History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 97

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. Clark gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been somewhat active in political circles. In 1917 he represented Fremont county in the state legislature. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of the Maccabees, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Something of his prominence is indicated in the fact that Clark county was named in his honor. While a most active and progressive business man, his interest in affairs of public moment is pronounced and his aid can always be counted upon to support those projects which are most worth while to the community. He belongs to the little group of distinctively representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the sheep industry of this section of the country. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing section, and acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered in the fullness of time the generous harvest which is the just recompense of indomitable industry, spotless integrity and marvelous enterprise.

NORMAN C. BECKLEY.

Norman C. Beckley, proprietor of the Beckley Pharmacy at No. 906 Main street, in Boise, came to this city in 1912 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a native of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Johnstown. Pennsylvania, February 1, 1889, or about four years before the memorable flood. The family was somewhat more fortunate than many others in the stricken town, for although the lower story was inundated their house stood through the flood, the family living in the attic until the waters subsided. The parents, Charles F. and Augusta May (Harbaugh) Beckley, are now residents of Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania. The father has largely devoted his life to the occupation of farming.

Norman C. Beckley was reared at Johnstown to the age of seventeen years, when

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he entered the University of Pennsylvania and at the same time matriculated in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He devoted four years to study in the two insti- tutions, taking the regular scientific course in the university and the pharmaceutical course in the College of Pharmacy, being graduated from both in 1911 and winning the B. S. degree from the former, while from the latter he received the degrees of Doctor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemist. He worked his way through the full four years by clerking in a Philadelphia drug store in the evenings and on Satur- days and Sundays. He had but thirty dollars when he reached the city, but he pos- sessed what is often far better than capital-energy, determination and ambition. With his earnings he was able to pay for his tuition and also his books and board and in the College of Pharmacy he was the youngest member of his class of two hundred and fifty. He entered college when seventeen years of age and was twenty-two when he was graduated.

In 1912 Mr. Beckley came direct from Philadelphia to Boise and secured a clerk- ship in the Whitehead drug store. Carefully saving his earnings, on the 15th of Octo- ber, 1917, he was enabled to purchase the McCrum drug store at No. 906 Main street, at which time he changed the name to the Beckley Pharmacy. This is one of the oldest drug houses of Boise, having been established more than a quarter of a century ago and conducted through the intervening years by the McCrum Drug Company. Mr. Beckley has introduced many new and progressive ideas in the conduct of the store and is well known in trade circles, being the secretary of the Idaho State Pharma- ceutical Association.

On the 28th of December, 1916, Mr. Beckley was married to Miss Hazel Kurtz, the only child of the late W. B. Kurtz, a former live stock dealer of Boise, who was well known as a successful shipper. Mrs. Beckley was born in Boise, August 18, 1891, and is the only member of her father's family living. She is a graduate of Whitman Col- lege of Walla Walla, Washington. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beckley belong to the University Club and she is a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, while he has member- ship in Kappa Psi, a medical fraternity. Their religious faith is evidenced by their connection" with the Congregational church. Mr. Beckley is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a Mystic Shriner. At the present time he is serving as junior deacon in the blue lodge. He likewise has membership in the Boise Commercial Club and the Boise Golf Club, the latter indicating one of his chief sources of recreation, al- though he also greatly enjoys fishing and hunting, Idaho furnishing excellent oppor- tunity to indulge in those sports, in which he takes part when his commercial interests permit of leisure.

HON. JAMES D. ROBERTSON.

Hon. James D. Robertson, member of the state legislature from Ada county and a representative business man of Meridian, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section of the state and for many years has been connected with merchandising and farming interests. He came with his parents to the northwest from Illinois, his birth having occurred on a farm near Morrison, Illinois, on the 15th of September, 1880. He is a son of James A. and Christine Robertson, the former a native of Glasgow, Scot- land, while the latter was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, and, like her husband, was of Scotch descent. She died in the year 1915, but the father survives and now makes his home in Boise, where he has lived for twenty-nine years. It was in 1891 that he came with his family to Idaho and here turned his attention to farming, which he followed for an extended period, but is now living retired from business, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. In the family were two sons, the brother of James D. Robertson being Alexander S. Robertson, of Boise, who was formerly a member of the Idaho general assembly, serving in both the house and senate. There are also four daughters of the family yet living, three being residents of Boise and one of Iowa.

