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).
Ole and Constance Christiansen are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Martha to Herbert Coley, son of Stephen and Hannah Coley. They were married in 1874 in Norway. While I normally like to start these historical posts as a wedding announcement, I trip up there. We do not have any histories that give us an actual marriage date and location. Knowing the period, it is not imagined they were not actually married. Their first child was born in 1875. Curiously, after their immigration to the United States due to their conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they not only went to the Logan Utah Temple to be sealed, but also applied to be married. As such, they were married and sealed in the Logan Utah Temple on 26 April 1893.
Martha was born the second of eleven children to Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen and Ole Christiansen on 16 April 1879 in Fredrickstad, Ostfold, Norway. I have not written their history yet, but as linked above, I wrote some limited information on Constance when we visited her grave first in 2018 and again in 2020. Ole was born in Trogstad, Norway and Constance in Drammen, Norway. Both Ole and Constance were baptized and confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 26 January 1876 in Norway.
What happens for the next few years is unclear on the reasons. Martha’s older sister, Walborg, was born 24 December 1875 in Fredrickstad, then Martha in 1879. We really have no records during this period and so I am unclear if there was another child, or two, in that period of time. Eivelda was born 20 October 1881 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I have no clue why or what took the family to Australia. Their next child, Constance, was born 9 November 1883 also in Collingwood, then a suburb of Melbourne. Apparently Walborg and Martha were left in Norway while their parents went to Australia. Alice, Martha’s granddaughter recalls Martha telling of her sitting on the mountainside overlooking the fjord waiting for her parents to return and her missing them terribly. Martha’s first brother, Henry Owen, was then born 27 March 1887 back in Fredrickstag, Norway. Ole and Constance were back in Fredrickstag by March 1887.
I have been unable to find the immigration records for the Christiansen family between Norway to Australia and back. But the family was in Australia for at least 3 years, maybe as long as 6 years. They were not back in Norway very long as Rhoda was born in Richmond, Cache, Utah on 18 September 1890. Martha moved with her family to Richmond in the late 1880s. One record has it in 1887, another 1889, Martha was listed in the 1900 Census as immigrated in 1888. Either way, we now are in the vicinity of where she would have met Herbert Coley. Of Martha’s remaining 6 siblings, 5 were born in Richmond and 1 in Hyde Park.
Herbert was born the 5th of 9 known children to Hannah Maria Rogers and Stephen Coley on 12 February 1864 in Lutley, Worcestershire, England. It was while living in Lutley that the LDS missionaries first made a visit. We do not know the conversion story but Herbert and his siblings joined the church. Martha joined 23 August 1867, Herbert 1 June 1881, George 22 August 1881, and Frank 2 June 1882. The 1871 English Census has the family still living in Lutley and Herbert listed as a scholar. The call to gather in Utah was strong enough that these four children made the venture. We don’t know if Stephen and Hannah came begrudgingly or not, but they joined some of their children in Utah. Unfortunately, the other children left in England we do not know where they went or what happened to them.
Herbert shows on the 1881 English Census in Dudley, Worcestershire, England as farm labor for the Doorbar family. Herbert appears to have boarded the Nevada in Liverpool arriving 3 July 1882 in New York City, New York. I cannot see that any siblings went with him on the trip. Stephen, Hannah, and Martha all traveled in 1890 (with Letitia Lea Willetts and her daughter Clara, and two known Frank and Mary Coleys). Stephen Coley was baptized 5 January 1892 and Hanna 26 October 1892 (same day she was endowed in the temple, so either that date is wrong or the prior record could not be found and the ordinance was duplicated. Hannah died 22 October 1894 in Franklin, then Oneida County, Idaho and was buried in Lewiston.
I don’t know any of the details of how they met, but the stars seem to have aligned in Richmond. However it happened, Herbert and Martha were married and sealed 1 December 1896 in Logan at the Temple. Herbert was a diligent laborer who would acquire full ownership in their home by 1910. Martha was a strict and involved homemaker and mother.
