American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-11-30
A. WEST DIES
AFTER SHORT ILLNESS


William Alexander West, one of the
real pioneers of this section, whose
acquaintance was general all over
southern Idaho, died Sunday morning
of pneumonia, after an illness OF about
ten days, aged 81 years. Mr.. West,
familiarly known as Doc" was one
of the prominent figures of this To-
caity since before the town OF Amer
ican Falls was started, having come
here in 1881, little more than thirty
five years ago. Hrs first employment
was as range rider, or cowboy, for
Sparks Tinnon. Shortly after
American Falls was founded he en-
gagged In business here, and has been
identified with the development and
upbuilding of American Falls ever
since. He was progressive in busi-
ness affairs, and leaves as a monu-
ment one of the finest business build
ings in American Falls, stone struc-.
ture opposite the depot, which he re-
Gently sold to J. F. Gish and Lee Warf.
Mr.. West witnessed great changes
in this locality, and was prominently
identified with its development. He
came here before the railroad was
started, when the nearest trading
point of any note was Malad. Aside
from the few stockmen who held this
range, there were few people here
Those coming ahead of him were
James Watts, father of j. T. Watts,
who had settled on the river above
town; John Calder, at Bonanza Bar;
j. A. Suisted. on Warm creek. about
where the reservoir now is; j. NJ.
Dagget, on the Wade place, at Horse
Island; Richard Driscoll, William
Dover, Wilson Hatch, all located near
Horse Island, and George Mower,
father of the George Mower who is
a familiar figure here today; John l..
Ross, of Horse Island; Frank Camp
bell and J. P. Stebbins, who first stop
ped at Bonanza Bar; w. T. and Mrs.
Oliver, the latter sister of Mr.. West,
and Mrs. Elizabeth West, his mother.
On Rock creek at that time were G.
Valdez, William Adshead, Charles Tay-
som and Joseph Brown.
Since the very founding of the town.
almost. w. A. West has been known as
one of her most substantial citizens,
widely known and highly esteemed for
generosity and rugged honesty that
was a part of the pioneer life of the
west No unfortunate ever appealed
to w. A. West without getting aid, and
he was among the foremost in the
early up-building of the town.
In the early days, when American
Falls was infested by bad" men,
when it required high courage to be
an officer of the law and perform the
duties that devolved on such, w. A.
West was a deputy sheriff here, and
discharged his duties in manner that
reflected great credit upon him. This
was the only office held by Mr.. West.
but had he lived until the first of
January, he would have been sheriff
of Power county, to which position he
was recently elected.
William Alexander West was born
in Dewitt county, ILL.,, October 10, 1852
He was married, about fifteen years
ago. to Christina Buckley. The union
was blessed by one child which. how
ever, died In infancy.
His wife, two sisters. Mrs. w T.
Oliver and Mrs. X. B. Smith, and his
mother, Mrs. Elizabeth West, so years
of age, survive him.
Funeral services were held at the
Odeon hall Tuesday afternoon at 2
o'clock. Edwin Fifeld of Rockland
Hon. Lorenzo Evans and Bishop W.
w. Beckstead delivered words of SYM
pathy and coincidence, and Mrs. Mar
garet Call Morris sang. The funeral
was one of the largest in point OF at
tendance ever held here. The body
was laid to rest in the Odd Fellows
cemetery