The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-05-28
mIsroRY or MERIpIAN

%+t.1 tA&7N~1 W. Atttt@ A+<&tAttA AANtAt&s g
graduate Of the 1915 class;
Meridian Is situated near the Yves.
tern edge OF Ada county in a very
rich Agricultural and fruit section,
In the south western part Of the state
This city, like the rest Of idaho was
once covered by Imxuriant growth
Of sagebrush, which Indicated the
richness Of the SOIL. and az the same
time made home for the snake. owl,
rabbit. and sage chicken, while the
hungry coyote lurked through the
brush ever watthful for its prey In
the spring several varieties Of little
fiosers pushed through the soil TO
lend touch Or daintiness 10 the
brown earth and the still brownar
brush growing above It.
The first roads were only trails
aud the one nearest town WAS made
nv The early settlers. leading from
Silver City ID Idaho City. 1t runs
about mile from town. leading past
the vi. u. Bland ranch, which was
once a part OF the POLAND ranch,
passing Just below the old bridge
where 4 Well was dug, at which the
weary traveller, and tired horses
Qnenched their thirst and camped for
the night. After the country was
settled this old we'll was filled up an
w was thought typhoid germs lurked
in its waters A sword was also
found here, probably discarded by
some traveller who no longer feared
the Indians.
Meridian Is built on the land that
was first owned by Mr.. Finger and
MT. Willbnrn. Mr.. Fingers land
covered most all Of What now Is
Meridian, while Mr. WilIburn's land
covered that which Is at present
south OF Broadway MIR. WilIburn
came to Idaho from Missouri, July
1873 and located in Boise. In 1884
ne located in the vicinity OF Meri-
dian, taking homestead of five hun
dred acres. He was one OF the first
settlers IN the country. coming In a
train OF twenty-one wagons, with
other settlers who scattered through
out the country. Mr., Willburn was
soldier IN the Civil War He and
Mrs, Willbnrn had no children of
their own but reared eight, giving
them place IN their home and
hearts. bestowing the same degree
o. kindness and affection on these |
children they would have given to
their own. Mr.. Willburn built the |
nrst house in the vicinity of Meridian |
ana during his long residence here, |
acquired a large amount of prop |
erty, which Mrs. Willburn still |
lives to control and enjoy.
Mr.. WilIburn built large ten
roomed house when he first arrived |
but when the railroad came IL cut
their land IN too, so they built
smaller house on the north side. +
where the Andersons furniture store
now stands and used the ten roomed
house for barn. and here they kept
q boarding house for quite while
AS Mr. Willburn was a yeter-
an OF the Civil War when he died
June /, 1919, he was buried under
the auspices Of the @, A, n.
Mr.. Finger. the other man who
first Owned q part of the ground
where Meridian now stands was a
Mormon coming from Utah IN 1886.
lie brought with him his wife and
three children. two girls and a hoy.
Iheg lived IN a three roomed house.
Mr.. Finger did not practice polygamy
Tor his wife was non-belieyer In the
faith, as her mother had suffered
much because Of it, Mr.. Finger. az
ler grubbing the sage brush, blowing
md cnltivating the land. first planted
ne land on which our pleasant little
own Is built in alfalfa.
This country was dry and there
vas no water to irrigate the land !,
nd for half dozen years the set. !
iers had hard work To make a lly- :.
az eking out 4 meyer substance from !,
ne homestead and by killing the 1
aek rabbits, which were SO num- (
rous and such pest In the country. :
bounty had been placed on them
| i've cents for each scalp and pair
ears, While the flesh from their | o
odies furnished much or the gub- | y
-ance Ia the diet of the settlers 81 q
lose times. But as soon as peopIe y
egan TO get water for their lands ~
Ieridian began TO grow. The "OId y
cutters ditch carried the first wa "
r 70 these barren lands. ~
The first child born in the vicinity -
Meridian was Daisy pfost. dangh. 4.
z Of MIR. and Mrs. Isaac Pf0st, She =.
az born on what IL now the w n a.
land ranch in 1858 and married
Z Giendemin in 1908. "a
The FIRST store in Meridian was - !,
liit ny Mr. Willburn near the -
'esent site Of Andersons furniture ~
ore, and the first postoffice was ~
spt IN his house. He served as ~ ~
'stmaster for several years. then ~
az followed By George Kurl. Mr. a p,
Y g. Reynolds and Mr.. J j. caid ~
~ ar
M i. Bailey organized the m,
@. q e lodge and was instru.nen. Cd
q having the lodge building built cia
aich still stands as reminder Of M
pse by-gone days. When this build. M,
Was built there were only about bai
other houses IN sight, and all an
2 rest Of the country was a vast az
'steh 81 sagebrHsh. II was bmlIt eo,
the members Of the /. o. o. II "a,
90 putting Ia certain amount 81,
ey had 70 go on time for part of q
pht decided to pay off the debt by An
ming the ground floor 10 Mr. noi
,kssbnry, hence he was the sec. al