Herbert and Martha maintained their home, large garden, and raised 10 children. Lillian was born 26 August 1898 in Lewiston (listed in the Coveville Precinct, which is now the area of Cove). The 1900 Census on 9 June 1900 lists Herbert as a farm laborer with his immigration in 1881 and Martha’s in 1888. By 1910, the Census finds the family in Wheeler (about six miles west of Lewiston) where the home was owned outright. We don’t know exactly where the family lived. Edna was born 23 November 1900, Wilford Herbert 1 Mar 1903, Carrie 20 April 1906, and Hannah Marie 3 June 1909. Ole Christiansen passed away 27 February 1900 in Richmond and was buried there. Carrie is listed as born in Richmond, but we do not know the circumstances how she was born there instead of Wheeler/Lewiston. Hannah’s birth certificate lists Herbert as a farmer and Martha as housewife. The 1910 Census on 26 May 1910 shows Herbert as a Laborer and that he “Works Out.” Whatever that meant in 1910.
All the remaining children were born in Richmond. As such, it is likely at this time the family moved to the cabin south and east of Richmond estimated about 2016 E and 9000 N. I have tried to pinpoint where the cabin remains are still located. Here is a photo of the cabin from the 1980s. The 1920 Census on 16 January 1920 lists Herbert as a Farmer and Teamster with the additional insight of “Hauls Milk & Farms.” This same Census also lists Wilford as having his own Farm, but still living with his parents.
Coley Cabin near Richmond, Utah
It was in this house that the remaining children were born. Ivan Stephan on 26 June 1912, Roland Charles on 20 July 1915, Oley Lloyd on 11 February 1918, Arthur Christiansen on 15 July 1921, and William Golden on 22 January 1924. In 2012 the home had collapsed to a pile of rubble. It was after Ellis Jonas’ funeral we visited as family (Ellis is Lillian’s son). Ellis had taken me there about 2002. Stephen Coley died 22 October 1913 in Lewiston and was buried by his wife.
The 1930 Census taker showed up 15 April 1930 and shows the family in Richmond with Roland, Lloyd, Art, and Golden still in the home. The 1940 Census on 8 April 1940 has the family still in Richmond with Art and Golden the only two remaining.
Herbert and Martha Coley in the garden
Over the years, the family kept busy with marriages. Lillian married Joseph Nelson Jonas on 6 September 1917 in the Logan Temple. Edna married Gerald Andrus 17 April 1921 in Richmond and after a short marriage, divorced, and remarried to Olof Alma Neilson 23 July 1923 in Logan, sealed 30 July 1924 at the Logan Temple. Wilford married Edith Dagmar Cammack 15 May 1924 in Logan, sealed 3 June 1946 in Logan Temple. Carrie married Joseph Lorus McMurdie 21 July 1924 in Logan, sealed 21 October 1926 in Logan Temple. Hannah married William Surgeoner Thomson 2 July 1927 in Logan, sealed 14 June 1972 in Salt Lake Temple. Ivan married Clara McMurdie 22 October 1930 in Buhl, Twin Falls, Idaho, sealed 10 February 1932 in Logan Temple. Joseph Jonas passed away 6 September 1932 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. Constance Christiansen passed away 10 December 1932 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon and was buried there. Roland married Veda Anderson 5 May 1937 in Logan Temple. Lloyd married Verda Anderson (twin sister to Veda) 23 November 1938 in Logan Temple. Arthur married Gladys Bernice McMurdie (his niece!) 10 September 1940 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho, that marriage lasted a short time for hopefully obvious reasons. Arthur remarried to Mary Elizabeth Popwitz (his nephew’s WWII widow) 3 May 1946 in Evanston, Uinta, Wyoming. Golden married Shirley Mae Hall 15 March 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada, sealed 11 May 1965 in Logan. Many grandchildren were born in these years as well for Herbert and Martha.
Herbert and Martha Coley (I have the original of Martha, but not of Herbert, so I know it is still out there)
Recorded family stories are fairly scant. Nobody wrote much down and that generation was gone before many were asking questions. Ivan Coley told his daughter Colleen that Herbert was a short, very English man. Apparently Herbert met Wild Bill Hickok at one point and shared that fact regularly.
