In 1915 the dry farmers of Arbon Valley, south of Pocatello and American Falls, who grew their grain without irrigation, planted more wheat than ever, brought in a good crop of fall wheat and cut part of it with the valley's first combine harvesters. The American Falls Press, published at the seat of Power County (Arbon had been in Oneida County until 1913), followed the season in its Arbon and South Arbon columns and in news from Crystal.
Two solid townships
On November 26, 1914, G. S. Randall of Arbon told the Press there would be "at least two solid townships of wheat grown by Arbon and Crystal farmers next year." A survey township is six miles square, about 23,000 acres, and Randall counted not less than 46,000 acres seeded or ready for spring seeding: more than a million bushels at about 25 bushels an acre. "Six or seven years ago," the paper added, "there was scarcely any grain grown there, the few settlers devoting themselves to stockgrowing."
The fall of 1914 was dry, and in December Henry Shandrew of Arbon said "fear is felt for fall wheat." The spring of 1915 was dry too. On April 22, 1915, the Press reported that farmers were rejoicing over "splendid rains of the past few days"; only twice in fifteen years, in 1900 and 1910, had a spring been so dry. Arbon and Crystal had "a thorough soaking." In mid-May Randall said "crop prospects never were so good," and on June 3 the South Arbon column reported, "The spring rains continue and the crops are looking fine. They are a month earlier than usual."
The first combines
Until then the valley's grain had been cut with headers, which clipped off the heads for stacking and later threshing. A combine cut and threshed in one pass, and by July 1915 the Press counted about 150 of them in Power County.
The earliest Arbon combine found in the papers belonged to G. M. Houk and W. E. Fisher. On May 20, 1915, the Press noted that the two men "were in Monday after a header for their combine." It does not say when they got the machine.
On June 24 the North and Central Arbon column reported that F. J. Lewis, a salesman for the North Western Harvester Co. of Spokane, had spent several weeks in Arbon selling combines. Humphries, E. A. Logan, Hill and Messenger had bought a combine together, and the Stotts and Lees of South Arbon another. The column said the grain could hardly all be saved with headers alone. That report is the source of the site's entry on the first combines; the Houk and Fisher item puts a combine in Arbon hands five weeks earlier.
Harvest
The same June 24 paper reported that two men who drove through the Rockland and Arbon valleys found the spring grain badly needing rain, though the fall grain was little hurt.
Harvest began around Arbon at the end of July. Marshall Johnson drove through the valley and saw "several fields of grain that will yield forty-five bushels to the acre," and on August 5 the Press reported, "Arbon and Crystal have some splendid fields and the average there will be very high." A week later the Blewett combines were doing fine work, several more had been bought, and E. H. Davis was busy freighting supplies to his store, "as every one is busy harvesting."
Across the county the Press judged most spring-sown grain a failure. At the south end, around Summit, frost had done considerable damage, "but not nearly so much as last year," and some people were cutting their spring grain for hay, though most of the fall grain was good.
"Men have been scarce this season," the South Arbon column reported in September, and several crews had started short-handed. The new combine had its troubles: "The Lee brothers and Tom Stott started their combine last Monday and had a breakdown the first thing and have been having all kinds of bad luck since." The next week's column reported that Stott's overalls had caught on a set screw on the combine; his leg was badly bruised, but he went back to work. The partners finished their crop with the combine by mid-September.
"Most of the heading is over and threshing is in full blast, crops are turning out good," the column reported on September 9. Thomas King and his sons brought a new threshing machine home from Malad, and Mr. Nunnelley finished sawing and moved his engine down to thresh. A week earlier, J. W. Phillips of Crystal had reported "one small field giving 65 bushels per acre."
Fire and freight
After several fires in early September, which burned a lot of fence but little grain, the correspondent wrote on September 16:
Some one set a fire on the west side of the valley about a week ago that came near burning Mr. Fred Larsen's crop and buildings. There was quite a strong wind and Mr. Larsen and Mr. Homer Young had to fight fire for almost half a day to save his place. The grass and sage brush are so dry that it is almost impossible to stop a fire when it once gets started.
Then the grain was hauled, over the mountain to Malad or across the Fort Hall Reservation, where the roads were "nearly impassable for those freighting grain." The same issue showed how many hands the harvest needed:
Mr. Edd Hooker butchered a two year old steer the first of last week but had no trouble in disposing of it around in the neighborhood as most every family has a crew of men to cook for.
Late in September hard rains stopped all farm work at the south end. On October 7 the South Arbon column reported that the Sorenson brothers' threshing machine had had "an explosion one day last week, caused by smut," one of the smut explosions at threshing time, though they were back at work within hours.
