In the spring of 1914 the news of Arbon reached print by a roundabout road. A store in American Falls published a monthly paper, the Sheep Store News, with items from a correspondent in Bannock Valley. Twice that spring the American Falls Press reprinted the paper's Arbon news, which shows the valley at the end of a snowy winter.
A store's paper
The Sheep Store was the American Falls store of the Fall Creek Sheep Company. Arbon had been in Power County, with its seat at American Falls, since 1913; before that the valley was in Oneida County, where Summit and Buist remained.
On April 23, 1914, the Press printed a sample page of the store paper's April issue, Vol. II, No. 5, with a coupon offering the News free for a year. Its want column had an ad from the valley: Mrs. D. B. Evans of Arbon had a span of three-year-old mules for sale. In February the Press blamed its own slowness for the late arrival of the News, so the newspaper office probably printed it.
The Arbon items printed on April 2 included a notice. Anyone wishing "news items, want ads. or sale ads or any other 'want' published in the Sheep Store News" was to leave word for the correspondent at the Arbon post office. The April items, printed on April 30, carried her name: "(Mrs. E. A. Logan, Correspondent)". She was Jennie Logan, wife of the homesteader Ellis A. Logan; three years later she wrote the valley's first history for the Press. The February and March items are unsigned, but they were probably hers too.
February and March
The items "For February and March" begin in deep winter. Mr. Walker, the teacher at the South End school, was planning a literary society: "The roads have been almost impassable up there, and many people have got around on skiis." There was a public dance every Friday night in the Central school hall, where on March 20 the district's young people gave an entertainment and danced until late.
It was a season of surprise parties:
- T. B. Evans on February 16, his birthday;
- Nina Keeler and N. Lishman, both on February 18;
- his daughter Ruth Evans on March 3, when her friends met at her sister Mrs. Add. Affleck's and went on to the Evans home.
The column ranked Tom Evans's party first:
The leading social event of the season was the surprise party given to Mr. T. B. Evans on Monday, February 16th, the occasion being his birthday. The plans had been guarded so secretly that "Tom" was completely surprised when the friends began to gather.
Mr. and Mrs. "Ren" Evans (the scanned text reads "Earns") had a baby girl on March 4. She was probably the Margaret listed among Lorenzo and Anna Evans's children as born in 1914. Three days later the Morris Johnsons had their first girl. Lizzie Bailey, the two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Bailey, broke her left arm in a fall from a chair. She was taken to a physician at Malad and was doing well.
The telephone was coming. Its directors met at the Central school; an Affleck, probably Add. (first name lost in the scanned text), was installing phone boxes in subscribers' homes; and meanwhile:
Several parties who were interested in the telephone are busy putting up their share of the pole line. Several have their phone boxes in their homes, and are talking over the barb wire to their friends and neighbors until the main line is connected up with them.
The site's account of the first telephones knows barbed-wire telephones only from family memory; this column, written at the time, shows them in use, though not whose wire it was.
Land was still wanted: "Several Arbonites made a rush to the land offices to secure more land under the new law which came into effect February 21st." The Farmers' Society of Equity "held a rousing meeting" on March 14. The new Highland Congregational church, on land Miss Mamie Nunnelley gave about twelve miles south of the Central school, was serving as the schoolhouse that term, before the Highland school was built beside it in 1915. A resident pastor had been engaged for the valley's two new Congregational churches: Rev. Thomas Dent Fee of Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
Mr. Ed. Davis, "proprietor of the new store opened lately", was busy freighting supplies to his customers, and "Davis' store and the Noble Kowallis store have in a fine stock of supplies and keep busy handling most of the trade of the valley." He was probably Edward H. Davis. His family dated the store to 1910. Mrs. Logan's 1917 history said he had opened it "about two years ago", and the site's account of the first stores dates his general store about 1915, yet early in 1914 the Arbon column already called it new. The Noble Kowallis store was probably the store at Pauline, still known by the partnership's name, although the partnership had ended in November 1913.
An undated item in the column recorded the thaw; a Chinook is a warm, dry wind that melts snow quickly.
