Blaine County ID

Biography of Albert Wolters

Albert Wolters, born in Germany in 1841, was a notable figure in the mining industry. After graduating from the Mining Academy in Clausthal, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1866, working first in Colorado before moving to Boise as the superintendent of the United States assay office. He played a significant role in mining, particularly at the Star mine, and was involved in various mining ventures. A member of the Populist Party, he was influential in the establishment of Blaine County and had a prominent social standing in Hailey, Idaho.

Biography of Presley M. Bruner

Presley M. Bruner, born September 15, 1850, in Chillicothe, Ohio, was a distinguished attorney and former district attorney in Idaho. Descended from German and Scottish ancestry, he was educated at the University of the Pacific and began his law practice in California before relocating to Hailey in 1882. Bruner contributed significantly to the city’s development and held a prominent legal reputation. A former Republican, he became a staunch supporter of the Populist Party. Bruner was also active in various civic organizations, including the Masons and Odd Fellows.

Biography of William H. Watt

William H. Watt, born in Canada in 1851, has played a pivotal role in Idaho’s mining industry as president of the Delia Mountain Mining Company. After extensive experience in farming and mining in the Black Hills, he became integral to developing Idaho’s mineral resources, particularly through the successful operation of multiple mines near Hailey. An active Democrat, Watt also served as Alturas County treasurer and in the state senate. Known for his business acumen and commitment to community welfare, he is a prominent figure in Idaho’s economic landscape.

Biography of Francis E. Ensign

Francis E. Ensign, a distinguished Idaho lawyer, has had an exemplary career spanning 45 years. Born in Ohio in 1829, he overcame early health challenges and pursued law, becoming a prominent attorney in both California and Idaho. Ensign served as district attorney and was active politically, holding significant positions within the Idaho legislature. He moved to Hailey in 1881, where he continued his legal practice and maintained extensive mining interests. A respected community member, he is also a devoted family man and Mason, embodying the ideals of a pioneering spirit.

Biography of Simon J. Friedman

Simon J. Friedman, born in Germany on April 5, 1846, was a pioneering businessman in Hailey, Idaho. After gaining mercantile experience in his father’s store, he emigrated to the U.S. in 1869 and worked in Salt Lake City until starting his own venture in southern Utah. In 1881, he established one of the first stores in Hailey, known for its fireproof construction. Beyond retail, Friedman invested in mining and was active in the community, marrying Lucia Meyer and raising four children.

Biography of William T. Riley

William T. Riley, a pivotal figure in the founding of Hailey, Idaho, was born on March 31, 1843, in Allegany County, New York. He served honorably in the Civil War, enduring injuries that marked his dedication. After the war, he contributed to the development of the West through various business ventures, including merchandising and real estate. Riley played a crucial role in laying out Hailey and was involved in essential community projects, such as establishing a water company. He was a devoted family man and an active member of his community and fraternal organizations.

Biography of John C. Fox

John C. Fox, born on July 2, 1847, in Pennsylvania, played a significant role in the development of Hailey after arriving eighteen years ago. He began his career as a clerk and, in 1881, opened a successful mercantile business in Hailey. Despite losing his store to a fire in 1890, he rebuilt and expanded his establishment, focusing on dry goods. A community leader, Fox is active in local education and social causes, and he has a strong family life, married to Fanny E. Lovell with five children.

Biography of Charles O. Stockslager

Judge Charles O. Stockslager, a prominent jurist in Idaho’s fourth judicial district, was born on February 8, 1847, in Harrison County, Indiana. With a legal career starting in Kansas, he became a respected attorney and public servant, holding positions such as district court clerk and county attorney. After moving to Hailey, Idaho, he was appointed as receiver of the U.S. land office and later elected judge. Renowned for his fair judgments, he has earned respect across the Idaho legal community and is known for his contributions to society and family life.

Biography of Fred W. Gooding

Fred W. Gooding, born in England in 1856, emigrated to the U.S. as a child and settled in Michigan. After several years in farming and butchering, he moved to Idaho in 1882, where he became a prominent sheep-raiser. Despite early hardships, including significant losses during a harsh winter, Gooding rebuilt his enterprise, eventually managing a large ranch. He served in public office as Lincoln County’s assessor and tax collector and was a respected community member involved in several fraternal organizations. He married Mary L. Griffin and raised two children.

Biography of Robert L. Nourse, M. D.

Dr. Robert L. Nourse, born on September 27, 1864, in Cloverport, Kentucky, is a notable physician in Hailey, Idaho, descended from early English settlers. He graduated from Rush Medical College in 1889 and practiced in Chicago and Ashland, Wisconsin, before establishing his successful practice in Hailey. A skilled surgeon with a focus on ophthalmology and otolaryngology, he received a gubernatorial appointment to the state board of medical examiners. Married to Marie Crawford, he is a prominent community figure and active in local and medical societies.

