The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-09-19
As In a Looking Glass

To achieve distinction without
without causing ripple is distinc-
ton in itself One who quietly and
persistently attends to his own bus
mess is rare bird in these parts. A
lawyer who undertakes to build up
law practice without dabbling in
politics or real estate is little diff
ferent kind OF a lawyer than most law
yers: Politics first attract the lawyer,
as rule After while he becomes
disguised with politics and speculates
in real estate. Finding the pursuit
of real estate as futile as the pursuit
of politics he finally settles down to
the practice of his profession. This
is the experience of most lawyers in
this country. Some few never quit
politics or real estate, but most of
them do. The one who simply goes
about building up law practice usual
ly succeeds if he is any lawyer at all,
and he must be some lawyer to un-
dertake to do such thing. This
brings to mind the fact that along
about 1905, R. B. Scatterday hit Cald-
we'll. He came from Pontiac, Illinois,
attracted no doubt by Roswell can
teloupes. A few years before the ad-
vent of Mr.. Scatterday, few dozen
settlers from Illinois settled at Ros-
we'll. They started to raise cante-
loupes and in year or two the fame
of Idaho had spread from ocean to
ocean. Every man from Illinois want
ed to raise canteloupes. Even few
settlers from Missouri fell for the
cantelope game and it was good one
to fall for. At that time either c. b.
HURT or J. H. Lowell could demon
strate. that two and one half acres of
canteloupes, of Roswell canteloupes
of course, would make a poor man
rich in four years and a plutocrat in
six. Some of those who followed the
advice of these gentlemen are today
living examples OF the truth of the
demonstration. However, Mr.. Scat
terday did not come here to raise
canteloupes. He may or he may not
have had ideas about this particular
road to wealth. The cultivation of the
law was his purpose in view. He
rightly concluded that if Canyon
county soil could be made to yield
canteloupes, Canyon county people
could be made to yield clients. His
conclusions were right, whatever you
may think of his premises. He settled
down to the practice of law He
practiced it night and day and he
practiced nothing else. 1t shows that
it is good idea to Select something
to practice and then practice. In
short time he took on Mr.. T. E.
Buckner, or perhaps Mr.. Buckner took
him on, and they practiced together.
The two of them decided that as there
was no open season on lawyers the
best thing they could do would be to
kill off a law firm. This they did, Mr..
Buckner joining the firm of Rice &
Thompson and Mr.. Scatterday form
ing partnership with the late Judge
Frank J. Smith. Messrs. Smith 4
Scatterday were associated together
until the death of Judge Smith. When
O. M. Van Duyn decided that he
would return to Caldwell Mr.. Scat
terday took him on for a turn and
they are still together
This is the experience OF K. B.
Scatterday i'll the far west. He has
never held an Office except school
trustee and has never wanted to hold
one. He is willing to perform such
duties as the public spirited citizen is
called upon to perform from time to
time, but he is not seeking fame and
fortune along the way of public Office.
Mr. Scatterday was born October
E, 1873, on farm (hrst qualification
for greatness) near Sauneville, ILL
nois. Six months later his parents
moved to Pontiac and they are still
there. R. B. attended the public
schools at Pontiac graduating from
the high school in 1897. He taught
school (second qualihcation) near
Pontiac during the school year OF
1898. He accepted a position in
the Office of the circuit clerk at Pom
tiac where he rem aimed until he en-
tered the University of Michigan in
1900. Graduated from the law de-
partment in 1904, in the fall of that
year he travelled in the west looking
ior Caldwell. Not finding it he re-
turned to Illinois and accepted the
position of engrossing clerk of the
state senate at Springfield. The fol-
lowing year he started out again in
searth of the Magic City which he
finally located and has been here ever
since.
Our informant says that the above
''all sounds like an obituary and he
leaves one wife, one son, one father
one mother, three brothers and a sis
ter to mourn" his departure.
Since locating in Caldwell Mr.. Scat
terday has devoted himself to the &C.
emulation OF partners and clients
If his clients average up as we'll as
his partners he has no kick coming
on the soil. climate or natural re-
sources OF .ie county of Canyon, OF
49, It,