The snow is disappearing fast these days since the last rain, and Chinook winds. Many fields are bare and beginning to show up green. Sleighing will soon be a thing of the past. A few busy farmers who are anxious to commence spring work are plowing.
April
The April items touch the correspondent's own family. Miss Gena Rust, at high school in Pocatello, spent the first week of April in Arbon with her parents during the spring vacation. The Press later called her Mrs. Logan's sister and named Mrs. Logan's parents as Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rust. As Mrs. Gena Newport she would later keep the valley's telephone switchboard. Mrs. Logan herself had been operated on for appendicitis at the Pocatello General Hospital on April 7 and was home again. Another item, badly damaged, offered Mr. Rust's farm for sale.
Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Evans went to Logan, Utah, for the funeral of Isaac Smith, a relative of Mrs. Evans; the word that says how is unreadable. On April 6 a school election at the Central school house chose a trustee, whose name is also unreadable, in place of J. R. Bailey. Rev. Fee arrived on April 4 and preached his first sermon the next day.
No copy of the Sheep Store News has turned up in the collections searched for this post. Its news of the valley survives because the Press reprinted it.
The article as printed
American Falls Press, April 2, 1914, page 11. Transcribed from the page scan.
ARBON SECTION
(For February and March.)
A very neatly arranged surprise party was given Miss Nina Keeler Wednesday evening, February 18th, the occasion being her birthday. The evening was spent in games [illegible] other amusements interesting to [illegible] people. An excellent lunch was served by Mrs. Keeler with Mrs. Rust assisting. Those present who were friends and classmates of Miss Nina's left at a late hour, by wishing her many happy returns of the day.
Mr. and Mrs. "Ren" Evans are rejoicing over the birth of a fine baby girl which came to gladden their home Wednesday, March 4th. Mother and babe are progressing nicely.
The new Highland Congregational church is occupied by the school for this term. This building is located near Miss Mamie Nunnelly, she having donated the land for the church building. It is situated about twelve miles south of the Central school. This is a great improvement to Bannock valley.
Little Lizzie Bailey, the two-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Bailey, fell off a chair recently and broke her left arm above the elbow as well as dislocating it. She was taken immediately to a physician at Malad where her injuries were taken care of. At last report she was progressing nicely.
Wm. Allard has installed a new gasoline engine on his place and a feed roller.
The leading social event of the season was the surprise party given to Mr. T. B. Evans on Monday, February 16th, the occasion being his birthday. The plans had been guarded so secretly that "Tom" was completely surprised when the friends began to gather. The evening was spent in various amusements at the close of which an elaborate lunch was served. Everyone had a pleasant and enjoyable time and on leaving gave an expression of their good wishes to Mr. Evans.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Snyder of Crystal, Idaho, were in Arbon to attend the Equity meeting in February. While [illegible] they were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Secrists.
A resident pastor has been engaged for Arbon valley for the two new Congregational churches which were organized last July. He is Rev. Thomas Dent Fee, at present, pastor of the Congregational church in Egale Butte, S. D. He will come to Arbon on April [illegible] after spending a few days in Pocatello visiting his sister, who resides in Pocatello. This is a long felt want filled, and will be a great help to the new churches. We wish Rev. Fee success.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Nunnelly returned in January from Kentucky where they were called by the serious illness of Mrs. Nunnelly's mother. Mrs. Nunnelly was whith her mother at the time of her death which occurred December 21. While in Kentucky they saw "Vic" Randall, formerly a resident of Arbon. "Vic" was homesick for "dear old Idaho" and is thinking some of returning. Idaho is a good state, as many return after they leave.
Mr. Walker, school teacher at the South End school, is making plans for starting a literary society. The roads have been almost impassable up there, and many people have got around on skiis.
A surprise birthday party was given on Mr. N. Lishman Wednesday evening, February 18th. The party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Bailey, games and other amusements were indulged in by all present and everyone expressed himself as having had a general good time. Before leaving everyone partook of a delicious lunch served by Mrs. Bailey.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshal Johnson are moving back to their home here after spending the winter in American Falls where the children have been attending school. "Buster" will remain in the Falls until the end of the term, but Louise will return here with her parents.