What it came to
No count of the 1915 crop has been found to test Randall's forecast. On January 2, 1916, the Salt Lake Tribune called the Arbon valley "a tract of 100,000 fertile acres, one-half of which is in wheat," growing about a million bushels a year, most of it handled through Pocatello. That was a yearly figure, not a count of 1915. In February 1916 G. M. Houck, as the Press spelled the name, probably the same G. M. Houk, drove "the first vehicle out of Arbon since winter began" and sold the wheat he had stored to Adolf Claassen at American Falls for $1.00 a bushel.
The article as printed
American Falls Press, September 16, 1915, page 2. Transcribed from the page scan.
SOUTH ARBON
Threshing is still the chief occupation altho some few, who were lucky enough to get their threshing done early have started freighting.
A few days ago, while Mr. Guy Benson was working on the new school building he got something in his eye and after a day and night his eye was so sore he had to make a trip to Malad to a doctor. He is now able to be back at work again.
Mr. Jack Folsom had the misfortune to loose four good work horses about a week ago, and while he was in the south end of the valley looking for them his wife got a letter from some of their friends near Pocatello saying they had found two of them but he has not been able to locate the others.
Messrs. Charles Higgins and Georgenson, each had a work horse to die last week.
Mr. E. O. Smith and daughter [illegible] have returned from a two weeks' visit to relatives in Logan, Utah.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hatfield, on the 3rd of Sept, a daughter and to Mr. and Mrs. Alex Izatt a son on the same day.
Among recent visitors were Mrs. Jack Folsom, Mrs. Lee Van Horn and Miss Irene Nunnelley at Mrs. Mina Johnson's, Misses Mamie and Thelma Nunnelley at Mrs. Tracy Lee's and Mrs. Joe Benson and children at Mrs. Edd Smith's.
Bishop Holbrook of Holbrook, was through here Wednesday in his new Studebaker Car.
Mr. A. C. Baker and family were called to Logan, Utah on account of the serious illness of his mother who only lived a few days after their arrival.
Mrs. Jennie Smith returned to her home in Dayton, Wash., last week, after spending the summer here with her son Roy.
Mr. Orville Mikkelson has just completed a new residence on his homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Chapman went Pocatello the latter part of last week.
Last Thursday while Mr. Nunnelley's outfit was threshing at J. A. Gardner's there was two different fires started in the cylinder from some unknown cause, but there was no smut in the grain and they found the fire in time and put it out before any damage was done.
Miss Olive Sorenson left last Saturday for her home in Mendon, Utah. Miss Sorenson is quite a popular young lady and the young people of the community hate to see her leave.
Mr. Pett, of Brigham, brought a wagon load of peaches, tomatoes and melons into the valley on day last week which was quite a treat to people living so far from market.
Mr. Lett Robinson was requested to contribute $50.00 to the county fund a few days ago. He was caught bootlegging and was arrested and had to pay a fine of $50.00. There are several more in the valley thought to be conducting the same sort of business, but so far have been lucky enough to keep out of sight of the officers.
Mr. W. H. Smith had to make a trip to Malad Saturday evening after a new cylinder for his well.
Mrs. E. A. Logan and mother Mrs. Paul Rust, have gone to Garland, Utah, after fruit.
Clarence Barrett has sold his homestead to Mr. Harve Fletcher.
Harve Fletcher arrived here from Dayton, Wash., and is very much pleased with the country.
[illegible] Howell and Walter Frederick went to Sheep creek last Sunday.
Robert and Tom Stott and families have gone to Brigham after a load of fruit.
Miss Leslie Potter was the guest of Mrs. Herman Noth last week.
Oneida Milling and Elevator company has a car of new oats to sell or will take in wheat and give you oats. Better see them if you need oats.
Mr. Mont. Mellon is here visiting a few days.
Mrs. Paul Rust of Pocatello, is here visiting her daughter Mrs. E. A. Logan.
Elias Horton recently returned from Moreland, Idaho, where his son resides. They visited the fair at Mackay and greatly enjoyed themselves.
[illegible] McGown returned to Pocatello a few days ago after working here during harvest.
Threshing is progressing rapidly, [illegible] loads of grain have been freighted out. The roads on the reservation are nearly impassable for those freighting grain on account of bad ruts, and bridges, [illegible] broke down.
Mr. Lorenso Bailey left here Friday for Pocatello, with one of his daughters, who fell a few days ago injuring her arm. It appears to be a badly broken arm. Mr. Bailey's son, who was operated on at the Pocatello general hospital three weeks ago has contracted typhoid fever. As to last report he is progressing nicely.
Fred Dalton and Miss Winnie Dalton, of Salt Lake City, Utah, are visiting their brother Mr. Dell Dalton and family.
Miss Gena and Thelma Rust returned to Pocatello Monday after visiting here for several days.
Lorin Bailey and John Bullock were Pocatello visitors Monday.
Mr. John Bryant and family went to American Falls last week on business.
