Wildfire -- "The Big Burn" -- Ravages North Idaho [otd 8/20]
On August 20, 1910, serious forest fires in and around Northern Idaho “blew up” into arguably the worst wildfire in U. S. history. More than anything else, weather conspired to set the stage for this...
View ArticleDr. Edward E. Maxey and Research on Spotted Fever [otd 8/21]
Dr. Maxey. H. T. French photo.Prominent Boise physician Edward E. Maxey, M.D, was born August 21, 1867, in Irvington, Illinois, about sixty miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. His father, also a...
View ArticleFreighter, Stockman, and Legislator William Allison [otd 8/22]
W. B. Allison. H.T. French photo.Salubria stockman and Idaho legislator William B. Allison was born August 22, 1845 in Glasgow, Ohio, about 60 miles south of Akron. The family moved twice before coming...
View ArticleEdward Moffitt: Mining Manager and University Regent [otd 8/22]
Wallace businessman Edward H. Moffitt was born August 22, 1845 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now a part of Pittsburgh. Around 1858, the family moved to Illinois, where Edward grew to young manhood....
View ArticleTraveler Joel Palmer Tackles Notorious Three Island Crossing [otd 8/23]
Joel Palmer. Oregon Historical Society.On August 23, 1845, the small wagon train led by pioneer Joel Palmer approached the notorious Three Island Crossing, near today’s Glenns Ferry, Idaho. In his...
View ArticleEducator, Cultural Promoter, and Purple Heart Winner Sofia (Demos) Adamson...
Youthful Sofia Adamson.LifeInLegacy.comEducator and philanthropist Sofia (Demos) Adamson was born August 24, 1916 in Pocatello, Idaho. Her parents were Greek immigrants. The family later moved to Los...
View ArticleScreenwriter Talbot Jennings: From Mutiny on the Bounty to the The Sons of...
Talbot Jennings, ca 1935Screenwriter Talbot Lanham Jennings was born August 25, 1894 in Shoshone, Idaho. The family moved first to Caldwell and then Nampa. He graduated from Nampa High School and...
View ArticleHotel Owner/Operator and "Hospitality" Industry Pioneer Frank Blackinger [otd...
Hotel owner and operator Frank J. Blackinger was born August 26, 1855 in Buffalo, New York. His father Valentine had come to America from Bavaria in 1839. Around ten years later, he traveled to “the...
View ArticleHelpmate, Education Advocate, and Philanthropist Kathryn Albertson [otd 8/27]
Kathryn (McCurry) Albertson was born August 27, 1908 in Boise, Idaho. After high school, she matriculated at the College of Idaho, a private, liberal arts institution in Caldwell. Kathryn never said...
View ArticleCar Customizer Boyd Coddington ... "King of the Hot Rods" [otd 8/28]
Boyd Coddington. Sons of Boyd web site.Boyd Leon Coddington, the famous car customizer known as the “King of the Hot Rods,” was born August 28, 1944 in Rupert, Idaho. Like many boys in the Fifties,...
View Article"Uncle" John Hailey: Miner, Stage Line Pioneer, Stockman, Public Servant, and...
John Hailey. Library of Congress.John Hailey – Idaho stockman, miner, stage line operator, politician, and historian – was born August 29, 1835 in Smith County, Tennessee, 30-40 miles east of...
View ArticleIdaho Cattle Baron and Nevada Governor John Sparks [otd 8/30]
Idaho-Nevada cattleman and later Nevada Governor John Sparks was born August 30, 1843 in Winston County, Mississippi, 60-80 miles northeast of Jackson. The Sparks family became moderately wealthy by...
View ArticleRay Hunt: Legendary Trainer of Horses (and Riders) [otd 8/31]
Tribute photo. Richard Beal’s Blog.Renowned horse trainer Ray Hunt was born August 31, 1929 in Paul, Idaho (about 4 miles north of Burley). A few years later, the family moved to Mountain Home. A child...
View ArticleTarzan Creator, and Idaho Cowboy, Edgar Rice Burroughs [otd 9/1]
Edgar Rice Burroughs,successful writer.Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan and many imaginative worlds, was born September 1, 1875 in Chicago. Edgar tried many jobs, in...
View ArticleMining Investor and Twin Falls Area Developer Harry Hollister [otd 9/2]
Harry Hollister. H. T. French photo.Central Idaho developer Harry L. Hollister was born September 2, 1859 in Rockton, Illinois, about seventy miles northwest of Chicago. He showed an early talent for...
View ArticleEmigrant Elizabeth Porter on the Oregon Trail [otd 9/3]
On Saturday, September 3, 1864, Oregon-bound pioneer Elizabeth (Lee) Porter wrote in her diary, “Morning: 12 head of cattle gone, found 5 head. Hunted all day for the rest but found no cattle....
View ArticleDentist, Rancher, Banker and Oakley Mayor John Lowe [otd 9/4]
Mayor Lowe. H. T. French photo.Dentist and Oakley Mayor John O. Lowe was born September 4, 1877 in Willard, Utah, 10-12 miles north of Ogden. Soon, the family moved to Cassia County, Idaho. In fact,...
View ArticleAstorian Fur Trade Party Led by Robert Stuart at American Falls [otd 9/5]
On September 5, 1812, fur trader Robert Stuart wrote in his journal, “The whole body of the stream is here scarcely 60 feet wide, but immediately above expands to the breadth of half a mile, with...
View ArticleOpening Day for Boise Junior College, Precursor to Boise State University...
On September 6, 1932, Boise Junior College greeted its first students, 41 men and 37 women. BJC can actually trace its roots back to 1892, when the Episcopal church started St. Margaret's School. For...
View ArticleLewiston State Normal School President George Knepper [otd 9/7]
President Knepper. J. H. Hawley photo.Lewiston State Normal School President George E. Knepper was born September 7, 1849 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 40-60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Later...
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