Ada County ID

Ada County ID, established in December 1864, is located in southwestern Idaho and serves as the state’s most populous county, with Boise as its county seat and largest city. The county’s establishment came during a period of significant expansion and settlement in the Pacific Northwest, spurred by the discovery of gold and the subsequent mining booms in Idaho Territory. Its geographic features, including the Boise River and surrounding foothills, have played a pivotal role in its development, influencing settlement patterns, agriculture, and the establishment of transportation routes. Ada County’s early records, crucial for genealogical research, begin in the 1860s and encompass land transactions, mining claims, and vital records that detail the lives of early settlers, many of whom were miners, farmers, and entrepreneurs drawn to the region by economic opportunities. The area was traditionally inhabited by the Shoshone and Bannock tribes, who utilized the river valleys and foothills for hunting, fishing, and gathering. For genealogists, Ada County’s historical records, including census data, marriage, birth, and death records, provide invaluable insights into the socio-economic dynamics of the region and the ancestries of families who have called it home since its establishment.

Biography of David Heron

In a pleasant, attractive brick residence in a desirable section of Boise City, are living to-day David Heron and wife, esteemed citizens and pioneers of Ada County. Mr. Heron has frequently served his neighbors and friends in official positions of much responsibility and trust, and has won their highest praise for the able and conscientious manner in which he discharged the duties resting upon him. For a period of two years he was the recorder and auditor of this County, for a similar length of time was the County assessor and during some six years was one of the commissioners … Read more

Biography of Milton Kelly

Judge Milton Kelly, now deceased, who attained considerable prominence as one of Idaho’s most loyal citizens and public-spirited men, was born in Onondaga County, New York, September 9, 1818, and descended from Irish ancestors who were early settlers in New England. He was reared on his father’s farm, obtaining his early education in Bloomfield, New York, and when still young taught school. He went to Ohio, subsequently removing to Wisconsin, where for some time he was engaged in the mercantile business, and then studied law and was admitted to the bar about 1845. He then took up the practice of … Read more

Remsen, Ruth Abbott Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth Abbott Remsen, 83, of Richland, Wash., a former Richland, Ore., resident, died April 8, 2005, in the company of her daughter. Her graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2005, at the Island City Cemetery. She was born Aug. 13, 1921, in Malheur County, near Weiser, Idaho, to Isaiah and Nannie May Wade Abbott. Ruth was one of 11 children. Ruth and her husband, Mearl F. “Mick” Remsen, were married on July 7, 1942. After the war, the family moved to Lakeview, where they lived for 12 years. They later moved to La Grande, where … Read more

Biography of W. B. Kurtz

It is given to few to attain prominence in politics, honor in military affairs or fame in literary life, but respect and esteem await every man who lives worthily, who performs the duties of public and private life faithfully and promptly, and in business has strict regard for commercial ethics. Such an one is W. B. Kurtz, proprietor of the Weiser flouring mill, which was built in 1890, and represents one of the leading industrial interests of the city in which it is located. Mr. Kurtz is a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, born November 1, 1846, and is of … Read more

Biography of Matthew H. Williams

Matthew H. Williams is an Idaho pioneer whose residence dates back to 1863, and he is a prominent citizen of Bellevue, Blaine County. He was born in Vermont, September 20, 1840. His father, John Williams, a native of New Jersey, did soldier’s duty in the war of 1812-14. He married Magdalene Shuffelt, a native of New York and a descendant of an old Dutch family of that state. They had twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are living. John Williams and his wife were Episcopalians and were people of social prominence. He died at … Read more

Planting, Freada Lucille – Obituary

Freada Lucille Planting, 86, of Boise, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002, in a Boise care center. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Central Assembly Christian Life Center, 12000 Fairview Ave., with Pastors Loren Yadon Ted Buck and Marion Fretwell (Freada’s brother) officiating. Burial will follow at Cloverdale Cemetery. Services are under direction of the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise. A viewing will be held today from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with the family greeting friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Freada Lucille Planting was born April 7, 1916, at the family … Read more

Cox, Patricia Karen – Obituary

Patricia Karen Cox, 66, of Cove, died Oct. 11 in Boise. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Cove Cemetery. Viewing will run from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street. Patricia was born on Nov. 18, 1940, to Delbert C. and Adria (Nicholson) Webster in Iowa City, Iowa. The family moved to Cove where she graduated from high school. On Dec. 26, 1958, she married Craig Cox in Weiser, Idaho. She was a stay-at-home mom and a homemaker who loved to take care of her family. She loved … Read more

Biography of John Quincy Smith

John Quincy Smith. The career of J. Quincy Smith, of Fredonia, had been an expression of well directed and diversified industry and in its development had invaded various fields of human activity, in each of which J. Q. Smith had won a full measure of material success and satisfying reputation. He had had experience in both professional and business labors, and while he is now retired from the activities of life, having approached the Psalmist’s three-score-and-ten years, is still an influence for good in his community and a citizen whose help and support continue to be factors for the development … Read more

Hendriksen, Beverly Y. Haskin Mrs. – Obituary

Beverly Y. Hendriksen, 78, of Boise, a former Baker County resident, died Jan. 31, 2008, at her home after a courageous fight with a recent illness. Her funeral was Feb. 7 at Cloverdale Funeral Home. Burial was at Cloverdale Cemetery. There was a gathering afterward for family and friends. Beverly was born on Jan. 9, 1930, at Haines to Robert and Aletha Haskin. She spent most of her childhood in the Haines area. She met and then was happily married to George Hendriksen of Baker City for almost 60 years. They moved to Boise in 1959 where they spent the … Read more