Mrs. Rust and Mrs. Logan went down to Tremonton, Utah, Monday on business.
Arbon had a light shower this last week.
We see by The Press that supplies are arriving at the Falls for the Bannock Valley Telephone line. We hope it means us, as we would like to be connected up with the outside.
Mr. Gooch and family left the past week for Blackfoot, Idaho, where they will spend the winter.
The Lee Bros. and Tom Stott finished harvesting their crop with their combine last week.
Some one set a fire on the west side of the valley about a week ago that came near burning Mr. Fred Larsen's crop and buildings. There was quite a strong wind and Mr. Larsen and Mr. Homer Young had to fight fire for almost half a day to save his place. The grass and sage brush are so dry that it is almost impossible to stop a fire when it once gets started.
Mr. George Bollinger is erecting a house on the homestead belonging to his wife and they intend to make that their home Mr. Bollinger having proved up on his homestead some time ago.
Miss Virginia Nunnelly returned to Salt Lake the first of last week. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Noth accompanied her to Malad.
Mrs. J. A. Gardner and Miss Olive Sorenson were the guests of Mrs. Chance Payne the first of last week.
Mr. E. O. Smith and daughter Miss Elmira and Miss Lulu Benson have gone to Logan, Utah for a two weeks' visit.
Miss Hilvie Swenson, who has been visiting relatives here for some time has returned to her home in Logan.
Mrs. Tracy Lee has been the guest of Emmett Lee and family for the past week.
Mr. Zeal Smith and wife have been visiting relatives in Daniels for the past week.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Gastineau, of near Pauline, were here on business the first of the week.
Mrs. Joe Benson gave a party Tuesday evening in honor of Miss Hilvie Swenson and Miss Dorothea Neilson. There were several young people present and the evening was spent in various kinds of games after which delicious refreshments were served. They each declared they had had an ideal time.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Folsom entertained a few of their friends Sunday evening. Those present being Messrs. James Nunnelley and Clyde Johnson, and Misses Irene Nunnelley and Amy Johnson.
Mr. H. E. Chapman is somewhat improved and has been able to do a little work in his blacksmith shop this week. Max Hatfield has been helping him.
Mr. W. H. Smith and Elinor McCauley, each took a load of wheat to Malad the latter part of the week for Mr. Nunnelley.
Mr. Walter Frederick made a business trip to Landing last week.
Mrs. Harve Fletcher of Dayton, Wash., arrived last week and will remain with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Phil Hatfield. Mrs. Fletcher has been in very poor health for some time and thinks probably that the climate here will help her.
Mr. Edd Hooker butchered a two year old steer the first of last week but had no trouble in disposing of it around in the neighborhood as most every family has a crew of men to cook for.
Mrs. Lee Hatfield and mother Mrs. Reed have gone to Malad where they will remain a few weeks.
Mrs. J. A. Gardner was the guest of Mrs. Ammon Sorenson several days last week.
The people from this end of the valley were so busy that but few of them were out to the R. R. meeting held at the Central school house on August 29.
Mrs. Alex Izatt has gone to Hyrum, Utah, for a few weeks visit with her parents.
The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turner has been quite sick for the past week.
Miss Nellie Matthews has just returned from Logan, Utah where she has been visiting for some time.
Miss Olive Sorenson entertained about a dozen of her friends with a candy party, last Friday evening where a very enjoyable time was had.
Mr. W. H. Smith and family were Sunday visitors at the home of W. A. Nunnelley.
E. O. Lee and wife were in American Falls the first of the week.
Mr. and Mrs. Gus Brahmstadt, Mr. and Mrs. George Bollinger were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. L. Hall Sunday.
Mr. Robert W. Sturges left last Monday for California where he and his parents will visit the Panama Exposition before he goes back to New York to enter school. Mr. Sturges has had charge of the Arbon and Highland congregational churches for the past four months and while here has made many friends who hate to see him leave.
On this site: the first threshing machine at the south end, the June frost that killed George Andersen's wheat and the history of Arbon.
Sources
- American Falls Press, November 26, 1914, page 1
- American Falls Press, December 3, 1914, page 5
- American Falls Press, April 22, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, May 20, 1915, page 5
- American Falls Press, June 3, 1915, page 4
- American Falls Press, June 24, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, June 24, 1915, page 8
- American Falls Press, July 29, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, July 29, 1915, page 5
- American Falls Press, August 5, 1915, page 1
- American Falls Press, August 12, 1915, page 4
- American Falls Press, September 2, 1915, page 5
- American Falls Press, September 2, 1915, page 8
- American Falls Press, September 9, 1915, page 2
- American Falls Press, September 16, 1915, page 2
- American Falls Press, September 30, 1915, page 6
- American Falls Press, October 7, 1915, page 1
- Salt Lake Tribune, January 2, 1916, page 57
- American Falls Press, February 10, 1916, page 5