In 1942, Herbert went to visit Ivan and Clara in Buhl. I will have to find out if Martha was there as well. While out in the yard, I have been told by a well, or a trough, he slipped and broke his hip. There was not really much to do for someone in that condition then. He was in terrible pain. He was taken back to Richmond and passed away later of pneumonia. He died 7 September 1942 at age 78 (obituaries all have 75) and was buried in Richmond Cemetery 9 September 1942.
Martha Coley and Hannah Thomson in a garden, dresses and even a brooch
Martha moved into town shortly afterward. Various family members lived in the cabin when they started out their marriages. Martha’s new home was somewhere near 400 South and 200 East. With the new homes I cannot tell as well, but I have tried to pinpoint the spot. She lived in this home until she needed assistance and went to live with Lloyd and Veda in Salt Lake City. When they could not care for her any more, she then lived in a care facility in Logan the last months of her life.
5 generations about 1959, Lillian Coley Bowcutt, Martha Christiansen Coley, Joseph Hebert Jonas, Robert Lee Jonas, Joseph Leland Jonas.
In 1948, Martha was honored for successfully Relief Society Teaching for more than 40 years. Here is a photo from that occasion. You can find more detail here.
Back (l-r): Lydia Leavitt, Estella Blair, Sarah Preece, Susanna Allen, Livinia Wilcox, Clara Wheeler. Front: Lavina Poulsen, Christensia Hansen, Martha Coley, Martha Lewis, Sarah Snelgrove.
Unfortunately I do not have a many more stories. But I do have a few more photos. We have these two photos of a gathering about 1950.
Back(l-r): Doreen Neilson, Martha Coley, Golden Coley, Edna Neilson, Unknown, Gloria Neilson holding unknown child, Olof Neilson. Middle: Shirley Coley, Joy Coley (baby), Mary Coley,
Mary (holding Joy), Shirley, Doreen, Unknown, Martha, Edna, Gloria
This wonderful family reunion picture from 1955. I have linked the other post sharing the other photo. That link also names everyone in the photo. Martha is sitting surrounded by her grandchildren and children.
1955 Coley Reunion, Richmond, Utah
Herbert’s obituary in the Salt Lake Telegram on 8 September 1942 reads:
“Richmond, Cache County – Funeral Services for Herbert Coley, 75, who died at his home in Richmond Monday at 7:45 a.m. following a brief illness will be conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Richmond South L.D.S. ward chapel by E. M. Hicken, Bishop.
“Mr. Coley was born in England on February 12, 1867, a son of Stephen and Hannah Rogers Coley. In 1885, at the age of 16, he immigrated to the United States.
“On December 1, 1896, he married Martha Christiansen in the Logan L.D.S. temple. He was a prominent farmer in the Richmond district.
“Surviving are his widow of Richmond, 10 sons and daughters, Mrs. Lillian Jonas, Ms. Edna Nielsen and William Golden Coley of Richmond, Wilford Herbert Coley of Logan, Ms. Hannah Thomson and Lloyd Coley of Salt Lake City, Ms. Carrie McMurdie, Ivan, Roland and Arthur Coley, all of Buhl, Idaho, 37 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Martha France of Richmond.
Lillian, Edna, Martha (sitting) Coley in the 1940’s
“Friends Pay Tribute to Richmond Man
“Funeral Services for Herbert Coley, 75, prominent Richmond farmer who died at his home in Richmond, Monday at 7:45 a.m. following a brief illness, were conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Richmond South ward chapel by Bishop E. M. Hicken.
The rest of the article follows nearly verbatim what the Salt Lake obituary listed, then this line.
“Burial was in the Richmond cemetery under direction of the W. Loyal Hall mortuary.
Martha Christiansen Coley very small picture enlarged
Martha Coley and Scotty
Martha Coley serious
Martha Coley smile
Martha passed away in Logan at age 82 on 14 August 1961. Here is the language from her obituary and an article of the funeral. She was buried in Richmond 17 August 1961.
