My Dad shared this article from the North Side Journal from March 2024, Section B Page 15.
People who live in the Magic Valley know there is a Milner Dam near the east end of Jerome County. When the irrigation waters are released in early spring from Milner Dam, the canals flow on the north side and on the south side of the Snake River. But did you know there was an actual town named Milner? And how the town got its name? In the early 1900s, Jerome County farmer I. B. Perrine was transporting his fruits and vegetables from his farm in the Snake River canyon to the Albion Normal School South of Oakley. The trail from the Blue Lakes farm to Albion was a pretty rough ride for his horses and wagon. When he got to what was known as the Cedars, he rode across the river on Starrh’s ferry boat then traveled the rest of the way on another rough trail. He took this route several times and thought there should be a dam here to bring river water up onto the sagebrush areas on both sides. He discussed his thoughts with several of his acquaintances, especially the ones with money to spend on projects like this. He filed paperwork, which was approved in 1903, to own land and water rights in this area and proceeded to get the financing.
When everything was approved, a corporation was formed to build a dam at the Cedars. Peter Kimberly, S. B. Milner, H. L. Hollister, Witcher Jones, Robert McCollum, Paul Bickel, D. C. McWatters, Frank Buhl, and William S. Kuhn all had a hand in the financial end of this project. Before building the dam, canals had to be created on each side of the river.
They started with the south side because the Stricker Stage Stop and some other nearby settlements were already on that side. There were no communities on the north side toward the west which would be the flow of the canals. In order to build canals, there had to be construction workers: so, a town was started on the south side of the Cedars crossing which was named after Mr. Milner. They started with the south side canals flowing west towards where any unused water would flow into Rock Creek just before it dropped into the Snake River. While these canals were built guilt, the town of Twin Falls, named for the twin falls two miles upriver of the Shoshone Falls, was being developed in 1904 near Rock Creek almost 40 miles to the west of Milner. The dam was finished, the gates opened to the south side in 1905. Just after this time, plans were made to create canals on the north side.
The workers from Milner also helped with this construction. We know of all the difficulties the north side had from so much basalt rock that the canal water seeped through, and they had to apply concrete to the first two miles of the canal system in order to get water to the communities west of there. By 1905 the community of Greenwood began to develop on the north side. Most had to shop and bank at Milner, 16 miles away. Many farmers had come to claim free land under the Carey Act. By 1910 the water canal was filling the system and the towns of Hazelton (1911), Eden (1911), and Jerome (1907) had started with canal water flowing through and past them and back down into the Snake River west of Wendell (1907). When the Milner Dam and the canal systems work was finished, the construction workers and business owners and Milner either farmed lands close by on either side or move to other towns.
The bank, grocery store, mercantile stores, saloons and “red-light district” moved to Hazelton in 1914, about 16 miles away. The big Riverside Inn burnt down. The only thing left that shows the town of Milner existed is the cement casing that was around the bank vault and a few graves. (Information from North Side News and Helms family history).
Several months ago I took my Dad and Step-Mother out to the Minidoka-Acequia-Rupert Cemetery north of Rupert Idaho. I had inherited 11 graves in the cemetery from the Phibbs family. 7 are together in one location, four in another. We were there on that occasion to pick out their final resting place. A somber experience if you think about it.
We walked around both sets of graves and picked out their preferred location. They picked out two graves that they wanted and we visited for a little while. While there, we looked at some of their future neighbors.
There were three graves that caught our attention. Older graves from 1917 in which it appeared all three had died the same year. Two male names and a female, we thought it looked like a father and mother and son. That raised enough questions that I researched them. Here is what is on the grave stones:
George E Davies 1908 – 1917
Hyrum E Davies 1879 – 1917
Mercy M Davis 1881 – 1917
The investigation began. It was not that hard to find their connections on FindaGrave as husband and wife and son. They had all died the same date, 4 July 1917, over 105 years ago.
I started researching the online newspapers for Rupert, Idaho. I found the Rupert Democrat from 4 July 1917 above. Here is the text of that article:
AN APPALLING TRAGEDY OCCURED ON THE MORNING OF JULY FOURTH
MR. AND MRS. HYRUM E. DAVIES AND NINE YEAR OLD SON GEORGE, WERE DROWNED IN MAIN CANAL NEAR ACEQUIA ON MORNING OF FOURTH.
BODIES HAVEN’T BEEN RECOVERED
Victims Were Enroute to the Minidoka Dam to Spend the Day Fishing When Auto Plunged Over the Embankment.
