Idaho Falls Idaho

Biography of Joseph A. Clark

The Idaho canal is fed by Snake River, ten miles above Idaho Falls. It has three head gates, is forty feet wide and thirty-five miles long and irrigates one hundred thousand acres of land, the country which it waters being largely settled by prosperous farmers who raise hay and grain in large quantities. The productiveness of this stretch of country and the prosperity which flows from it are made possible by this great inland improvement, and the canal was made possible largely through the personal efforts of Joseph A. Clark, who advocated it, promoted it and was chiefly instrumental in … Read more

Biography of Addison V. Scott

Addison V. Scott is well known throughout southern Idaho as a shrewd and public-spirited financier and real estate operator, and Mrs. Adelia B. (Dugan) Scott, his wife, has wide distinction as having been the first women in Idaho elected to the office of justice of the peace, the important functions of which she is discharging with admirable ability. They were married in 1883 and are among the prominent families of Idaho Falls. Addison Scott was born in Madison County, Iowa, January 14, 1858, and is descended from English-Irish ancestry. His forefathers settled early in Indiana, and Joseph Scott, his grandfather, … Read more

Willaims, Leanora – Obituary

Lenora “Nora” Ruth Williams, 93, of La Grande, died Saturday, Feb.19, 1994, at Mountain Vista Care Center. A service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Cove Cemetery the Rev. Kenton Thielen of the La Grande First Baptist Church officiating. Mrs. Williams was born on May 20, 1900, to Grant and Lucy Robin (Hayes) Gardner in Center, Colo. She moved with her family to Burntfork, Wyo., and then to Idaho Falls, Idaho, in 1910, and to Cove in 1912. On April 24, 1917, she married Edward W. Meroney. They divorced, in 1925. She married Raymond Williams on … Read more

Biography of Theron J. Smith

Theron J. Smith, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, has influenced the settlement of more families in the Snake river valley than any two or three other men. He has been a factor in local real-estate transactions, and without doubt has been, in a general way, one of the most efficient promoters of the growth and prosperity of Idaho Falls and the settlement and development of its tributary territory. As immigrant agent of the Oregon Short Line Railroad, he has brought many excursions to this part of the country from Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois, and these excursions have resulted in a marked … Read more

Biography of Benjamin A. Jenne

Character and ability will come to the front anywhere. As boy and man, many a man has been buffeted by fortune and had almost insurmountable obstacles thrust in his path, but per-severance has cleared them away and he has gone on to success. Such has been the experience of the subject of this sketch, one of the rising and popular citizens and public men of Bingham County, Idaho, a man with a heart for any venture, and a smile for friend and foe. Benjamin P. Jenne, deputy sheriff and jailer of Bingham County, Idaho, was born at Poor Man’s Gulch, … Read more

Lyman, Viola Elizabeth – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Viola Lyman Laid To Rest Viola Elizabeth Lyman, daughter of Peter L. and Nancy Ann (Bannon) Lingenfelter, was born August 12, 1889, in Bradshaw County, Nebraska where she spent her early life. In 1906, with her family, she came west to Idaho Falls, where on December 22, 1915; she was married to Henry W. Lyman. In 1923, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman and family moved to Wallowa County which has since been her home. Mrs. Lyman passed away August 11, 1950 at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise after an illness of about three months. Mrs. … Read more

Witham, Hertha Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Hertha Witham, 85, of Baker City, died March 5, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church at Third and Broadway streets. Pastor Ed Niswender of the church will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Mrs. Witham was born on Jan. 30, 1918, at Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was raised by Eugene and Mattie Lee LaBrier. Her early education was received in Boise and at Middleton, Idaho. She graduated from high school at Ontario in 1935. After graduation, … Read more

Biography of Edward Fanning

The career of this prominent Idaho merchant illustrates the claim, frequently made, that a man of enterprise will inevitably get into and make a success of the business for which he has the most liking and aptitude, regardless of discouragements and obstacles which would direct weaker men permanently into other paths of endeavor. Edward Fanning was born in county Carlow, Ireland, February 23, 1844, a son of Patrick and Bridget (Murphy) Fanning. His father was a farmer, and both his parents were born in the Catholic faith and were reared and lived and died in it, Patrick Fanning passing away … Read more

Biography of De Forest Chamberlain

Not only has the subject of this all too brief sketch seen southeastern Idaho grow from a wild country, with only a few white inhabitants, to a rich agricultural country, containing thousands of good homes and acres of growing towns, inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people, but he has participated in and assisted the slow, persistent work of development which was necessary to produce a change which is so complete that it has come to be popularly referred to as magical. De Forest Chamberlain is descended from English and Irish ancestors, who settled in America before the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Fredrick H. Turner

Hon. Fredrick Hugh Turner, merchant, Idaho Falls, and grand master of the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Idaho, has represented his district ably in the state senate, and is in all respects one of the leading business men and most distinguished citizens of southeastern Idaho. Mr. Turner was born at Janesville, Wisconsin, October 31, 1858, a son of John and Margaret (Jehn) Turner. His father was an English barrister, born in London, who came to the United States in 1838, and located as a pioneer in Rock County, Wisconsin, where he became a prominent farmer … Read more