Several Arbonites made a rush to the land offices to secure more land under the new law which came into effect February 21st.
Mr. Conrad Weidemann has completed digging a well for Mr. Kramer.
Several parties who were interested in the telephone are busy putting up their share of the pole line. Several have their phone boxes in their homes, and are talking over the barb wire to their friends and neighbors until the main line is connected up with them.
Frank E. Jones and Jesse Secrists returned from a few days visit with friends and relatives in Pocatello during the last of February. They also [illegible] trip to Blackfoot on [illegible]
The Bannock Bible School which is [illegible] New Congregational Sunday School are holding sessions every Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Butler, everyone is cordially invited to attend.
The snow is disappearing fast these days since the last rain, and Chinook winds. Many fields are bare and beginning to show up green. Sleighing will soon be a thing of the past. A few busy farmers who are anxious to commence spring work are plowing.
The weekly public dances are held every Friday night in the public hall of the Central school building.
A delightful surprise social gathering was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Evans, March 3rd, in honor of Miss Ruth Evans. The friends gathered at the home of Miss Evans' sister Mrs. Add. Affleck, and proceeded from there to the Evans home. Amusements of various kinds were taken part in by those present. Lunch was served and the party broke up at a late hour and all expressed themselves as having had a most enjoyable time.
The directors of the telephone met at the Central school near the first of the month on different matters of business pertaining to the new phone.
Several people went into Pocatello March 7th, to attend the auction sale of horses and mules but failed to return with any.
The Stork came to visit the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Johnson, Saturday, March 7th and left a fine baby girl. Morris is wearing a smile that won't come off, this being their first girl. All concerned are getting along nicely.
The Farmers' Society of Equity held a rousing meeting Saturday, March 14th, the meaning of Equity was explained to those present.
Mr. H. Secrists returned from Blackfoot March 9th, where he purchased [illegible] large team of horses.
[illegible] Affleck is busy these days installing phone boxes in the subscribers' homes, who wish to be connected up with the outside world and which we hope will be soon.
This is the season of parties and merrymaking, there being several surprise parties held. One was recently given on Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Gib[illegible]
A partial eclipse of the moon was visible here the night of March 11th.
Mr. Logan has purchased a pair of fine young mules from J. Anderson.
There are several good homes for sale in Bannock valley. It would pay anyone wishing to buy a home to come and investigate.
Mr. W. Kramer recently completed an essential improvement on his place by a new well.
Mr. Ed. Keeler, Wm. Allard, and George Butler went to Blackfoot the other day on business.
Mr. Conrad Weidemann has rented 80 acres from Lawrence Gibbons and will soon commence breaking it up.
Mr. and Mrs. Rust spent a few days in Pocatello during the month.
Mr. Ed. Davis, proprietor of the new store opened lately, is progressing well and is busy freighting out supplies to his many customers.
Davis' store and the Noble Kowallis store have in a fine stock of supplies and keep busy handling most of the trade of the valley.
Mrs. John Anderson, who has been quite ill is improving.
Mr. Con Weidemann is digging a well for Jesse Secrists. "Con" recently lowered a well for Add. Affleck.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Gibbons are preparing to move onto Mrs. Gibbons' homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. H. Secrists are making arrangements to move over to their son's place when spring opens up.
Anyone wishing news items, want ads. or sale ads or any other "want" published in the Sheep Store News leave word at the Arbon P. O. for correspondent.
An entertainment was given in the Central school hall Friday night, March 20th, by the young people of the school district. A small admission fee was charged at the close of the entertainment. All enjoyed themselves by dancing until a late hour.
—Sheep Store News.
On this site: the Evans family and the Arbon area.
Sources
- American Falls Press, February 5, 1914, page 5
- American Falls Press, April 2, 1914, page 11
- American Falls Press, April 23, 1914, page 6
- American Falls Press, April 30, 1914, page 1
- American Falls Press, August 12, 1915, page 4
- American Falls Press, March 29, 1917, page 7
- American Falls Press, December 5, 1919, page 3