Mr. and Mrs. Hyrum E Davies and their son George, of this city met an untimely and deplorable death on the morning of July Fourth, when the auto in which they were riding skidded and plunged into the canal at a point in the canal road seven miles east of this city and one and one-half miles east of Acequia. Mr. and Mrs. Davies in company with Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Houghton and two small children were on their way to the Dam in Mr. Davies’ big Case auto, whey they had planned to spend the day fishing when the dreadful accident occured. Mr. Davies was driving and Mr. Houghton occupied the front seat with him and was holding his four year old son, the two ladies and Mr. Houghton’s two year old boy and the nine year old son of Mr. Davies occuping the rear seat; the car was running along at about twenty miles an hour, the rear wheel coming in contact with a rut caused the car to skid and the driver evidently lost control of the machine and before it was brought to a stop had plunged down the embankment and was submerged in eight foot of water in the middle of the canal. Mr. Houghton floundered out of the car and holding onto it with one hand succeeded in placing his little four year old son safely on top of the car. He then drug his wife from the car and assisted her to safety on the auto top also, the little eighteen months old son came to surface about twenty feet down stream from the auto a few seconds later and he (Houghton) quickly rescued it, after a strenuous tussle with the swift current in his efforts to return to the car.
Houghton kept close watch expecting to render aid to the other three when they appeared on the surface, but he watched in vain, the swift under current evidently took them down stream, at any rate Mr. Houghton is positive that none of the bodies appeared on the surface after he had gotten his wife to safety.
Mr. Houghton relates that before the car was completely submerged that Mrs. Davies collapsed and was firmly holding her son, George, in her arms, that the husband was attempting to get from under the steering gear and was reaching for his wife and it is the opinion of Mr. Houghton that the three were taken down the stream clinging to one another. Mr. Davies could swim but the weight of his wife and boy was too much for him to master.
Mr. Davies was an inexperienced driver, having purchased his car about one month ago. The emergency brake was set firmly when hauled out of the canal.
The Packham brothers, who were driving a buggy closely behind the car were witnesses to the tragedy, one of the young med hurriedly secured a rope at the home of L. A. Darr and succeeded in bringing the Houghtons to shore with the assistance of his brother and guard on the canal who had been attracted to the scene by the other young man.
A rescue party was soon organized after word had reached this city by ‘phone, and hastened to the place where the accident took place and a diligent search was kept up all during the day until a late hour at night for the bodies but at this writing none of the unfortunate victims have been recovered.
Mr. and Mrs. Davies had been residents of Rupert for the past three months, moving here from Salt Lake City in the early part of April. Mr. Davies was a carpenter by occupation.
As a result of the horrible disaster four little children will never again perceive the pleasures of a doting and solicitious father and mother. The surviving children, who were to spend their Fourth in Rupert at the request of their parents, include three girls and a boy, namely Virginia, aged fifteen; Gladys, aged twelve; Nelva, aged five and Erwin aged two. They will be cared for by their aunt, Mrs. A. G. Morris of this city, Mr. Morris being a brother of Mrs. Davies. Another brother, S. N. Morris resides at Salt Lake City. Mrs. Mollie Wheeler of this city is also related to the Davies family.
While the Davies family was not very well known in this city, their tragic and sudden death cast a shadow of sadness and gloom over our city which detracted from the enjoyment of the celebration to a noticeable extent.
The Houghtons are also recent new comers to Rupert, having moved here from LaGrande, Oregon, less than a month ago. Mrs. Houghton is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Workman of this city. The Davies family was in no way related to the Houghtons.
Mr. Davies was thirty-six years of age and his wife thirty-five. They were married sixteen years ago in Utah. They were members of the L. D. S. church.
I also found this article.
Article from Salt Lake
HYRUM E. DAVIES, formerly of Salt Lake, who with his wife and child, was drowned near Rupert, Idaho, yesterday.
AUTOMOBILE PLUNGE DROWNS 3 PERSONS
Former Salt Lake Residents Die When Machine Falls Into Canal Dam.
Two former Salt Lakers, ,Mr. and Mrs. Hyrum E. Davies, and their 4-year-old son were drowned in the Minidoka project canal near Rupert, Idaho, yesterday afternoon when their automobile plunged over an embankment. The bodies have not been recovered.
First word of the drowning was received in this city by Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Strong, 360 Ninth East street, Mrs. Strong being a sister of Mr. Davies.
