For thirty-six years Auren G. Redway has been a resident of Boise, and for many years was prominently connected with her banking interests, but is now living retired, enjoying that well earned rest which is the fitting reward of an honorable and active business career. He comes from the far-off east and is a representative of a family that was established in America in colonial days. His grandfather, Preserved Redway, served his country throughout the war of the Revolution, was one of General Washington’s bodyguard, and had the honor of being a corporal of the guard at the time of the surrender of General Burgoyne. He lost one of his limbs in that great struggle for independence, but it was a willing sacrifice for the great cause of American liberty. By occupation he was a farmer, making that pursuit his life work. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and his death occurred April 28, 1837, when he had attained an advanced age. His wife, Azuba Redway, survived him a number of years, and passed away January i, 1853.
Their son, Abel Redway, father of our subject, was born in Adams, Jefferson County. New York, February 8, 1805, and married Sally Charlotte Grinnell, a representative of the prominent Grinnell family of the Empire state. She was born at Galway on the 19th of May, 1810, and at the time of her marriage went to her husband’s home, on one of the farms of Jefferson County. They were also members of the Presbyterian Church, and by their union were born six children, four of whom are still living.
Auren G. Redway, the second child, was born in Adams, Jefferson County, New York, on the 5th of March 1835, and was reared and educated in his native town. On the 20th of December, 1859, when a young man of twenty-four years, he sailed from New York to San Francisco, by way of the isthmus of Panama, and arrived at his destination on the 10th of January, 1859, making the voyage in twenty days and six hours. For a time he was engaged in the nursery business in San Jose, California, and in 1862 he went to Vancouver, Washington, where he was employed as clerk in a sutler’s store until his removal to Boise, on the l0th of July 1863. He was then commissioned to act as sutler to the fort which had recently been established at Boise, and bought goods, selling to the soldiers. He continued in that business for five years, or until 1868, when he turned his attention to speculating in loans, buying obligations, etc. In 1872 he entered the First National Bank, of Boise, as bookkeeper, and was connected with that institution for twenty-four years. He served for fourteen years as bookkeeper, four years as assistant cashier and six years as cashier, and in 1896 retired to private life. During all that time he was never absent from the bank with the exception of two weeks, and his fidelity, trustworthiness and ability, manifested in the discharge of his duties, contributed not a little to the success of the institution.
On the 30th of August 1856, Mr. Redway was happily married to Miss Marv Ann Outterson, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who at the age of four years was brought to the United States by her father, Andrew Outterson, a paper manufacturer, who made for the government the first paper on which greenbacks were issued. Mr. and Mrs. Redway have three children. William Harvey is now a prosperous and popular merchant of Caldwell, Idaho. George Francis has for seventeen years been connected with the First National Bank of Boise, in which he is now serving as assistant cashier. The daughter, Elizabeth Charlotte, is an accomplished and successful teacher in St. Margaret’s school, an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls and young ladies. The family have a pleasant and hospitable home in Boise, and the members of the household occupy a very enviable position in social circles. Air. Redway is a member of the Pioneer Society of Idaho and of the State Historical Society, and of the latter is now serving as treasurer.