“Richmond – Martha Christensen Coley, 82, died at a rest home in Logan Monday of causes incident to age. “She was born April 16, 1879 in Norway to Ole and Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen Christensen. When she was eight years old she came with her parents to America. “On December 1, 1896 in Logan she married Herbert Coley. The marriage was solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple in 1900. They made their home in Lewiston and Richmond. She was always active in the LDS church, especially as a Relief Society block teacher. Mr. Coley died September 7, 1942. “Surviving are Mrs. Lorenzo (Lillian) Bowcutt and Mrs. Edna Neilsen, Richmond; Wilford H. Coley, Logan; Mrs. William (Hannah) Thompson and Lloyd O. Coley, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Lars (Carrie) McMurdie and Ivan S. Coley, Buhl, Idaho; Roland Coley, Mesa, Arizona; Arthur C. Coley, Ogden; William G. Coley, Hyrum; a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Richmond South Ward with Bishop Oral Ballam in charge. “Friends may call at Hall Mortuary in Logan Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and at the South Ward chapel Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until time of services. Burial will be in the Richmond Cemetery.
“Funeral services were held in the Richmond South Ward chapel Thursday for Mrs. Martha C. Coley with Counselor Quentin Peart conducting. Lloyd Coley gave the family prayer. “Prelude and postlude music was played by Reese Murray. The ward chorus directed by Mrs. Florence Lewis with Mrs. Billie Lou Bagley as accompanist sang “The Lord’s Prayer.” Ila Rae Richman and company sang “That Wonderful Mother of Mine.” Mrs. Florence Lewis and Mrs. Rebecca Lewis sang “In the Garden,” and Ronnie Lewis sang “Beyond the Sunset.” “Prayers were by William Thomson and Larus McMurdie. Speakers were Mrs. Leona McCarrey who read the obituary, Noel Stoddard and Counselor Peart. Pallbearers were her six sons, Wilford, Ivan, Roland, Lloyd, Arthur and Golden Coley. The grave in Richmond Cemetery was dedicated by Joseph Jonas. Flowers were cared for by the Relief Society.
~
I have written previously about the video that came from the funeral and graveside service of Martha. In that post I walk through the video and the identified individuals. It also scans the 10 children standing in the cemetery. This photo below is of the same instant.
Art, Golden, Wilfred, Roland, Lloyd, Edna, Hannah, Carrie, Lillian, Ivan at their mother’s grave in Richmond, Utah
I hope some day I obtain more photos to share of Herbert and Martha.
This photo is one of the photos I scanned that belong to Mel and Colleen Todd of Buhl, Idaho. On the back is written Ray King of Castleford.
Asked about Ray King, he said Ray’s sister Clois King was in his grade and Ray King was a year older. Lived on the southwest edge of Castleford. Said they were both really nice people, even as kids.
When I had researched Ray King in 2014 and a couple of times since, nothing seemed to match up. Well, time gets us all and he passed earlier this year. As far as I can tell, Clois is still alive.
Ray Clifton King was born 6 January 1928 in Castleford, Twin Falls, Idaho. He married Margaret Blanche Inama 2 July 1951 in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho. She passed away in 2015. Ray passed away 29 April 2021 in Payson, Utah, Utah. He is buried by his wife in Cherokee Memorial, Lodi, San Joaquin, California,
Buhl School, 5th Grade, 1947-48, Alice Blayney teacher, Bud Coley is in front row, fourth from left
This photo is from Colleen Coley Todd. She lives in Buhl and is my cousin through the Coley line.
I thought I better share it in hopes we might be able to name some more of the individuals in the photo. Any information I get I would be happy to add and update. I would anticipate most of these kids were born in 1935-1936.
I know two of the people in the photo. The name of the teacher, Alice Blayney, caught my eye. I have been involved in some Blayney litigation in Minidoka County for 4 years now. I was curious if she was related.
Alice Marguerite Blayney was born 3 July 1923 in Acequia, Minidoka, Idaho. She later married Allen Lester McCain (1913 – 1994) 21 June 1953 in Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho.
She is the older sister of William Donald Blayney (1930 – 2014). I am the Personal Representative of Donald Blayney and his wife Irene Vilhauer Blayney (1926 – 2015). I am still in that probate on an appellate level and now defending a separate litigation in relation to the Probate. How is that for a small world?