Francis, Mary Jean Winkels Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Jean Francis, 69, of Boise, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2008, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Wash. Her family was by her side and her passing was very peaceful. Mary was born to Frank and Eva Winkels on Dec. 28, 1938, in Nyssa, Ore. She later moved, with her family, to Baker, Ore. Where she attended and graduated from St. Francis Academy. Mary worked for the Democrat Herald as a young adult, until she married David D. Francis, also of Baker, and started her family. Mary was very devoted to her husband and son, … Read more

Biography of John M. Haines

The wise system of industrial economics which has been brought to bear in the development of Boise has challenged uniform admiration, for while there has been a great advancement in all material lines, there has been an entire absence of that inflation of values and that erratic “booming” which have in the past proved the eventual death knell to many of the localities of the west, where “mushroom” towns have one day smiled forth with “all modern improvements” and practically on the next day have been shorn of their glories and of their possibilities of stable prosperity, so to remain … Read more

Biography of James Flanagan

Success comes not to the man who idly waits, but to the faithful toiler whose work is characterized by intelligence and force; it comes only to the man who has the foresight and keenness of mental vision to know when and where and how to exert his energies, and thus it happens that but a small proportion of those who enter the “world’s broad field of battle” come off victors in the struggle for wealth and position. James Flanagan, a worthy pioneer and successful businessman of Boise, is one of the many good citizens that Ireland has furnished the United … Read more

Biography of Walter E. Pierce

Walter E. Pierce, ex-mayor of Boise, is an energetic, enterprising young businessman who for the past nine years has been closely associated with the commercial, political and social activities of the city. He is a notable example of the self-made man who rising above the difficulties and drawbacks of early environment, makes a place for himself in the world and justly claims the respect and esteem of all. A native of Bell County, Texas, born January 9, 1860, Mr. Pierce is a descendant of an old and prominent Rhode Island family, many of whose representatives resided in Providence, where they … Read more

Biography of Alonzo L. Richardson

Thirty-eight years have passed since Alonzo L. Richardson came to Idaho, then a sparsely populated territory of the extreme northwest, its splendid resources undeveloped, its advancement a development of the future. For many years he has been closely identified with the work of progress, and is now filling the position of clerk of the United States court in Boise. A native of Missouri, Mr. Richardson was born in Franklin County that state, on The 19th of December 1841, and is a representative of one of the old families of Virginia. His ancestors located there in 1750, and there occurred the … Read more

Shoemake, Robert Goldman – Obituary

Robert Goldman Shoemake, 87, died March 26, 2008, at the Idaho State Veteran’s Home of causes incidental to age. A proud native of the Gem State, Bob was born July 26, 1920, to Albert and Nora Todd Shoemake in the rural community of Castleford, Idaho. As a child Bob and his family moved to Oregon and Bob grew up in Baker and La Grande, graduating from La Grande High School in 1941. Anxious for more education, Bob enrolled at Oregon State University that summer to study Soils Engineering. He was able to attend OSU for one year before World War … Read more

Hendren, Neva – Obituary

Neva Hendren Passes in Boise Services for Neva Agnes (Engle) Hendren, 50, of 2213 Targee, Boise, who died Thursday of natural causes at a Boise hospital were conducted at 1 p.m. Monday in Baker at the Langrell Funeral Home. Buster Holcomb of the Boise South Unit of Jehovah’s Witnesses officiated and interment was in the Haines Cemetery. Mrs. Hendren was born July 22, 1920, at Haines and attended Muddy Creek and Haines schools, graduating from High School in 1938. She was married to Norman A. Engle in Baker, Dec. 7, 1939. He died in 1959. She has lived in Boise … Read more

Biography of John S. Horner

The esteemed gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, is one of the substantial and enterprising agriculturists of Wallowa County, having wrought here with commendable zeal and sagacity for its development and material progress since he has been domiciled within its borders, and his faithfulness and ability have well earned for him the high esteem in which he is held among his fellows, and the prestige which he enjoys as well as the leading position in many ways is merited. John S. was born in Illinois on February 11, 1839, being the son of John and Sarah (Seymore) Horner, natives respectively … Read more

Rasmussen, Lyle Lillian Shelton Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Lyle Lillian Shelton Rasmussen, 90, of Salt Lake City, died Oct. 17, 2004, at her home. Her funeral will be at noon Thursday at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, in Salt Lake City. There will be a viewing from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. just prior to the service. There also will be a viewing from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Halfway. There will be a graveside service at noon Saturday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Dale Bingham of the Valley Ward will officiate. … Read more

Yates, Ellen Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Ellen Yates Dead At Boise Ellen V. Yates, resident of Baker for the passed four years, died at the home of her son, William Riggs, in Boise Tuesday morning. Mrs. Yates went to Boise to visit her son about six weeks ago. Mrs. Yates was born in Illinois, October 17, 1840. She crossed the plains in 1854 and located in Washougal, Washington. She then moved to North Powder, where she resided for a number of years, then located in Weiser and four years ago took up her residence in Baker. Besides her son in Boise, Mrs. Yates is survived … Read more

Prominent Cities and Towns of the State

Boise, The Capital City The following descriptive article is an excerpt from the souvenir edition of the Boise Sentinel, issued in June 1897: So much has been said and written and sung of “Boise, the Beautiful,” that the task of saying any-thing new seems utterly hopeless; and of this there is little need. While those who have made their homes here from the beginning, and those who from year to year have come to stay, might naturally be expected to be most fervent in their praises, they have not always been the happiest in laying appropriate tributes before the shrine … Read more