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 George Dabney Ellis

One of the founders of Boise City and one of the most active spirits in the upbuilding and progress of this thriving place during the past quarter of a century has been George D. Ellis, a pioneer of Idaho, whither he came in 1863. He is and has been the president of the Capital State Bank of Boise City for several years; is a stock-holder and general manager and treasurer of the electric street-car line of this place and is a stock-holder and a director of the Artesian Hot & Cold Water Company, besides having materially aided and fostered many … Read more

Biography of James J. Rogers

The life of James J. Rogers has not been one of unvarying monotony, circumscribed by the habits, thoughts and customs of some narrow community, but contains many interesting incidents that come with travel and extensive intercourse with the world. Born on the Atlantic coast, he has visited foreign lands, has viewed many of the interesting scenes of our own country, and is now located in the beautiful city of Boise, which nestles in one of the loveliest valleys of the Pacific slope. There he is successfully engaged in the practice of law, and in the political affairs of the state … Read more

Biography of George Spiegel

Among the enterprising young businessmen of Boise is the subject of this review, who is now at the head of an extensive wholesale and retail grocery house. His marked ability has done much to promote the commercial activity upon which the welfare of every community depends, and in trade circles he enjoys an Unassailable reputation. Almost his entire life has been passed in Idaho, and he is numbered among the native sons of California, his birth having occurred in San Francisco, on the 6th of April 1861. His father, David Spiegel, is numbered among the pioneers of California, Oregon and … Read more

Stemen, Alfred Weldon – Obituary

Alfred Weldon Stemen, 54, of Baker City, died Oct. 12, 2005, in Boise. His funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., followed by interment at Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors by the National Guard. Shirley McLin of Baker City will officiate. Visitations will be today from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Alfred was born Nov. 12, 1950, in Boise to Alfred W. Stemen and Billie Katherin Burke Stemen. He joined the United States Army in 1968 and was assigned to H Troop 17th Armored … Read more

Biography of James H. Hawley

No Compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of the honored subject of this sketch a man remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom, in his indomitable perseverance, his strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life has not one esoteric phase, being an open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. True, his have been “massive deeds and great” in one sense, and yet his entire life accomplishment but represents the result of the fit utilization of the innate talent which is his, and … Read more

Biography of Charles O. Tallman

Charles O. Tallman, one of the leading business men of Fort Scott, is a son of the late Thomas W. Tallman, whose career reflects much of the history of Fort Scott and Bourbon County from pioneer times until the present century. Bourbon County never had a more forceful character nor a man of greater popularity, than the late Thomas W. Tallman. He was born in Burlington County, New Jersey, October 25, 1826, and was eighty-nine years of age when he passed away December 27, 1915. His parents were Woodmanse and Elizabeth (Read) Tallman, also natives of New Jersey. Woodmanse Tallman’s … Read more

Ada County, Idaho Census Records

  1870 Ada County, Idaho Census Free 1870 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free 1870 Ada County, Census (images and index) $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Hosted at Census Guide 1870 U.S. Census Guide Hosted at Ada County IdahoUSGenWeb Census Project) Index A-H Index I-S Index T-Z Notes Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6 Hosted at USGenWeb Idaho Archives) Boise City, Part 1 Boise City, Part 2 Boise City, Part 3 Boise City, Part 4 Boise City, Part 5 Boise City, Part 6 Boise City, Part 7 … Read more

Biography of James H. Richards

Among the prominent lawyers of Boise is Judge James Heber Richards, who has practiced at the bar of this state for nine years, winning an enviable reputation by his erudition, his ability to give to each point of a case its due prominence, his force in argument and his mastery of the intricate problems of jurisprudence. In a witty after-dinner speech Chauncey M. Depew once said, “Some men achieve greatness, some men are born great, and some men are born in Ohio.” The first and last clauses are both applicable to Judge Richards, who is a native of the Buckeye … Read more

Biography of Robert J. Anderson

A glance at the history of past centuries will indicate at once what would be the condition of the world if the mining interests no longer had a part in the industrial and commercial life. Only a few centuries ago agriculture was almost the only occupation of man. A landed proprietor surrounded himself with his tenants and his serfs who tilled his broad fields, while he reaped the reward of their labors; but when the rich mineral resources of the world were placed upon the market industry found its way into new and broader fields, minerals were used in the … Read more