Front row, fourth from the left in the black sweater is Lorus “Bud” Ivan Coley (1936 – 1962). He is the reason Colleen has the picture as it is her brother. He was born 1 August 1936 in Buhl, Twin Falls, Idaho and died 23 October 1962 in what may or may not be a hunting accident in Twin Falls County mountains.
This is a photo of the Paul Hotel in Paul, Minidoka County, Idaho.
Paul was platted in 1905 as part of the Minidoka Reclamation Project. The town was named after Charles H. Paul, the Minidoka Dam’s chief engineer.
By 1907 the Minidoka and Southwestern Railroad Company, acquired by Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1910, completed a 75 mile spur from Minidoka through Rupert, Paul, Twin Falls, Filer, and ending at Buhl.
The railroad crossed the land belonging in Paul by the name of James Ellis.
James donated land generously for the new little city.
Frank A Grimm and Ludwig Alexander Grimm are the two brothers credited with building the Paul Hotel for $70,000. He started as a photographer and opened a gallery in Mount Angel, Oregon. He later moved to Portland and became a motorman for the for the city railroad. He moved to Paul in 1916 and then assisted in building the Hotel Paul. He managed the Hotel until 1 June 1919 when he leased it.
The Hotel was a popular location as it had indoor plumbing, which was a novel idea for a hotel at that time.
Here is a picture of Paul from the water tower. You can see the writing on the photo of the hotel and at the end of Idaho Street the school that burned in 1977.
Paul, Idaho from water tower
I don’t know why, but eventually the entire second story was removed from the building. It remains that way to today, February 2018.
The windows in the front of the building are now all bricked. Mustang Sally’s, a club, was located in the right side of the building and now has a painting of “Sinister” as a DJ on the end. I am not aware of a business operating int he building right now. It does appear that a family are living in at least part of the building.
As a kid I remember being intrigued by the bank drop-box that was on the east end of the building. That box has been removed and the hole bricked in. I have never been in any part of the building. Since it is beside the Post Office, I am around the building on a regular basis.
A relic of the times, I doubt we will see any renovation or reinvention of the building. But it will probably eventually be demolished and lost to time.
Here is a history of Pet milk published in the Northside Journal in Jerome, Idaho. It provides some history of Pet Milk, aka Sego Milk. They also had a plant in Richmond, Utah, which is where my Grandfather, Norwood Jonas worked until it closed about 1967.
Pet Evaporated Milk
Buhl, ID
Compiled by Earl Gilmartin
Condensed History Pet Evaporated Milk Corporation
1885- It started with an idea of canning as a preservative in the small town of Highland, Illinois. After a $15,000 investment the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company was born (later to be renamed PET).
1895 – After overcoming a number of growing pains, more than half the company’s sales were in the West. The “Our PET” trademark is registered and becomes the official name for the company’s leading brand.
American fighting troops with a safe and convenient source of milk in Spanish-American War. At war’s end, the troops scattered home across the U.S. and many, remembering the high quality milk, brought it home to their families.
1914 – Once again, the U.S. government places large orders of PET to supply U.S. troops fighting overseas in World War I.
1929 – In the midst of the Great Depression PET becomes an important staple to American families and is able to expand its service to consumers with the creation of original recipes using PET products.
1941 – Again, PET is called upon to supply GIs fighting in World War II, as well as the citizens at home. More recipes, specifically designed with rationing limitations in mind are created to help families get a wholesome diet.
1950 – the combination of post-war prosperity and a baby boom result in more cans of PET Milk being sold than any other time in company’s 65-year history. PET also establishes its own test kitchens to develop and test new products and recipes.
1966 – PET began making “better for you” products including a Skimmed Milk and a 99% Fat Free Evaporated Skim Milk.
Today – PET Evaporated Milk continues to be a staple in millions of homes and is used in many different homes and is used in many different recipes, from main dishes, to soups, desserts and more.
We invite you to try the recipes on this site to create sensational food for your family!
Early History Pet Evaporated Milk
John Baptist Meyenberg (1847-1914) was an operator at the Anglo-Swiss milk condenser at Cham, Switzerland. Anglo-Swiss made sweetened condensed milk.