Communication by wire with Sheriff Hiram Thompson of Lincoln County, Idaho, established the fact that early in the afternoon Mr. & Ms. Davies started for the Snake river dam, which diverts the water into the Minidoka project canal. They had with them their 4-year-old son, leaving the four elder children at home.
When a short distance out of Rupert Mr. Davies, who was driving the automobile, appears to have lost control of the car as it struck a deep chuck hole in the road. The vehicle went over the embankment into the canal, which at that point is about eight feet deep and 120 feet wide.
Persons driving along the road later saw the automobile in the canal and notified the officers. A searching party was immediately formed and the work of attempting to find the three bodies was begun. Up to the last reports received late last night no success had been realized in the effort. The search was continued and a screen was stretched across the canal at a point some distance below the point of drowning to catch the bodies in case efforts made by men on a rapidly-constructed raft should fail.
Mr. Davies had lived in Salt Lake City about thirty-five years and until six weeks ago, when he moved his family to Rupert, Idaho, was employed as a motorman for the Utah Light & Traction company. The family lived at 650 Ely avenue which is between Seventh and Eighth East and Seventh and Eighth South streets.
Surviving Mr. Davies are four sisters, Mrs. E. J. Strong and Mrs. David McCleery of this city, Mrs. A. Freeman of Ogden and Mrs. E. T. Knotts of Shawnee, Okla.
Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Strong left here for Rupert on the midnight O. S. L. train last night. Upon recover of the bodies they will probably be brought to Salt Lake for burial.
I was unable at this time to find any updates to the story for when the bodies were found or obituaries. I will update if I find that information.
Hyrum Edward Davies, born 12 August 1879 in Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah.
Mercy Mathews Morris, born 28 January 1881 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Hyrum and Mercy were married 16 October 1901 in Mercur, Tooele, Utah.
Hyrum and Mercy had five children, Virginia, Gladys, George, Afton, Erwin.
Mercy Virginia Davies, born 19 July 1902 in Salt Lake City, Utah, died 24 Ocober 1977 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Gladys Orlean Davies, born 19 March 1905 in Salt Lake City, Utah, died 10 December 1964 in Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada.
George Edward Davies, born 8 March 1908 in Salt Lake City, Utah, died 4 July 1917 in Minidoka County, Idaho.
Afton Elva Davies, born 13 August 1911 in Albion, Cassia, Idaho, died 26 October 2001 in Orange County, California.
Hyrum Erwin Davies, born 8 March 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah, died 15 September 1996 in Barstow, San Bernardino, California.
My father, Milo Paul Ross, graduated from Weber County High School 25 May 1961. A bond was passed in 1926 to build a county high school and construction began that same year and completed the next. The photo above is from 1927. The high school had an addition in 1953-1954. Weber County High School was located on the east side of Washington Boulevard between 11th and 12th Street. Weber County built a new high school in Pleasant View in 1972. The old building was abandoned and apparently tore down in the 1980s. Attached is the sketch that came with Dad’s Diploma.
West Weber County High School
Milo Ross Diploma from Weber County High School in Ogden, Utah
I will not be sharing his transcript as the Diploma indicates is/was attached. As Dad mentioned, he did not get to take any electives since he was retaking classes. GPA of 2.00, 359 of a class of 415. The newspaper indicated there were 416.
I am also attaching a copy of Dad’s Certificate of Graduation from Wahlquist Junior High School.
Milo Paul Ross Certificate of Gradulation from Wahlquist Junior High School in Ogden, Utah
Both Diplomas include the name of T. H. Bell, which caught my attention. Terrel Howard Bell (1921 – 1996) might ring familiar to some as he was an Education Secretary under President Reagan. Terrel graduated from Lava Hot Springs in 1940, from Albion State Normal College in 1946, and Superintendent of the Weber County School District from 1958 to 1962. Which is why his name shows on both of these Diplomas.
Cleo Gallegos, Mayor of Heyburn, had this photograph in her office one day earlier this year. She snagged it for a day or two for me to see it. I snapped a couple of photographs of it. I have tried researching it or determining some of the individuals and I fear they may be too far in the past for me to try and get it independently. Unless someone has a list of individuals in the photo, it is just good for conversation. I don’t have a clue of a single individual included here. But this organization was a new piece to southern Idaho history I was unaware.
The 79’ers first meeting was held 28 September 1921 in Burley, Idaho. 73 pioneers from Cassia, Twin Falls, Jerome, Minidoka, Gooding, and Lincoln Counties signed the roster as qualifying members. In order to qualify, you had to arrive in Southern Idaho before 1880.