Biography of George B. Hill

George B. Hill, born on August 28, 1843, in Cherry Valley, New York, was a prominent businessman in Idaho and a veteran of the Civil War. He served in the Seventy-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, achieving the rank of first lieutenant and participating in numerous battles. After the war, he pursued a career in business, eventually founding a successful general store in Bellevue, Idaho. A staunch advocate for the Populist Party, he served as mayor several times and was a respected orator on Decoration Day. Hill married Elizabeth Wheeler in 1874, and they had one daughter, Grace.

Biography of Selden B. Kingsbury

Selden B. Kingsbury, born on October 29, 1842, in Ohio, has practiced law in Idaho for eighteen years, residing in Boise. A Civil War veteran, he served with the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was captured and imprisoned before returning to education and law. Kingsbury’s legal acumen is distinguished, and he is known for his integrity and dedication to client interests. He married Hulda C. Corning in 1865, with whom he has five children and has established a prominent social presence in Boise.

Biography of R. W. Berry

R. W. Berry, born March 25, 1842, in Augusta, Maine, is a prominent businessman in Hailey, Idaho. After various ventures in prospecting, farming, and retail, he became involved in the hardware trade, co-founding Coffin Company, which he later solely owned after a devastating fire in 1888. Notable for his business acumen and community involvement, Berry has earned a strong reputation and loyal patronage. He has been politically active, supporting the Republican party, and is a Mason. He is married with two daughters, both successful in their careers.

Biography of Dr. Homer D. Jones

Dr. Homer D. Jones, born on April 12, 1867, in Jeffersonville, Oregon, is a highly respected dentist and the oldest dental practitioner in Hailey. Educated at Albany College, he trained under Dr. N. W. Davis in Roseburg and began his practice in Hailey in 1888, quickly establishing a successful reputation. His father, Ansel Cromwell Jones, was a notable pioneer and public figure in Oregon. Dr. Jones remains unmarried and has contributed significantly to the community’s trust in his profession.

Biography of Joseph B. Hulse

Joseph B. Hulse, born in Glenwood, Iowa, on January 3, 1859, is the owner of Hailey’s sole photography gallery. His family’s roots trace back to early German settlers in New England. After gaining experience in photography, he opened his Alturas gallery in 1889 before relocating to Hailey in 1895. Hulse, who initially supported the Republican Party, joined the Populist Party and was elected to the state legislature in 1898. Married to Kittle G. Spargur, they have three children and are well-respected in their community.

Biography of William E. Heard

William E. Heard, born on May 21, 1865, in Missouri, served as clerk of the district court and ex-officio auditor for Blaine County, Idaho. A descendant of early settlers, he grew up on a farm and pursued education before teaching and entering politics. He moved to Hailey, Idaho, in 1890, eventually being elected to various offices, including probate judge and district court clerk. Married to Addie M. Bartsche, the Heards are active community members and contribute to local welfare through their involvement in civic and religious organizations.

Biography of R. F. Buller

R. F. Buller, born March 10, 1840, in Coburg, Canada, became a prominent banker and lawyer in Hailey, Idaho. After a successful legal career in Missouri, he moved to Hailey in 1892, where he became president of the First National Bank, known for its reliability. Buller was also an active rancher and had extensive real estate investments. A lifelong Republican and member of the Episcopal Church, he focused on business rather than politics, earning respect within his community. He married Rosa Osburn and has one son.

Biography of Lyttleton Price

Lyttleton Price, born on May 4, 1848, in Macomb County, Michigan, is a distinguished lawyer and politician based in Hailey, Idaho. A graduate of Ypsilanti Seminary, he practiced law initially in California and served as U.S. attorney in Arizona during the early 1880s. An active member of the Republican party, he was a notable figure in the silver movement and a delegate at the 1896 St. Louis convention. Price is also a mining entrepreneur and resides in Hailey with his wife, Florence, and their daughter, Catharine.

Biography of Joel B. Harper

Joel B. Harper, born on October 15, 1837, in Georgetown, Kentucky, is recognized as an early settler in California and Idaho. At fourteen, he journeyed west, facing conflicts with Native Americans. He participated in mining and various businesses in California, achieving notable success. Harper later moved to Idaho City, where he mined and contributed to local development, including building the Owyhee County courthouse. He married Edna E. Lanbeth in 1867, and after her death in 1899, he remained a respected community figure with a commitment to meaningful living.

Biography of Matthew H. Williams

Matthew H. Williams, an Idaho pioneer born on September 20, 1840, in Vermont, settled in Bellevue in 1863. The youngest of twelve children, he pursued various occupations before engaging in fur trading and mining. He experienced significant hardships due to Indian hostilities, including a near-fatal encounter. Williams became a successful miner, realizing substantial profits from several claims. He married Luella Reed in 1882 and had five children. Active in local governance and community affairs, he is recognized as a significant figure in Bellevue’s pioneering history.