|
|
 |
Joseph A. Clark
1900-1902
Return to top. |
A surveyor and civil engineer, he came to Eagle Rock with his wife, Eunice, in 1885, and helped lay out the town site. He helped establish the newspaper, The Times, and served on the school board. He envisioned a municipally-owned water system in Idaho Falls. In 1901 the city built its first power plant, with a 125 horsepower generator. His sons Barzilla and Chase both served as Mayors of Idaho Falls and as Idaho Governors. |
 |
Bowen Curley
1902-1903
1912-1913
Return to top. |
Born in Wisconsin May 31, 1845, he brought his wife Kate and their 3-year-old daughter to Idaho Falls in 1892, where he established a private bank. The bank later was chartered in 1903 as the American National Bank. By lending money, he enabled farmers and small businesses get started. His wife was a founder of the Village Improvement Society (VIS) and on the school board. After her death in 1903 he developed Kate Curley Park in her honor. During his 2nd term as Mayor (1912) the city built the main power house on the river banks. Bowen Curley died June 28, 1932 |
 |
Alvin T. Shane
1903-1904
Return to top. |
A progressive businessman, he built and managed the Shane Apartments on Memorial Drive and the Shane building which housed downtown businesses and professional offices. A native of Wisconsin, he came to Idaho Falls in its early days and was appointed Postmaster in 1908. During his nine years as Postmaster, the Federal Building was built (1914) on Park Avenue and C Street. As an officer of Farmers and Merchants Bank, he served as Director of the Club of Commerce, forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce, and as President of the School Board. He helped develop the Osgood area. During his term as Mayor he developed streets, sewers, and electricity. He and his wife, Leonora, resided many years in Idaho Falls. He died in San Diego, California in 1950. |
| No Picture available |
E.P. Coltman
1903-1904
1909-1910
Return to top. |
Edward Philip Coltman, known as "E.P.", was a businessmen who organized the Coltman Lumber Company. Born in Pennsylvania in 1869, he had worked as a telegraph operator and railroad agent, before transferring to Eagle Rock where he served as Postmaster from 1894-1897. He was active in politics and lodges. His daughters Mabel and Alice sang for local events, particularly at special Catholic services. During his administration as Mayor, streets and sidewalks on Broadway were improved. In 1907 the first Broadway bridge to line up with Broadway was built; it lasted until 1930 when it was moved to span John's Hole. He died in Office September 1, 1910. His widow Marie resided in their home at 387 North Water Avenue. |
 |
D.G. Platt
1907-1909
Return to top. |
Dwight Gilbert Platt was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1862 and died December 29, 1912 in the company of his wife and daughter in Long Beach, California, while visiting for his health. He had lived in Idaho Falls about 20 years, serving two terms as City Clerk, including three years under Mayor Coltman, whom he defeated for mayor by eight votes in 1907. He proclaimed a business holiday on February 18, 1908 to celebrate the advent of the new lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Following his term as mayor he served on a special sewer committee, which supervised laying new sewers. |
 |
Louis Elg
1910-1911
Return to top. |
When Mayor E.P. Coltman died in September 1910, longtime City Councilman Louis Elg was elected by the council to serve as Mayor until the city election in April 1911. Born in Sweden in 1853, he came with his family from Kansas to Eagle Rock seeking a new frontier. His wife Charlotte, died in 1905. As a pioneer businessman he operated a drug store on Eagle Rock Street. He dies August 26, 1926, and was buried in Rose Hill cemetery |
 |
Barzilla W. Clark
1913-1915
1927-1936
Return to top. |
He was born December 22, 1881 at Hadley, Indiana. He came to Eagle Rock in May 1885 with his parents, Joseph and Eunice Clark. He married Ethel Salome in Idaho Falls. Living in Idaho Falls and Lost River Valley, he was a cattle buyer, beet farmer, prospector, and manager of the Thousand Springs Land and Irrigation Company. He served on the City Council, 1908-1912, and was the President of the City Council and Chairman of Electricity and Water Committee, which built the dam and power plant on the river. During his six terms as Mayor, Idaho Falls, got its deep well, city hall, Pinecrest Golf Course, the Northgate Mile, city sewer, and the original airport landing strip. He donated land next to the Westbank that became the nucleus of the greenbelt project. During the depression years Idaho Falls, with its income from municipally owned utilities, moved forward. Re-elected Mayor in 1927, he served until 1936 when he was elected Governor. As Governor, he was a champion of Idaho potatoes. Barzilla died on September 21, 1943 |
 |
George W. Edgington
1915-1917
Return to top. |
Born May 4, 1886, in Coalville, Utah, he came to Idaho Falls in his youth with his parents and began his career as a clerk for the Anderson Brothers stores. He earned a law degree, served as the State Representative and Senator, and was the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge. During his tenure as Mayor the old horse-driven fire engine was retired and the new motorized engine was purchased. The lower level of Rose Hill cemetery was purchased, extending the cemetery. He was Mayor when World War I broke out and resigned his office to enlist in the Army, becoming an officer. Edgington also served as Bonneville County Prosecutor and District Judge. As County Attorney he ruled out gambling and gambling devices and branded slot machines as "one0armed bandits". He and his wife, Marion, resided on D Street when he died September 9, 1941. |
 |
H.W. Kiefer
Acting Mayor 1917
Return to top. |
Councilman H.W. Kiefer acted as Mayor from August 1917 until January 1918. He had come to Idaho in 1878 with a railroad tie company, married Melissa White in 1880, and located near Eagle Rock about the year 1883. He planted an fruit orchard, and was an early leader in developing irrigation of the Snake River. He was one of the first Bingham County Assessors, when the county was comprised of all territory from the Utah line to the Montana line. He served as County Sheriff, Registrar of the U.S. Land Office and several years as the Postmaster. He served two terms as State Senator.