Between 1921 and 1924, meetings were held in Burley or Twin Falls. After 1924, the annual meetings were held in Albion. Hence the photo above dated 1 September 1926, this would have been the annual meeting.
In 1941 a special reunion was held where over 200 people attended. Judge Alfred Budge and Idaho Governor Chase Clark were made honorary members.
Not much history after that is available online.
Cassia County was created in 1879 and originally I thought that was what the group was referring to. However, membership was permitted from Minidoka, Jerome, and Lincoln Counties which territories were never part of Cassia County. I am still unclear why 1879 or 1880 was a year to commemorate in southern Idaho.
I also found Hyrum Smith Lewis (1868 – 1955) served for 26 years as President of the 79’ers. He is buried in Declo.
Milo James Ross, 93, peacefully slipped out of mortality in the comfort of his own bed in Plain City on 17 July 2014.
Milo was born 4 February 1921 in a log cabin north of Plain City to John “Jack” William Ross and Ethel (Sharp) Ross. His mother tragically died from childbirth in 1925. Milo and his siblings lived with his Ross grandparents until the costs proved too great and his Uncle Edward Sharp raised Milo in Plain City until adulthood.
He grew up tending to his Grandmother Sharp and spending most of his time farming with his many Sharp cousins and his siblings. He attended schools in Plain City and graduated from Weber High in 1939.
Milo met Gladys Maxine Donaldson at a Plain City celebration in 1940. They would meet from time to time for dancing at the Berthana in Ogden. Milo and Gladys married 4 April 1942 in her parent’s home on 8th Street in Ogden.
Milo enlisted in the Army in October 1942. He served in the 33rd Infantry Division, 130th Regiment, Company C. He trained in weapons and earned his expert ranking. He arrived in Hawaii in July 1943 and received the announcement that his son, Milo Paul, had been born. He served as part of the Philippine invasion force and they fought through the jungles and liberated Baguio City. He was injured five times, one while tending to other soldiers awaiting medical attention.
He was present at the Japanese surrender at Luzon as a Technical Sergeant in June 1945. He received two purple hearts and the Silver Star for his service at the end of World War II. His Company received a Presidential Citation for outstanding performance during armed conflict with the enemy in efforts to seize Hill X in Bilbil Mountain Province. At the time of Milo’s death, the military was preparing to award him another Purple Heart, another Silver Star, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal & Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantry Badge 1st Award, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Bronze Star, Honorable Service Button for World War II. He was also to be awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal and Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation Badge from the Philippine Government.
He returned home in 1945 and began working with his father-in-law. He eventually began building or remodeling homes. He estimated he had built over 120 homes and remodeled another 50 homes or buildings in his lifetime. Two more children joined Milo and Gladys in 1946 and 1948, Judy Ethel and Caroline. Milo and Gladys dedicated their lives to raising their three children and tenderly caring for Judy’s needs until she passed away in 1998.
Milo and Gladys solemnized their marriage 2 July 1976 in the Ogden LDS Temple with their daughter Judy by their side. Milo served in various callings as a humble servant favoring their time as temple workers in the Ogden Temple for almost a decade. Milo and Gladys also relished their time in raising their garden and providing its fruits to friends, family, the temple, and local hospitals.
Milo is survived by his son Milo (Janice) Ross of Hazelton, Idaho and daughter Caroline (Abram) Gallegos of Plain City. Eight grandchildren, Scott (Robyn) Ross of Kimberly, Idaho; Jeffrey (Holly) Ross of Jerome, Idaho; Becky (Joseph) Patterson of Portland, Oregon; Paul (Amanda) Ross of Burley, Idaho; Andra Ross of Heyburn, Idaho; Christy (Sterling) Neilson of Rupert, Idaho; Cindy (Steve) Pease of Albion, Idaho; and Lonny (Amy) Taylor of Declo, Idaho; seventeen great grandchildren; and eleven great great grandchildren.
Milo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Gladys; all five siblings Hobart Day, June Stout, Paul Ross, Harold Ross, and Earnest Ross; daughter Judy Ross; grandson-in-law Bret Adams, and two great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Tuesday 22 July 2014 at the Plain City 7th Ward Building, 2952 N 4200 W, a building he helped organize its construction, at 11:00 AM with Bishop Tom Matthews officiating.
Friends may call at Lindquist Mortuary in North Ogden at 2140 N 400 E (Washington Blvd) from 6 until 8 PM on Monday 21 July 2014. Friends may also call from 10:00 until 10:45 AM prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Plain City Cemetery beside his beloved Gladys and Judy.
Sagacity 