Introduction

Harold Forbush Oral Interview Transcriptions; MSSI 50 

Collection Processed by: Joel Miyasaki

Register Created by: Joel Miyasaki

Date: September 24, 2003

 

Edited by: Derek Abbott

Date: March 10, 2009

For more detailed information about this manuscript, click here.

 

Biographical Sketch of Harold Forbush

Harold Sanford Forbush was born on December 2, 1921, in the small community of Driggs, Idaho. He was the first son of his parents, Elmer and Blanche Forbush. At age eleven, Forbush lost his sight in a tragic hatchet accident, and subsequently attended the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind at Gooding, Idaho. Graduating from high school in Sugar City, Idaho, Forbush continued his education at Idaho State University and then at the University of Idaho. Forbush graduated from the University of Idaho Law School in 1949 and was admitted to the Idaho Bar Association in the same year. He practiced law in Driggs while also serving as the Teton County Attorney until 1973. In 1973, Forbush was appointed as the magistrate over Madison County and he continued in this capacity until his retirement in 1985.

 

Being blind, Forbush became an excellent and detailed listener. He was passionate about collecting and preserving the history of Southeast Idaho. Forbush traveled extensively all over the Upper Snake River Valley and recorded his conversations with prominent individuals of the communities. He is known as one of the greatest and most prolific oral historians in Idaho. The results of Forbush's interviews have led to the publication of several books, such as Education in the Upper Snake River Valley, The Idaho Falls LDS Hospital, Pioneering the Snake River Fork Country, and History of Teton Valley, Idaho. In retirement, Forbush has moved around the Snake River Valley but he has continued to play a major historical role as an active member of the Upper Snake River Historical Society.

 

Scope and Content

This collection is the result of on ongoing joint effort between the BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives and the Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society. These two organizations are pooling their resources in order to transcribe a large collection of Harold Forbush’s interviews in the series he titled Oral History of the Snake River Valley. These transcriptions represent a panorama of Southeast Idaho’s social, religious, and political history. Of particular interest are the interviews that address the lives of minorities and the disabled.

 

The collection is organized according to the numbering system used on Judge Forbush’s original tapes. As the transcription process continues, the hope is to insert the new transcriptions within the same numbering system.

 

Inventory

Box 1: Voices From The Past

Folders:

1. Taylor Brothers Raising Sheep: Gordon B. Taylor

2. Mail Delivery Ashton, Id- West Yellowstone: A. C. Nichols

3. The Assessor of Madison County: Benjamin E. Summers

4a. The Spanish Speaking People Among Us: Agustin Gutierrez

4b. Mexicans and Spanish Speaking: Hermilo Chavez

4c. Navajo Indians: Alice Juaniqua Chee

5. Blind of Eastern Idaho: Alma B. Larson

6. Settlement of the Upper Snake River Valley: Carl Johnson

7. Life Devoted to Public Service: William Hansen

8. Henry's Lake Area 1910-35: William and Bertie Rayburn

9. Newspaper Work in Sugar City: Nettie Garner

10a. Johnson's Settlement: James Johnson

10b. Biographical Sketch: Louisa Tempest Anderson

11. Life in the Ricks and Smellie Family: Ruth Ricks

12. History of Beaver Dick: Vera Baldwin

13a. The Settling of Presto Idaho: Agnes Reid

13b. Preston, Idaho: Elvin W. Henninger

14. Governorship and Politics in Idaho: Robert Smylie

15. J. Earl Garner : J. Earl Garner

16. Rexburg Postal Services: Cyral A. Watson

17. Oswald J. and Myrtle Munns Neeley

18. Stage Coaches in the Park: Ira A. Stanton Howard

19. Oliver Kingsbury Meservy

20. W. Ernest Murri

21. Changing the Landscape: Lowell R. Barrick

22. Ward Willard Reynolds

23. Early School Teaching: Andrew Anderson Nelson

24a-d. Fremont County Journal, Issue May 30, 1900 Part 1 and 2 Read by: Dori Palmer, Louis J. Clements and Florence Forbush

25a. Gravity Flow Sprinkler Irrigation: Melvin W. Burgner

25b. Sprinkler Irrigation Systems: Keith B. Blackburn

26. History of Mud Lake: Mildred Stayley and Joe Hartwell

27. Grace Christian School: Pastor Jerry and Gail James

28. Art & Artists: Oliver Parson

29. Carier Home and Rance in Madison County: Royal Sorensen

30. Impact of Depression on Sugar City: Norma and Cleo Browning

31a & b. U.P.R.R. Yellowstone Branch and Mountain West Bark, Inc.: Dean L. Palmer