Poston, Marjorie A. – Obituary

Marjorie A. Poston, 81, long time Baker City, Ore., resident died Sept. 29, 2006, in Boise, Idaho. A private family service will be held at a later date. Cremation was done by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory in Baker City. Arrangements are by Coles Funeral Home, Baker City, Ore. Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, October, 2006 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

The Mining Fields Of Idaho

The following excellent monograph by W. C. Austin was issued in pamphlet form early in the present year (1899) by authority of C. J. Bassett, state commissioner of immigration, labor and statistics, and as a valuable contribution to the history of the great mining industry of Idaho is held to be worthy of reproduction in this work: There is no other country on God’s green earth that has encompassed within her borders such vast and varied mineral wealth as Idaho. The position that Idaho occupies in the western mineral world is like a wagon wheel, of which Idaho is the … Read more

Carlson, John E. – Obituary

John E. Carlson, 87, of Baker City, died April 12, 2006, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Private vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Pathway Hospice will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at The Sunridge, 1 Sunridge Lane. John was born June 16, 1918, at Buhl, Idaho, to Edward and Amanda Lindstrom Carlson. After graduation from Baker High School, he attended Oregon State College. His Rose Bowl … Read more

Noland, William “Bill” Harold – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon William (Bill) Harold Noland, 83, of Enterprise, died Nov. 2 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. A 2 p.m. memorial service will be conducted Saturday at the VFW Post 4307 Hall in Enterprise, with private burial in the Enterprise Cemetery. Mr. Noland was born Feb. 2, 1923, in Boise. At 16 he left school to join the Civilian Conservation Corps for a year. He returned to high school in Idaho but left again during his senior year to join the Air Force in December 1941. He received his high school diploma while in the military. As … Read more

Biography of James Edwards

After a long period of active connection with the industrial interests of northern Idaho, James Edwards is now living a retired life in Grangeville. He was born in Richmond, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 20th of June, 1838, his parents being George and Martha Sophia (Burr) Edwards, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. The father was a farmer and a dealer in cattle and grain. He attained the age of only fifty years, but his wife lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years. They were Universalists in religious faith, and Mr. Edwards was a man of ability, … Read more

Biography of John Lemp

More than a third of a century has passed since John Lemp came to Idaho, and throughout this long period he has been most actively connected with the business interests of Boise. His labors have contributed largely to its growth and upbuilding, and its commercial enterprise is due in no small measure to his investment in industries and business concerns which have contributed materially to its prosperity. He is one of the highly esteemed residents of the city, whose history would be incomplete without the record of his life. A native of Germany, John Lemp was born April 21, 1838, … Read more

Biography of Henry M. Thatcher

Throughout the greater part of his life Judge Henry M. Thatcher has resided on the Pacific slope, and as one of the honored pioneers of this section of the country has been prominently identified with its development, progress and up-building from an early day. He was born in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1833, and is of German lineage. His grandfather, Samuel Thatcher, was born in Germany, and when a young man emigrated to the United States, settling in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Hannah Smith. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and lived to … Read more

Biography of Benjamin and Hosea Eastman

Tales of heroism have been the theme of song and story throughout all ages. He who has gone forth to battle for his country, his home or his principles, has figured in history, in literature and in music, and his bravery has stirred the souls of men through all times. All honor to such an one, and yet his heroism is no greater or his daring more pronounced than that of the honored pioneers of the west. Men reared in comfortable homes, accustomed to all the conveniences and privileges of life in the east, have come into the wild western … Read more

Biography of George E. Gray

The profession of the law, when clothed with its true dignity and purity, and strength, must rank first among the callings of men, for law rules the universe. The work of the legal profession is to formulate, to harmonize, to regulate, to adjust, to administer those rules and principles that underlie and permeate all government and society and control the varied relations of man. As thus viewed, there attaches to the legal profession a nobleness that cannot but be reflected in the life of the true lawyer, who, conscious of the greatness of his profession, and honest in the pursuit … 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

Kehr, Ewald Albert – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Ewald Albert Kehr, 84, of La Grande, died April 11 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. A funeral will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Faith Lutheran Church, 12th Street and Gekeler Lane. The celebration of life for Ewald will also be a celebration of what would have been Ewald and Edna’s 63rd anniversary. Burial will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Ewald was born March 20, 1923, to Ernst and Hilda (Schroeder) Kehr in Wentworth, S.D., where he worked with his father farming. In October 1939 he moved to Minnesota, where he met Edna Gieseke. They … Read more