American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-12-14

A flock of mixed stock chickens add
their quota of eggs to the household
and enough surplus TO have some for
sale during the summer months.
T. B. Evans is a native of Wales
and came 10 America with his parents,
Jonah and Frances Bowen Evans,
when three years old. In 1863 his pa
rents crossed the plains TO Utah and
located at Brigham City. T. B.. Evans
grew to manhood in that town and
when IS years old he obtained en-
ployment as a fireman on the Utah
Northern railway, then one of the old
time narrow gauge roads and 10Y a
part OF the Oregon Short Line. After
quitting that road he worked as fire
man for four years and then as engi-
neer for sixteen years on the Southern
Pacific railway. In 1884 he was mar
ried TO Susanna Smith. a native of
Brigham City. In 1899 the family re-
moved 10 Bannock valley (now Arbon
Valley, Mr.. Evans purchasing the
tract Of land on which he now resides
and engaged in stock-raising and farm
ing. The family has continuously re-
sided on this tract. The first abode of
the family back in 1889 was a dug
out, located a half mile east Of the
modern home now occupied by the
family. Mr.. Evans states that this
was the warmest and most comfy"
home ever occupied by him. Later a
cabin Of sawed logs was built and in
that cabin the family lived for sixteen
years. Two years ago a modern four
room frOme dwelling was erected
just west Of the Arbon postoffice. This
home rests on a concrete foundation,
with a concrete basement half the
dimensions Of the house. For many
years the log cabin of Mr.. Evans was
the only place in the valley where &C
commodatiOns were 10 be had by the
weary traveller in the way Of meals
and lodging. During the political
campaigns of the earlier days candi-
dates OF all parties were guests at the
Die cabin. For two years the Arbon
postoffice was located in the cabin.
Mrs. Evans being the pOstmistress,
and for three years Mr.. Evans con-
Quoted a general merchandise store in
II. Supplies at that time we're freight
ed in from POcatellO and it a always
the policy 70 stock up in the fall OF the
year. Indians from the reservation
were steady customers at the store and
they we're friendly and easy to deal
with. Neighbors were then few and
far between, but it was the custom TO
make regular visits all over the val
ley on Sundays and holidays. Four
years ago the first central telephone
office was installed in this old log
cabin, then the exclusive telephone
line in the valley. Two years ago the
central was removed to the present
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Evans and
through its Connection with the Noun
States Telephone & Telegraph COM
pany now has direct connection with
the entire Pacific northwest. When
the original line was established four
years ago the revenue was $50 per
month-one dollar each from the local
subscribers. At the present time the
monthly revenue of the line exceeds
$50, and it has proven a great con
v%enience 10 the people OF the valley.
Within half an hour after the connec-
ton with the outside had been estab-
lished two years ago a call was sent
out for a doctor to come 10 the valley TO
attend Merritt Van Horn. a rancher
OF the east side of the valley. who had
been injured by a log rolling on him.
The largest crowd eve assembled at
the central office a on election day.
1916, when the office remained open
Tor the receiving OF messages until
three O'Clock the following morning.
and at eight o'clock the same morning
another crowd was there to get further
news Of the results of the election.
Between Crystal and Pauline there is
a gap Of nine miles not covered by the
telephone line-Or any other line
and when that part of the line is COM
pleted the valley will be we'll supplied
with the means TO communicate by
wire. The main exchange of this line
is in American Falls. From the in
stallatiOn of the line Mrs. T. B. Evans
has been the operator here. Mrs. A.
Affleck of Boise. then Miss Maud Ev-
ans, was the first school teacher in
the valley. At the time she taught
here the school was held in the old log
building still standing a mile and a
half southeast of the present Central
school building. This old log struc-
ture is now used as the L. d. ;.
meeting house. T. 3. Evans is the
eldest Of six brothers, five of them re-
siding in Idaho and all of them farm
ers, with the exception of l. B.. Evans.
who is a real estate dealer in Preston.
Idaho. Mr.. Evans stated that last win
ter was the longest one and the hard
est n in all The years he has lived In
the valley since 1893. and that as far
a. he is concerned he does not care
in the least 10 ever see another one
like IT,. He and his son Will contin-
ue the work of developing the ranch
lands they own and hope that for
many years they Will be able TO add
their quota OF farm products 70 the
ever increasing yield of the farms OF
this county.