James D. Robertson was a lad of eleven years when brought by his parents to this state and throughout the intervening period he has made his home in Ada county. He was graduated from the Boise high school when a youth of nineteen years and afterward pursued a course in a business college. Starting upon his active business career, he was a clerk with the Boise Mercantile Company for eleven years and then turned his

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attention to farming, which he followed for five years in Ada county, devoting his atten- tion to the improvement of a homestead of eighty acres near Meridian for a period of five years, or from 1909 until 1914. He then became a traveling salesman for a Seattle wholesale grocery house, which he represented for three or four years, after which he became owner of a general store in Meridian, there carrying on business until Jan- uary, 1919. At that date he disposed of his store and returned to Boise, but he is now again engaged in general merchandising at Meridian, having a well appointed estab- lishment which is bringing to him a gratifying profit.

On the 21st of September, 1910, Mr. Robertson was married in Boise to Miss Bessie Edell Strahle, a resident of that city but a native of Illinois. They have one son, John James, born October 21, 1911.

The religious faith of the parents is that of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Robertson also has membership with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is fond of hunting and fishing and various outdoor sports. In matters of citizenship he stands with the republican party and in 1918 was elected to the state legislature from Ada county. He has always been keenly interested in the welfare of the community in which he has now made his home for twenty-nine years, witnessing the greater part of its growth and development and mani- festing at all times a helpful interest in those public concerns which have to do with the material growth and development of the community and the advancement of its civic standards.

THOMAS E. RICKS.

A prominent figure in the great colony of Latter-day Saints of eastern Idaho was Thomas E. Ricks, who was bishop of Rexburg and a most honored and valued citizen. His activity in business contributed largely to the upbuilding of the district, while his work for the church was a potent element in the moral progress of the community. The sterling worth of his character was recognized by all and he left an example which may well be followed by those who knew him, while his memory continues as a bene- diction to all with whom he came in contact.

He was born at Centerville, Davis county, Utah, December 3, 1855, a son of Thomas E. and Tobitha (Hendricks) Ricks, who were natives of Kentucky. The father crossed the plains with ox teams in 1851, making his way to Centerville, Davis county, Utah, where he took up land which he cultivated for a few years. In 1860 he became a resi- dent of Logan, Cache county, Utah, where he again obtained land and there followed farming until 1883. In that year he became a resident of what is now Madison but was then Oneida county, Idaho, purchasing land near Rexburg. He became the founder of the town of Rexburg and as the years passed he improved and cultivated his land, giving his attention to that work throughout his remaining days. He also conducted a store and he built and operated the first grist mill this side of the Cache valley. He likewise founded Ricks Academy of Rexburg and was thus a most im- portant factor in the material development and progress of his community. He was likewise a most active and earnest worker in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was president of the Fremont stake from 1884 until his death. He passed away September 28, 1901, at the age of seventy-five years. The mother of Bishop Ricks is living at the notable old age of eighty-nine years.

Thomas E. Ricks was reared and educated at Logan, Utah, and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. His father gave him forty acres of land in Cache county, Utah, and this he cultivated until 1883, also working on the railroad. His father and W. D. Hendricks laid steel on the Oregon Short Line Railroad from Franklin, Utah, to Butte, Montana, being four years in completing their contract. When Thomas E. Ricks came to Idaho with his father he took up a timber claim ad- joining the town of Rexburg. He also bought land and continued its cultivation to the time of his death. For twenty years or until 1916 he was engaged quite extensively in sheep raising and during a part of that period made a specialty of handling pure bred Hampshire sheep. In 1900 he erected a fine home at Rexburg, where he spent the remainder of his life in most comfortable circumstances, his former activity hav- ing brought to him a measure of success that was most gratifying and well deserved.

On the 11th of October, 1878, Mr. Ricks was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Hib- bard, by whom he had six children, as follows: Silas, who passed away in March, 1902,

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at the age of twenty-one years; Thomas E .; Floretta, the wife of J. S. Webster; Joel; Preston; and George, who died in April, 1889. Mrs. Ricks passed away in November, 1916.

In his political faith Mr. Ricks was a democrat and served as mayor of Rexburg and also as a member of the city council for several terms. He likewise served on the state sanitary board for four years. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became a high priest and a patriarch. From 1888 until 1890 he filled a mission for the church in England. His life was ever guided by high and honorable principles and he contributed continuously to the material and moral upbuilding and development of his community from the time when he assisted in building the first log cabin of Rexburg. He lived to witness many notable changes here as the years passed by and bore his full part in the work of advancement. He passed away December 29, 1919, respected and honored by all who knew him.

CHESTER B. WALKER.

Chester B. Walker, vice president and manager of the First National Bank of Driggs, was born in Salt Lake City, May 17, 1884, and is a son of W. A. and Lavina (Harper) Walker. He was brought to Idaho during his infancy, his father homestead- ing a half section fifteen miles north of Idaho Falls. The son afterward attended the district schools and still later became a student in Ricks College at Rexburg. When not in the schoolroom he assisted in the development of the home farm, becoming thoroughly familiar with all the duties and labors connected with the cultivation of the fields. When twenty years of age he proved up on a homestead located on the Rex- burg bench and later entered the commercial world, with which he became identified in 1906, being employed by Miller Brothers, wholesale millers and dealers in flour, hay and grain at Rexburg. He remained with them for a year as manager and then en- tered the employ of the St. Anthony Building & Manufacturing Company, with which he continued as head bookkeeper for three years. Subsequently he spent a year as manager of the St. Anthony Milling & Elevator Company, owned by J. K. Mullen of Denver.