Kiefer was born March 18, 1851 in Alleghany, Pennsylvania of German parentage. He died January 5, 1937 in Blackfoot.
|
 |
Ralph A. Louis
1918-1919
1921-1927
Return to top. |
Born in Chicago in 1862, he came to Idaho Falls in 1906 from Butte Montana, where he had been a businessman. He associated with William Luxton in a butcher shop, and later operated his own shop. He then continued working as an auditor. In 1917 he was elected to the City Council. He was chosen Mayor in January 1918 to fill the term of Mayor Edgington, then was re-elected in 1921, 1923 and 1925. While he was Mayor the city installed another turbine and an oil-burning diesel engine. He was active in local politics until the death of his wide Sara, in 1931. He died at his home on North Water in 1941. |
 |
W.A. Bradbury
1919-1921
Return to top. |
Born in Illinois in 1859, Bradbury and his wife, Mary, came to Idaho Falls from Nebraska in 1902. He served as State Senator, member of the City Council and also the School Board. He was President of the Bonneville Abstract Company, and a member of the Rotary Club. During his term as Mayor, the city removed the first two units of the power plant and put in two modern turbines, producing 1700 horse power. He died April 16, 1926 in Idaho Falls. |
 |
R.B. Ewart
1936-1937
Return to top. |
After Barzilla Clark resigned to serve as Governor of Idaho, Rodney B. "Whitney" Ewart, a City Councilman, finished his term from January until April 1936, then was elected to one term.
Born in 1884 in Worth County, Missouri, Ewart came to Idaho Falls in 1914 and was married in 1917 to Ida Elizabeth Smith. He was a building contractor, and is credited with building many of the downtown business buildings and fine homes. He was a member of the Idaho Falls City Council from 1927 to 1934. During this time he was instrumental in the project of building City Hall. He supported new industry and selected a committee to study the feasibility of constructing the Palisades Reservoir. He died May 28, 1973. |
 |
Chase A. Clark
1937-1940
Return to top. |
Born in Amo, Indiana on August 20, 1883, he came to Eagle Rock with his parents a year later. He practiced law in Mackay, Custer County from 1904 until 1930. He was elected a State Representative in 1913. Chas was a lieutenant in the Army during a Mexican border conflict in 196 and helped integrate the Idaho National Guard in to the U.S. Army during World War II. He was married in Mackay to Jean Burnett. They has two sons and a daughter, Jean Bethine, wife of Senator Frank Church.
Moving to Idaho Falls in 1930, he succeeded jos brother Barzilla Clark both as Mayor of Idaho Falls (1937-1940) and as Governor of Idaho (1941-1943). AS Mayor he encourage the L.D.S. Church to build its temple in the city. IN 1943 he was appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and retired in May, 1964. He died in Boise on December 29, 1966. |
 |
Edward W. Fanning
1940-1949
Return to top. |
The first native of Idaho Falls to be Mayor, he was born in Eagle Rock in 1889, and married Ethel Robinson in 1909. He began as City Councilman in 1927, then became Mayor when Chase Clark was elected Governor. Fanning was elected and re-elected to serve seven terms as Mayor, 1940-1949 and 1951-1956. During this time the Idaho Falls airport was dedicated, and later named Fanning Field in his honor. He furthered the Palisades Dam project and was prominent in the Catholic Church, giving assistance for the building of the Holy Rosary Grade School and Church, and the Sacred Heart Hospital. He died March 29, 1956. |
 |
Thomas L. Sutton
1949-1951
Return to top. |
Arriving in Idaho Falls from the Paris-Fish Haven area by train in 1917, he found employment at Anderson and Sons Lumber Company. Soon after his arrival he departed to serve in World War ! in the U.S. Marine Corps. He married Idaho Falls native, Jennie Seedall. He then went into the grocery business. He served 16 years on the City Council before being elected as Mayor.