From 1866 through 1883, Meyenberg experimented with preservation of milk without the use of sugar. He discovered that condensed milk would last longer if heated to 120 C (248 F) in a sealed container, and hence could be preserved without adding sugar. When Anglo-Swiss declined to implement Meyenberg’s work, he resigned from the company and emigrated to the United States. John Meyenbert first moved to St. Louis, but soon transferred to Highland, Illinois , due to its large Swiss population. On 25 November 1884, U.S. Patents 308,421 (Apparatus for Preserving Milk) and 308,422 (Process for Preserving Milk) were issued to Meyenberg. Meyenburg associated with various local merchants, including John Wildi, Louis Latzer, Dr. Knoebel, George Roth and Fred Kaeser and, on February 14, 1885, organized the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company. In 1899, Meyenberg assisted Elbridge Amos Stuart in producing Carnation Evaporated Milk.
John Wildi was instrumental in marketing the product nationally and internationally, especially in areas where fresh milk or refrigeration were scarce. In 1895, the company registered the Pet trademark.
The Sterling company of Twin Falls leases the Buhl Creamery facility for one year. TFTN 11-11-1911
A transaction of importance to the dairymen of Buhl county was consummated on Saturday afternoon of last week when the Sterling Creamery Co of Twin Falls, secured by lease for a period of one year, the plant, business and good will of the Buhl Creamery, Milk Condensing, Cheese Manufacturing company of this city. The consideration was highly satisfactory and most remunerative to the local company, guaranteeing, as it does, a substantial market, paying a liberal consideration for the business and being in effect for a period of only one year.
Early History Pet Evaporated Milk
Funding universe
During the Spanish-American and First World wars, the U.S. government ordered huge supplies of evaporated milk, spurring Helvetia to build a second plant in Greenville, Illinois. By 1918 the company had a total of ten production sites in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. As World War I ended, Helvetia closed plants due to oversupply, reluctantly pulling out of western markets. Latzer sold the excess milk to St. Louis businessmen, who turned to him in 1920 when a strike by the local milk producers association limited the brokers’ supplies. The St. Louis strikers also convinced the Highland area farmers to strike, however , and Latzer was forced to close the plant.
By early 1921, Latzer’s son John ran Helvetia from its reestablied headquarters in nearby St. Louis. In 1923, Helvetica was renamed Pet Milk Company, after its best-selling evaporated milk brand.
Health & Home TFTN 7-3-1925
Many people are wont to confuse evaporated and condensed milk, but there is no similarity between the two. Condensed milk is a combination of sugar and milk and can be used only when both of these substances are desired. Evaporated milk is with about sixty per cent of the water removed and the nutrients content left intact.
Pet evaporated milk manufactured in Buhl, & other locations in the United States at the turn of the century.
Six Tons of Milk Received each day by Buhl Dairy Plant
TFDaily News 10-29-1927
About 12,000 lb of milk per day is being received at the Sego condenser which when evaporated makes 5760 tall cans. The product is being stored for the present at the plant.
Pet Milk became traded on the NY Stock exchange 1928
Funding Universe Our Dairy Industry TFIT 6-11-1929 aka Twin Falls Idaho Times
The phenomenal increase in dairying in Idaho is vividly set forth by figures just made public by Idaho Chamber of Commerce in its organization publication for June. Evaporated milk production in 1928 was 1,585,000 lbs, a gain of more then 4,000,000 lbs over 1927.
Employment for Additional 20 Seen; Better Times Indicated
TFIT 5-23-1933 aka Twin Falls Idaho Times
J Frank Smith field director and former manager of the Buhl plant, with E G Meyer production manager, have been supervising the overhauling of the machinery preparatory to opening the condensery. Floyd Englen, local manger, stated about 20 persons will be added to the pay roll.
The opening of the Buhl plant in addition to furnishing added employment will also serve as an outlet for the West End dairy products.
Pet Milk bought Sego Milk Products out of Salt Lake city in 1925, to expand it’s market.
Pet Evaporated Milk Peaked in 1950.
Funding Universe
After World War II Pet Milk began a slight movement into other markets. The company became the first to offer nonfat dry milk, and advance over the powdered milk developed in the 1920s. Sales soared due to the post-war baby boom, making 1950 the all-time-high sales year for Pet Evaporated Milk. Soon thereafter, fresh milk became readily available, however, and sales began a steady decline.
