. Stokes, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days with his parents in the various localities in which they lived and he, too, joined the Union army, enlisting at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as a member of Company D, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in 1861. He served throughout the war, manifesting his
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loyalty and valor in the various places to which duty called him. When the country no longer needed his military aid he returned to his home in Wisconsin and after- ward took charge of a plantation in Alahama. Upon his return to the north he took up the occupation of farming in connection with his father. Later he finished the trade of brick mason and plasterer at Sedalia, Missouri, having mastered work of that character. Again he went to Minnesota and from that state started for the dia- mond fields of South Africa but missed his hoat at San Francisco. Because of this he made his way northward to Walla Walla, Washington, where he huilt the Stein Hotel, now known as the Deckers Hotel, and he also erected other buildings there. Subsequent- ly he worked at his trade in California and from that state started on a mule for Arizona, crossing the Colorado river at Fort Thomas. Later he made his way to Beaver, Utah, and there he was married on the 15th of February, 1875. In 1873 he was appointed deputy United States marshal and served in that office until coming to Idaho in 1880. While filling that position he captured John D. Lee, of the noted Mountain Meadows massacre, at Panguitch, Utah. In August, 1880, he arrived at Albion, Idaho, and purchased a ranch four miles from the town, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land. To this he added from time to time as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of ten hundred and eighty acres, upon which he engaged in running cattle and farming. In his business affairs he displayed notahly sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise and seemed at no time to make a false step, his course heing marked by steady progress.
On the 15th of February, 1875, Mr. Stokes was married at Beaver, Utah, to Miss Esther J. Barton, a native of Parowan, Iron county, Utah, and a daughter of William Penn and Sarah Esther (West) Barton. Her mother was a native of Tennessee, while her father was born in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Stokes were born ten children: William B .; Ulah E .; Kate D .; George L .; Mayme D .; Orlando W .; Hugh S .; Ora D., who passed away in Walla Walla, May 8, 1913; Stephen Scott; and Hettie D. The family circle was again broken by the hand of death in 1904, when Mr. Stokes was called to his final rest. His widow has since sold the ranch property and is now living in the town of Albion.
Not only was Mr. Stokes a prominent figure in business circles but was identified with the development and progress of the state in many ways. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and in 1882 he was elected sheriff of Cassia county and served in that office until 1888. Fraternally Mr. Stokes was identified with the Knights of Pythias, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was also an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, proudly wearing the little bronze button that proclaimed him a veteran of the Civil war. Throughout his entire life he manifested the same spirit of loyalty and fidelity to the interests entrusted to his care as he did when he followed the stars and stripes through the south in defense of the Union. He was ever loyal to any cause which he espoused and his military record also covered service as a major of the National Guard at Albion. His sterling worth was widely acknowledged by all who knew him and Cassla county mourned the loss of one of its representative citizens when William S. Stokes was called to the home beyond.
DOMINGO ALDECOA.
Domingo Aldecoa, one of the prosperous sheepmen of Boise, who is a representa- tive of the local Spanish Basque colony, was born in Spain, February 2, 1883, and came to the United States in 1899, making his way at once to Boise. He was then but six- teen years of age and for several years he was employed as a sheep herder but finally emharked in the sheep business on his own account, his brother-in-law, John Archahal, a wealthy and prominent sheepman, giving him his start in the husiness. In fact he has been connected with Mr. Archahal all of the time and also with his younger brother, Marcelino Aldecoa, the two brothers and their brother-in-law, Mr. Archabal, being partners in sheep raising. They have several thousand head of sheep which are on ranges in Camas county through the summer seasons, while in the fall the sheep are brought to a one hundred and sixty acre ranch of which they are owners and which is situated in Ada county about eight miles from Boise. There during the winter season the sheep are fed on alfalfa.
Domingo Aldecoa has never returned to Spain, even for a visit, since coming to the
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DOMINGO ALDECOA
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new world. On reaching Idaho after crossing the Atlantic he made his headquarters at Mountain Home for three years and there attended the public schools, learning the English language. Since 1902 he has maintained his home and headquarters at Boise and for two months in the early period of his residence in the capital city he was a student in the Boise Business College. He has ever been a thorough and earnest student in the school of experience and is today a most practical and progressive busi- ness man whose interests have been most carefully and wisely directed, bringing to him a gratifying measure of success.