Mr. Walker next became associated with Guy E. Bowerman, of St. Anthony, Idaho, in the banking business and in the spring of 1912 accepted the cashiership of the Driggs State Bank of Driggs, Idaho. In the fall of the same year this bank was nationalized and has since been known as the First National Bank of Driggs. At the present writ- ing Mr. Walker is the vice president and manager and the success of the institution is due in no inconsiderable measure to his efforts, business ability and keen sagacity. In the fall of 1917 he organized the Farmers State Bank of Tetonia and is now its presi- dent. In 1919 he organized the Intermountain Live Stock & Loan Company and is its manager and a member of the board of directors. This company is now carrying a quarter of a million dollars in loans and its business is steadily increasing. Mr. Wal- ker has always been interested in cattle and sheep raising and has many farm and range properties in this part of the state. He is at all times a most progressive and enterprising business man who attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm and accomplishes what he undertakes. He designed the present bank building of Driggs, which is a beautiful modern brick structure, the second floor of which serves as the courthouse for Teton county.

On the 2d of September, 1906, in Salt Lake City, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Ada Wilson, daughter of Thomas R. and Susie M. Wilson, of that city. They have become parents of six children: Helen; Rita; Emerson, who has passed away; Rodney; Florence; and Louise.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and Mr. Walker filled a mission for two and a half years in Kansas City and vicinity. In his political views Mr. Walker is a republican and for two terms he served as mayor of Driggs, his administration resulting in the development of many plans for the improvement and upbuilding of the city-plans which were brought to a successful conclusion. He is a member of the board of education and during the past four years has been the leading spirit in a movement that has resulted in the erection of a large modern school building, one of the best built in the state in a town of equal size and thoroughly equipped according to modern educational ideals. On the 18th of December, 1919, he was appointed commissioner of finance of the state of Idaho, suc-

CHESTER B. WALKER

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ceeding Hon. Guy E. Bowers of St. Anthony. His public service has always been of a character most beneficial to the state, while in business life he has displayed those qualities which bring success and his example should encourage and inspire others, showing what can be accomplished through individual effort and determination.

HENRY J. HARMON.

Henry J. Harmon is engaged in general merchandising and ranching, having five hundred and fifty acres of land at Idmon, in Clark county, about twenty-nine miles northeast of Dubois. He is a native of Utah, his birth having occurred at Clarkston, Cache county, November 19, 1878. His parents, Henry M. and Margaret L. (Myler) Harmon, are also natives of that state, and the father followed farming there until 1883, when he came to Idaho, establishing his home at Lewisville in what is now Jef- ferson county hut was then Oneida county. He filed on land there and improved and developed the place for twelve years. He then removed to the Teton basin .and later took up his abode at Parker, Fremont county, while subsequently he went to Idmon, Clark county, where he engaged in ranching until 1917. In that year he became a resident of Idaho Falls, where he has since made his home, and his wife is also living.

Henry J. Harmon was largely reared at Lewisville, where he attended the public schools, but completed his education in the Agricultural College at Logan, Utah. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority and then removed to Fremont county, Idaho, where he filed on land. This was entirely destitute of im- provements, nor had a furrow been turned upon the place. He has since operated the farm and has converted it into a rich and productive property. In the summer of 1919 he established the town of Idmon, selling various town lots, and at the same time he opened a general merchandise business, erecting a nice store building. He has since gained a liberal patronage, for he carries a stock of goods that meets the demand of the purchasing public, while his business methods are at all times thoroughly reliable and progressive.

In April, 1907, Mr. Harmon was married to Miss Katie M. Mortenson and to them have been born five children: James M., Frank H., Oscar M., Ralph Lynd and Russell Dudley. The religious belief of the family is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which Mr. Harmon is a high priest. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to concentrate his attention and effort upon his business affairs, and he is now occupying an enviable position as a successful rancher and is making for himself an equally creditable place in commercial circles.

THOMAS ARTHUR MOTT.

