American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-29
VALLEY
A Historical and Industrial Review Of the Settlement and Development of
Bannock Valley, by Mrs. E. A. Logan.

In 1895 and 90 Joe Arbon and his
father wintered in a dug-out. Crops
were small in 1895 and wild wheat
hay was CLEANED in the flats of Bull
canyon and this with what straw could
be had kept their stock through the
winter. In 1896 they did their first
irrigating and put up their first alfal-
ia hay. Crops we're good this year
and they purchased a 10 foot header.
There we're just enough men, who had
remained to tough it out, for the crew.
This header cut all the grain raised
for three seasons. AS the struggle
was hard, as in all new places, many
newcomers we're coming and many
leaving. In the winter of 96-97 the
pioneers who remained experienced
a very hard winter. The wind was
not so incessant as of recent years,
but still they had enough of it. Then
spring never broke until the 10th of
April and on the 9TH of that month
they had their worst blizzard.
In 1897 May Flint, daughter Of Ellis
and Bertha Flint was born, she be-
ing the first white child born in Ban
mock valley.
As George Arbon, father of j.. n.
Arbon, was the Oldest man in the set
Element, they decided to name their
little township in honor of him, Ar
bon,' as it is still known today. Mail
came by chance from Samaria, Idaho.
Fred Payne, then a young lad, carried
the mail for three months. Then as
winter came on they carried the mail
in turns.
The first thresher was bought in
/ 1 Qnr -Al -..s r~,, La.r1A1 - IKlTta.
Utah, a distance of seventy miles, Cor
rine, Utah rs miles, Collinston, 20
miles, and McCammon, Idaho, taking
four and five days to make a trip. In
1898 d. ]. Bowen was appointed post
master, receiving for his first quar-
ter's pay $1.32, which was all the mail
! that had beer cancelled. Mr.. Bowen
served faithfully for fifteen months.
Settlers had to pay a carrier for six
months after the office was establish
ed. ]. r. Bailey her had the post
office for three or four years, then
Mrs. T. B. Evans for n year. 1t was
finally given back to Mr.. Bailey, who
served altogether about sixteen years,
resigning in June, 1916.
The first election was held in the
|, fall of 1900. George Arbon, d. J..
: Bowen and Domain Daniels were the
l judges. In this year the L. d. s..
church was organized on August 18th
/ with ten families, besides a few single
men. D. j. Bowen was first presiding
elder. At first the meetings were held
in the different homes in turns. The
first Sunday school superintendent
t was ]. r. Bailey and his assistants
were E. H. Davis and Joe Arbon. The
latter was the first bishop. In 1901
the church building was completed
) and was an all purpose house, such
. as for dances, amusements and school.
The first school was held in this
building with Maude Evans (now Mrs,
q Add. Affleck) as teacher in 1901.
y Steve White operated the first saw
= mill here in Bull canyon in 1900. This
: was the first year that lumber could
q te secured in the valley by the settlers
= In 1902 7. B. Evans established a
. small store where merchandise could
be bought and later the Bailey broth
: ers, John. ]. r. and Will, conducted
/, a fine little store where Lorenzo Bal
= ley is now living.
Development Was Slow for Eight
d Years.
It In 1908 John L. McKOwn and o. H
n Barber. editor of the American Fall,
s Press. visited ArbOn. They were sur.
IS prlsed to find so large an acreage o.
% lands open to homestead entry. They
st we're appealed to by the settlers tC
IS aid in bringing i'm people to settle these
ie .ands and readily consented. The set
lie tiers, for their part. agreed to an
a swer all letters of inquiry that came
A campaign for settlers was begun
ID through the American Falls Press
ut Pictures of farming scenes in the val
LEY we're printed. yields and the name.
$ Of farmers given to s~ubstantiate them
of Within a few months this work be
,e came productive of unexpected result
,r and new settlers began to flock in
" Within two years practically all o
mr. the vacant lands were hOmesteaded
inf the development being among the mos
3 rapid of any section of the county
ID The cultivated lands were as unfre
l. Quent then as uncultiyated tracts ar
Id today.
"a Many former railroad men VIII
a came during the rush or earlier, ar
nd now making good as grain grower
IN and helping build up this big countr.
A few of these are:
ne T. B. Evans, an old timer, came her
ut many a ago when the country wa
in rough and nearly uncivilized, afte
ed finding a short rail on the o. S. L., an
If. now owns a splendid farm, well stocl
63 ed with cattle. has a fine b~ungaloV
ey and has regained his health as we
nd as becoming prosperous and one
he the leading citizens of the valley.
nd L. a. Logan, a locomotive irema
ne quit his job seven years ago and toe
ed up 100 acres. He doubtless wOrl
iarder thar a fireman but then