On the 3d of February, 1913, Mr. Aldecoa was married in Boise to Miss Maria Pagoaga, who was born in Spain, May 9, 1891, and came to Idaho with an aunt and uncle who now reside in Shoshone, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Aldecoa have four chil- dren: Maurine, who was born November 21, 1913; Basilio, born February 28, 1915; Manuel, November 26, 1917; and Benedita, May 17, 1919.
That Mr. Aldecoa has had no occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world is shown by the fact that he has never returned to his native land even for a visit. Here he has worked diligently along the line to which he first directed his labors and in the sheep raising circles of Idaho he is now well known.
RAY HOMER FISHER, M. D.
At Oxford, Idaho, March 9, 1883, the subject of this sketch was born, and here in the midst of the best sort of an environment his boyhood and early life was passed. At this time old Oneida county, which embraced all the territory in the southern end of Idaho, between the Utah and Montana lines, there were four towns of importance: Malad, Oxford, Blackfoot and Old Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls). Lying directly at the foot of Oxford Mountain, and overlooking the green meadows below, Oxford had a setting of real beauty. In the late '80s and early '90s it played considerable part in making the history of Idaho. But with late years, due to the fact of the railroad building away from it and other towns like Pocatello and Preston going up on either side, it has lost its commercial importance, and now is but a quiet little village in the hills. To this place in 1878 came the parents of Ray H. Fisher, William F. Fisher and his good wife, who was formerly Millennium Andrus, both of hardy pioneer stock, having come to Utah with the Mormon exodus in 1854 and 1848 respectively. They helped to write the history of southern Idaho and put upon it the stamp of character and give it a spirit of progressiveness and genuine worth.
William F. Fisher (Uncle Billy) had been a pony express rider on the famous Western Pony, riding from April, 1860, until July, 1861, between Ruby Valley, Nevada, and Egan Canyon, Nevada and later from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Rush Valley, Nevada. It was while thus engaged that he carried the news of Lincoln's election in the fall of 1860, three hundred miles in thirty-four hours and twenty-five minutes. On this ride Mr. Fisher used six horses and two mules. He got no sleep and took his meals in the saddle. Lack of riders due to Indian murders caused the necessity of his long ride, several of the men who should have relieved him being killed, wounded or missing. The other, and perhaps the fastest long ride in the history of the nation, was made on one horse, said to be the finest animal owned by the express company, covering a distance of seventy-five miles in six hours. Leaving the express company in the summer of 1861, Mr. Fisher then freighted from Carson City, Nevada, to Salt Lake, and later from Carson to Richmond, Utah, his home until he moved to Oxford, Idaho, in 1878. While thus freighting he brought the first kerosene lamp into the now won- drous Cache valley, Utah. The lamp had a capacity of only one-half pint, but was of such interest that neighbors came for twenty miles just to see it burn and give off its brilliant light compared to the tallow candles then in use. Mr. Fisher also brought the first mowing machine into Cache valley,-an old "rear cut." Both of these impor- tations were along about 1864.
Moving to Idaho in 1878, to act as bishop for the Mormon church, at Oxford, Mr. Fisher began a prominent and zealous part in the building of the great Gem state, having already erected a little store, which bears on its brick front the inscription: "W. F. F., 1876." He was in the merchandise business for just forty years when ad- vanced age compelled him to retire. Though just a country store, as compared to the bigger ones now, it was an outfitting point for years for the settlers of the Upper Snake river and Bear Lake valleys, as well as a trading point for the Indians, as Mr. Fisher
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spoke well the Bannock and Shoshone languages. By the name of Tosowitch he was known to these tribes, and considered one of their most trusted friends among the whites.
Mr. Fisher was one of the chief organizers of the democratic party in old Oneida county, and for many years he was a prominent factor in Idaho politics. He served as assessor of Oneida county from 1879 to 1885. In 1878 Mr. Fisher was secretary of the territorial convention with James H. Hawley as his assistant. He twice made the nom- inating speech for George Ainslee for Congress, Mr. Ainslee being elected both times. Also Mr. Fisher was interested in fine horses and produced some of the best Hamble- tonians and Gallopers in the early days of Idaho. "Maud F" trotted in 2:24, which at that time was one of the best western turf records.