Thomas Arthur Mott, secretary and treasurer of the Boise Lumber Company, be- came a resident of the capital city in 1903 and through the intervening period has been actively connected with the lumber trade. He was born in Oconto, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 11, 1867, a son of David and Margaret (Watson) Mott and a grandson of Peter Mott. The father was born in Pennsylvania and married Margaret Watson, a native of New York and a daughter of Peter Watson, who came from Scotland and first settled in Ottawa, Canada, while later he removed to Oswego, New York. David and Margaret Mott spent their last years in Boise, to which city they removed following the ar- rival of their son Thomas. The mother passed away in 1907, while the father's death occurred in 1912. Throughout practically his entire business life he had been con- nected with the manufacture and sale of lumber in Wisconsin. To him and his wife were born nine children, six of whom are yet living, five sons and a daughter.

Thomas A. Mott was reared in Oconto, Wisconsin, and acquired a common school education. Since making his initial step in the business world he has been identified with the lumber trade and with the operation of sawmills. In 1903 he left Superior, Wisconsin, and' came direct to Boise in company with Frank Page. The two had been partners in the wood business in Superior, Wisconsin, and after reaching Boise they purchased the old sawmill of M. H. Goodwin, one of the early landmarks of the town, situated on Warm Springs avenue. They then organized the Page-Mott Lumber Com-

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pany, of which Mr. Page became the president, Mr. Goodwin, who retained an eighth in- terest in the business, vice president, and Mr. Mott secretary and treasurer. In 1909 Mr. Goodwin sold his interest to C. W. Quinlan and in the same year the name was changed to the Boise Lumber Company, with A. G. Marion as president, C. W. Quinlan as vice president and Mr. Mott as secretary and treasurer. In 1910 this company established a retail lumberyard at Sixth and Railroad streets, which they have since conducted in connection with the operation of the sawmill on Warm Springs avenue. The Boise Lumber Company steadily employs a large force of workmen in its mill, its yard and in its logging camps, the latter being situated in the Boise basin, where the concern has large timber holdings. The mill has a capacity of twenty-five thousand feet of lumber per day and the manufactured product finds a ready sale on the market because of its excellence and by reason of the reliable business methods of the firm.

On the 6th of November, 1897, in Superior, Wisconsin, Mr. Mott was united in marriage to Miss Mary Berg, who was born in Minnesota and is of Norwegian descent, her parents having come from Norway to the new world. Mr. and Mrs. Mott have three children, a son and two daughters: Francis Arthur, aged sixteen; Margaret Watson, aged thirteen; and Lucile, a little maiden of eight summers. All are now attending the Boise schools, Francis being a sophomore in the high school.

Mr. Mott is a Royal Arch Mason and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. She also has membership in the First Baptist church. Mr. Mott's membership rela- tions likewise extend to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Boise Golf Club. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, voting for men and measures rather than party, and he has always declined to become a candidate for office. He turns to golf, to fishing and hunting for recreation, greatly enjoying these sports when opportunity offers. His business affairs, however, claim his first considera- tion and it has been by reason of unfaltering enterprise and persistency of purpose that he has gained his present position as one of the officers of an important industrial and commercial concern of the capital city.

E. B. O'DONNELL.

E. B. O'Donnell, actively and prominently identified with real estate operations and mining interests in Idaho, has since 1914 made his home in Nampa. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, October 26, 1873, and is a son of Thomas Walker O'Donnell, who was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and when but eight years of age crossed the Atlantic to the new world. In Chicago, Illinois, he learned the tailoring trade, which he followed from the age of twenty-one years until 1895, when he retired from active business and was succeeded by his son. In 1872 he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, and he passed away at Hannibal, that state, when seventy-two years of age. His wife was born in Swansea, Wales, the great coal mining town, and was brought by her parents to the United States at a very early age, acquiring her education in the same school which General Grant attended, he completing hls course there just as Mrs. O'Donnell was beginning hers. This was at Galena, Illinois, where her parents resided and where she was married. She still survives her husband and is living at Hannibal, Missouri, at the age of seventy-one years.

Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, E. B. O'Donnell was graduated from Blees Academy of Macon, Missouri, and when eighteen years of age entered the tailoring business of his father, of which he assumed charge four years later, his father then retiring from active business life. In 1895 E. B. O'Donnell was married and owing to the ill health of his wife, the cause of which various physicians were unable to determine, he removed from place to place, hoping that a change of climate might prove beneficial. After spending two years in Seattle, Washington, in the tailoring business he went to Los Angeles, California, where he took charge of the clothing house of Scott Brothers. One year later he removed to Portland, Oregon, where he had charge of the ladies' and men's tailoring department in the Ben Selling establishment, there remaining until 1914, when he came to Nampa, Idahc. This change brought the desired results to Mrs. O'Donnell, who has completely regained her health here. After coming to Nampa, Mr. O'Donnell took charge of the tailoring de- partment of the Robb Clothing Company and so remained for two years. In the meantime he had become interested in a mine at De Lamar and he accepted the su- perintendency of the Golden Sickle mine, continuing thus to serve for a year and a

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History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume III, Part 97

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