Taylor, Margaret Irwin Mrs. – Obituary

Margaret I. Taylor, 77, of 1760 Valley Ave., died Saturday August 14, 1982, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Grays West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Greg Eicher of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Taylor was born September 10, 1904, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Andrew and Sharah Irwin. She attended schools in Burns and Baker. She married B. A. Taylor in Caldwell, Idaho on June 9, 1952. She had worked in bakeries in Portland and the the Gwilliam … Read more

Biography of Hon. Burdice J. Briggs

There are few men in southern Idaho better or more favorably known than Hon. Burdice J. Briggs, a lawyer of ability and success, an up-right and patriotic citizen, and the constant promoter of the best interests of the state and its people. His effective work in the legislature in behalf of irrigation entitles him to a prominent place in any volume which purports to give an account of Idaho and her leading useful citizens. Hon. Burdice J. Briggs was born at Bellevue, Nebraska, November 21, 1859, a son of Alpheus N. and Harriet (Green) Briggs. The Briggs family in America … Read more

Biography of Samuel J. Rich

A representative of the legal fraternity and a well known business man of Idaho Falls, Samuel J. Rich has spent his entire life in the west and is thoroughly identified with its interests and progress. He was born in Centerville, Davis county, Utah, May 1, 1860, his parents being Charles C. and Emeline (Grover) Rich, natives of Kentucky and New York, respectively, and pioneers of Utah of the year 1847. In 1864 they removed from Utah to Bear Lake county, Idaho, Mr. Rich being the pioneer and first while settler in Bear Lake valley. In the common schools of Bear … Read more

Dennis, Seth Beal – Obituary

Seth Beal Dennis, 89, a Sumpter Valley resident, died Nov. 9, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. There will be a private graveside service. Mr. Dennis was born on Jan. 31, 1915, at Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Samuel and Sarah Smith Dennis. He was their 12th child. After graduating from high school at Idaho Falls, he became a railway mail clerk. He married Helen Fenn in 1941. He served in World War II in the African and Italian campaigns. When he returned from the service, he and Helen settled at Baker, where he worked as a railway postal clerk. … Read more

Hill, James – Obituary

James Hill, who sold his farm at Pine Grove a few weeks since and started by private conveyance for Southern Idaho, was taken sick at Idaho Falls and died the 26th of August. Deceased was a brother of John Hill, the well known pioneer rancher of the Flat, and came here from Southern Idaho a few years ago. He had long been afflicted with kidney disease and the hot, dusty journey by wagon proved too much for him and he succumbed to the disease before reaching his destination. A wife and several sons and daughters survive him. Elgin Recorder Friday … Read more

Biography of William T. Reeves

William T. Reeves, a prominent lawyer of Idaho, residing at Pocatello, was born at Kinkleville, Kentucky, January 21, 1855, and is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, a combination which everywhere and always produces good citizens and has given to America many of her best and greatest men. George Reeves, Mr. Reeves paternal grandfather, emigrated from Ireland and brought his wife with him. They had four sons and three daughters. William Harrison Reeves, Mr. Reeves’ father, was born in Richmond, Virginia, and married Miss Penelope B. White, a native of Tennessee. While he was a mere boy his father removed with his family … Read more

Biography of Nathan H. Clark

Nathan H. Clark, though yet a young man, has had a busy and useful career at Idaho Falls, where he has served the people as mayor and member of the town council, and he is now serving as prosecuting attorney of Bingham county. In Idaho Falls he was for three years a prominent member of a leading mercantile house, and here he has in many ways shown himself to be a public-spirited citizen, devoted to worthy local interests. Mr. Clark is a son of Hon. Joseph A. Clark, present mayor of Idaho Falls, and was born at Amo, Hendricks County, … Read more

Brown, Wynona Eleen “Elaine” – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Wynona Eleen “Elaine” Brown, 75, of Cove died July 31 at her home. The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 at the LDS Church in Union. Viewing will begin at noon at the Church before the service. Burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery. Mrs. Brown was born Nov. 16, 1930, to Norma Eleen Poormon in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Enterprise High School in 1948, and married Gerald A. Brown of Joseph. They had a ranch on Upper Prairie Creek and moved to Union County where he worked for the General Telephone Co. … Read more

Karg, William Franklin “Bill”, Dr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Dr. William Franklin “Bill” Karg, 75, of Eagle, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 7, 2004, at his home. The family had a private service to celebrate his life. Bill was born on April 18, 1929, at Baker City to Otto and Margaret “Pat” Karg. His father was a former Baker City fire chief. Bill attended Baker High School and then Pacific University at Forest Grove. He graduated with a degree in optometry on May 25, 1952. During college, he worked for the Forest Service where he was a firefighter. He married Ruby Lowe at … Read more

Biography of Lorenzo R. Thomas

There are some men in every community who appear to have been born to succeed, but their success is not by any means a matter of chance. They are born with those qualities of mind and heart which, if cultivated and applied to the affairs of life, will produce success as surely as wheat well sowed and fertilized will produce its kind. Men who make vigorous and judicious use of these talents are the successful ones. Lorenzo R. Thomas, one of the enterprising men of Idaho who has continually advanced in the affairs of life, was born in Hanley, Staffordshire, … Read more