Pet Evaporated Milk diversifies in 1960’s
Funding Universe
Through restructuring, Pet Milk corporate reduced committee numbers, initiated a profit-centered divisional structure, and recruited marketing professionals. The company also planned new product development to wean itself from the declining milk market (as late as 1960, 95 percent of Pet Milk sales were in dairy products). By the early 1960s, diversification had begun in earnest.
Another of Pet Milk’s successful products at this time was Sego Liquid Diet Food, introduced in 1961. After competitors had opened up a market, Pet Milk brought in its own version, a thicker, high-protein drink available in variety of flavors. By 1965 Sego brought in $22 million to the company’s Milk Products Division sales.
In 1966, in order to reflect its enlarged and diversified product line, Pet Milk changed its name to Pet Incorporated.
Funding for these acquisitions came largely from a special credit Pet obtained through the sale of its portion of General Milk Co., a joint venture
Buhl Evaporated Milk to Close (1995 TFTN)
The bulk of this article is based on TFTN articles.
Buhl’s evaporated milk plant – which has provided Magic Valley jobs for 68 years will close June 20. Pillsbury Co executives told 64 workers Thursday morning that they’re shutting the plant which produces evaporated milk as a cost saving measure.
That means 300,000 fewer gallons of milk will be passing through Buhl each day. And a plant that each day produced 5000 cases of canned milk will be vacant. Eventually, the plant will be sold.
Evaporated milk production will shift to a company cannery in Greeneville, TN. But chances are slim that displaced workers will get to follow their jobs back East.
Many of you know I continue to roam the country looking for family photographs. I often whisk a photo album away from an owner for a week or two so I can hopefully preserve the photos digitally. As I do so, often those photo albums contain photos of other families not linked to my own, but linked to the individual who often begrudgingly allowed me to borrow a sacred treasure with a high degree of trust.
I borrowed an album from Colleen Coley Todd of Buhl, Twin Falls, Idaho. I have written of her parents, Ivan and Clara Coley and her relationship to me. Found within her photo albums are pictures of her husband, Melvin “Mel” George Todd, and his family.
This photo is of Mel’s grandfather AW Todd, Albert W (William?) Todd, born 8 October 1875 in Clarkrange, Fentress, Tennessee and died 27 September 1962 in Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington.
AW Todd
Click on the picture, I scanned it at a higher resolution. This photo tells us so very much, yet we know so little. That is a cow tied in the trailer, not just tied, but somehow loosely tied down. As if the cow was going to bounce out. A truck with a wagon behind it, extra length tongue. What model is the truck? Did he work for a dairy?
The back of the photo has this written, “George Todd, 441 Teton Drive, Jerome, ID 83338, Man by truck is AW Todd.” At least we know that was written after the early 1960s since that was when zip codes were put in place. George Todd is AW’s son.
At any rate, a fascinating find. Whether taken in Idaho or Washington, it tells its own story. I can saw that AW Todd lived in Tennessee in 1910 and in Twin Falls County in 1920 and 1930, which is the likely location of the photo.
Ivan Coley, Rulon McMurdie, Albert Wakley, and Jess Holmes
EMPLOYEE RETIRES – Albert Wakely, second from the right, a Buhl city employee for the past 19 years, retired Thursday of last week at the age of 65 years and in recognition of his great loyalty and longtime work on the city crew, his fellow employees held a coffee hour in his honor at the city hall and presented him with a gift of a jacket. Albert will receive social security benefits as well as payments from the State Employees Retirement fund. He plans to do a lot of fishing, his favorite sport, in his retirement. Pictured with Albert above are Ivan Coley and Rulon McMurdie, two fellow-workers at the left, and Jess Holmes, city maintenance superintendent on the right. (Buhl Herald staff photo).
As you can see this photo has the date Dec 7th 1967 written on it.
A clipping in the collection of Colleen Coley Todd.
Ivan Stephen Coley (1912-1994)
James Rulon McMurdie (1912-1993)
Albert Nathan Wakley (1902 – 1982), I know, the name appears to be misspelled in the newspaper article, poor guy.
Sagacity 