Ever ambitious to improve his surroundings, Mr. Fisher built up a beautiful old home and grounds and orchards at Oxford, and this environment along with the wondrous old mountain so near, had a big influence on the subject of this sketch-Ray H. Fisher, for it put him early in close association with the beauties of nature and the "Great Out-Doors" which he has loved so much ever since.
Doctor Fisher's mother was a daughter of Milo Andrus, one of the best known and best loved of the early Utah pioneers, having been a captain of one of the companies from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake in 1848. Several times afterward also he was in charge of companies of saints across the plains. He filled several missions to the eastern states and Europe on behalf of the Mormon church and was one time presi- dent of all the Seventies of the church.
Dr. Fisher's parents were honest, humble, Godfearing, industrious and fearless people. They taught their children to work, to be clean, and to play the game square. "Charity to all and malice toward none" was indeed the motto of their lives, and hun- dreds of people will testify that no passing stranger or friend ever knocked at their door in vain. Theirs was an "open house" to young and old alike, and the latchstring hung on the outside of the door until W. F. Fisher's death, September 30, 1919, at at the advanced age of seventy-nine. The widow has now moved to Rigby, Idaho, where she is at the present time making her home.
At six years of age, in 1889, Dr. Fisher entered the public schools (ungraded in those days) but excellent because Oxford at that time was still a progressive town, but public education in the state of Idaho was then at a humble beginning compared to its great system of today. At sixteen, having learned what he could at Oxford, he entered the Utah Agricultural College, graduating from that institution in 1904, from the School of General Science with the degree of Bachelor of Science. While in the U. A. C., Dr. Fisher was a prominent figure in the debating and public speak- ing contests and did much work in English literature, though his major study was chemistry. In the commencement exercises in June, 1904, he was valedictorian for his class. In 1904-05 he was principal of the public schools of Lewisville, Fremont county, Idaho, and it was here that he became acquainted with the wondrous Upper Snake river valley, and the town of Rigby, which six years later was to become his home.
In September, 1905, he entered the employ of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company as first assistant chemist at Sugar City, Idaho. He remained here only a month, however, when he became assistant in chemistry and toxicology in the University of Colorado. Here he spent four years, giving most of his time to the study of medicine and surgery and graduating from that splendid institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, June 9, 1909. While at Colorado University he was again interested in oratory and won a cash prize on "Idealism" in 1907, and another cash prize on "The West" in 1909. He was a member of the national medical fraternity, Omega Upsilon Phi, being senior master 1908-1909.
The day before he graduated, Dr. Fisher married Blanche Adah Dierden, of Louis- ville, Colorado, and has lived happily with her ever since and feels sure that he will forever. What a source of inspiration and support this beautiful and charming girl has been to him in the struggle that every young physician makes when he is without funds or position, nobody but the Doctor will ever know. They have a happy home in Rigby now, and the Doctor is well established. Two children have blessed their union, Frederick Dierden Fisher, born at Lewisville, Idaho, May 25, 1910, and Margaret Wilson Fisher, born at Rigby, Idaho, March 15, 1914.
After doing locum tenens work for two months at Helper, Utah, and Preston, Idaho, and spending the most of a year at Oxford, Idaho, and Lewisville, Idaho, Dr. Fisher settled permanently at Rigby, Idaho, where he is still engaged in the practice of his profession. The winters of 1916-17 and 1917-18, he spent in Denver, Colorado; and
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the winter of 1919-20 in Los Angeles, California. These three winters were devoted to post graduate study in eye, ear, nose and throat, and Dr. Fisher is now giving most of his attention to these specialties.
In 1910-1912 he was county health officer of Fremont county, Idaho; 1916-1918 county health officer of Jefferson county; in 1915-1919, member of the Idaho State Board of Medical Examiners; 1918-1919, secretary of this board. During the World war, he was medical examiner of the selective draft board of Jefferson County, Idaho. In 1910-1920 he was a member of American Medical Association and Idaho State Medi- cal Associations. At present he is also a member and one of the board of governors of the Upper Snake River Valley Medical Association; 1910-1920 local registrar of vital statistics of Fremont and Jefferson counties, Idaho; 1910-1920, assistant surgeon on Mon- tana division of Oregon Short Line Railroad.
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