During his term as Mayor the Atomic Energy Commission established its first offices in the Idaho Falls City Building. The Civic Auditorium became a reality; the Public Library and Airport grew. He died in 1979. |
 |
John B. Rogers
1956-1959
Return to top. |
When Mayor Fanning died in office, Councilman John Rogers was appointed to fill his position, then was elected as Mayor for another term.
Born in Idaho Falls, he grew up and attended schools in Idaho Falls, graduating from Idaho Falls High School, where he was the drum major for the marching and concert bands. He attended the University of Idaho. He was married to Margaret Faith Shattuck of Idaho Falls. He served in the Army, then enlisted in the Navy during World War II. Upon his return he joined with his father-in-law, Earl L. Shattuck in the Shattuck Insurance Agency.
Active in civic affairs, he served as President of the 20-30 Club (Jaycees), as Commander of American Legion, in the Rotary Club, Elks and Masonic Lodge. He served several years as the City Councilman under Mayors Sutton and Fanning before becoming mayor. He became a counselor for alcoholic rehabilitation. He died December 13, 1978. |
 |
William J. O'Bryant
1959-1963
Return to top. |
William Jackson "Jack" O'Bryant was born December 19, 1893 in Union County, Oregon and grew up on a farm. IN 1918 he and his bride, Zora Haws, moved to Tetonia, Idaho. He was employed by the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company in Utah; Alberta, Canada, and South Dakota. In 1947 he became Idaho Area District Manager and was permanently located in Idaho Falls.
Just prior to his retirement from U & I Sugar Co., he was elected mayor. During his second term the state legislature enacted a law changing the beginning of the term from May 1 to January 1, so he served four years and eight months. He served on the National Airport Committee, the Bonneville Power Advisory Council, and American Municipal Association. During his term in office the city acquired the Smith Hart auto dealership property, which now houses the City Engineering Department; and acquired the area which serves as the Sandcreek Golf Course and Sandy Downs rodeo grounds. He served in Boy Scouts, the Bonneville County Fair Boar, as President of the Idaho Falls L.D.S. Stake and head librarian of the Idaho Falls L.D.S. Genealogical Library. He died in 1988. |
 |
S. Eddie Pedersen
1964-1977
Return to top. |
Born in Idaho Falls January 12, 1909, he was an active lifelong conservationist and sportsman. He served 14 years as Mayor. He was a partner in the tailor shop owned by his father, Peder Pedersen; after Peder's death Eddie and his brother Einer consolidated the tailor shop with Paramount Cleaners.
During his administration, the Idaho Falls Municipal Airport was improved. Among his many offices, he served as President of the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, Director and President of the Bonneville Sportmen's Association, member of the Magistrate Commission of the 7th Judicial District, Idaho Park Foundation , and the Association of Idaho Cities. He died in Idaho Falls in December 1986, survived by his wife, LaVera and their two children. |
 |
Thomas V. Campbell
1978-1993
Return to top. |
Born October 5, 1936 in Rigby, Tom Campbell became an educator, earning a doctorate in Educational Administration. He was a teacher and a principal, both in elementary and secondary schools. A graduate of Idaho Falls High School, he was married to Beverly Allgood.
Campbell was elected Mayor for four four-year terms. He governed the city longer than any previous Mayor. Among the highlights of his administration were hydro projects, airport expansion, a swimming pool, street improvements, parks and greenbelt development, a Senior Citizen's center, fire stations and paramedics, and the Bonneville Museum. He retired in August 1993 to become Superintendent of schools for Bonneville School District #93. |
 |
Linda Milam
1994-
Return to top. |
When Mayor Campbell resigned to become School Superintendent, Mel Erickson, City Councilman, acted as mayor from August to December 1993.
Linda Milam of the City Council was elected new Mayor on November 2, 1993. Active in public affairs, she was employed by EG&G Idaho office of Waste Technology Development. |
|
UCon Mainstreet 