32. Boxing and Wrestling: Gordon Dixon

33. Bee Keeping: Rowlee Nef Smart

34. Blacksmithing: Roy Cole

35. Orderville Utah: Kirsten Marie Jensen

36. Eagle Rock: Fred W. Keefer

37. Taxidermy: Frank Keefer

38. Community of Ora: George & Lilia W. Nedrow

39. Clementsville, Idaho: William & Myrtle W. Ard, Elsie A. Peterson

40a. Bates, Idaho: Roy Wood

40b. Market Lake, Idaho: Rank Lauder & Conn Englund

41a. Biographical Sketch: George F. Rudd

41b. Rigby, Idaho: Omar Cordon

42. Department of Horticulture of Ricks College: Kim Black

43. Sugar City: William and Douglas Pincock

44a. Biographical Sketch: Royal M. Jeppeson

44b. Biographical Sketch: Thomas M. Bassette

45a. School Teachers and Schools in Madison County: Blanche H. Hendricks

45b. Hibbard, Idaho: Elmer Hendricks

46a. Farming in Archer, Idaho: Dewey S. Niederer

46b. Memories of Rexburg: Earl S Paul

47. The Hess Heritage Museum: Mary & Dan Hess

48. Living Experiences in Fremont, Madison, and Teton Counties: Clendon Edgar Gee

49. Agricultural Department of Ricks College: Jerry J. Halterman

50a. Biographical Sketch: Joseph Hyrum Smith

50b. Biographical Sketch: George S. & Mildred Tanner

51a. Biographical Sketch: Melvin Luke

51b. Biographical Sketch-20 Years Athletic Dept at Ricks: Clyde Parkman Packer

52a. Biographical Sketch: James S. Elnora Skelton

52b. Jacob Henry Flamm & His Contribution to Rexburg & the Church: Russell Flamm

53. The Credit Bureau of Eastern Idaho and Computer Service: Dean Ferney

54. Biographical Sketch: Dewey & May Smith Parker

55. Biographical Sketch and his Judicial Experiences: Judge Michael J. Donahoe, Jr.

56. Educator and Church Patriarch with Pioneer Stories: David Watson Archibald

57. Biographical Sketch: Karl & Melinda Horne

58. A Life Sketch of Jacob Spori: Elizabeth Spori Stowell and Annie Spori Kerr

59. Sixty Years of Living in the Upper Snake River Valley: William J. & Elsie Lewis

60. Beneficial Life Insurance Agent for 32 Years: Roland W. Brown

61. Clementsville: Silas Clements

62. First Appointees and Public Officials of Teton County, Idaho: W. Leigh Fullmer

63. Community of Valvue (Teton Basin): Lawrence Hatch

64. Career Development Program at Madison High School: Mary Lee Byrne & Ross Clements

65. Biographical Sketch: Sarah J. & Reginald G. Gillespie

66. History of Firearms and Gunpowder: DeWayne Wilding

67. History of Wilford, Idaho: J. Edgar Birch

68. Sketch of an Irish Immigarnt to Salem, Idaho: Kathleen Lavery

69. Before and After the Railroad in Rexburg: George Alton Anderson

70. Old Fremont County's Land Titles and Transfers: Jeanette Jensen Burnside

71. Dry Farming at Bone, Idaho: James G. Browning

72. Biographical Sketch: Elsie (Elsa) Lornmiller Jensen

73. Mountain Climbing in Idaho: Kim and Bryce Miller and Bryce Thatcher

74. Program "The Light Upon the Hill" Ricks College 80 Years: Ricks College Pageant Parts 1 & 2

75. Reminiscences of Life in Rexburg by Two Cousins: Rebecca M. W. Wylie & Peter O. Thompson

76. Settlement of Egin, Idaho: Mason Brothers & Sisters

77. Community of Plano, Idaho: Henry Alonzo Brown

78. A Farmer who Reverenced the Soil: Preston B. Ellsworth

79. A History of Irrigation in Fremont, Madison, and Fremont Counties: James Cyrus Young

80. Biography-Packsaddle Dam: Martin Mickelsen

81. Biographical Sketch: Edgar & Robert Erikson (Brothers)

82. Early Utah Power & Light Company at Rexburg: Alma Klingler and William Fowler

83. Archer and Herbert Communities: Mark & Bertha Young

84. Biographical Sketch: Ellen Cook

85. The Justice Recalls Judicial Experiences in East Idaho: Clarence John Taylor

86. Biographical Sketch: Dorcas Clayton et al

87: History of Teton Stage Lines: Leon Stratton

88. Lawyers and Judges of St. Anthony After 1920: LeMonte Bauer

89. Biographical Sketch: Carl Jensen

90. Biographical Sketch and North Salem: Ivy Price

91. Kilgore & Camas Meadows in Old Remont County: Olaf & Mary Harris Frederiksen

92. Joint Venture-Beautician & Naturopathic Physician: Charles & Marinda England

93. Major Focus upon an Illustrious Grandfather, Mariner W. Merrill: LaRue H. Merrill

94. Some History of Clark County: William A. Ellis & Dorothy Collson

95. From Cowboy to Saddle Maker (From Texas to Rexburg): Clayton S. Lunsford

96. Community of Canyon Creek: George H. Browning

97. Development of Agriculture on Rexburg Bench: Frank Webster

98. Medical Services of Rexburg Community: Blair Rich, Chloe, Ferrel A. Nelson and Howard A. Nelson

101. Pea Seed Industry: Fred O. Wilcox

102. Lifestyle of Rural Madison County, Idaho Between W.W.'s: Orland G. and Harold S. Butler

103. History of the City of Plano, Idaho: Ernest Blaser

104. History of Sugar City & Frank L. Davis: Alvaretta Davis Rytting & Caddie Davis Jenkins

105. Life Science Building at Ricks: Jack Bond

106. Biographical Sketch of Christensen & Fenton Families: Catherine (Kattie) Christensen Fenton

107. Eliza R. Snow Building, Ruffatti Pipe Organ and Ricks College: Darwin & Julie Wolford

108. Heavy Equipment Changing Farming in Idaho: Rex Leland & Grant Jensen

109. Early Rexburg, Idaho: Sarah P. Flamm Browning

110. Early History of Salem Community: Joseph Francis Belnap

111. Biographical Sketch: Charles J. Zollinger

112. Mormon Travail in the Colonies of Mexico 1885-1912: Eugene & Lilian Ada Helquest Stowell

113. Rexburg Drugstores: Irving Woodmansee

114. Biographical Sketch of Schwendiman Family: Earl Schwendiman

115. LDS Structures of bates Ward & Teton Stake of Zion: Henry Bates & Darrell C. Buxton

116. Biographical Sketch: Afton Knight Little

117. Biographical Sketch: Loretta Merrill Rigby

118. Taylor Chevrolet Company, Rexburg, Idaho: Delbert Taylor

119. Ranching in Madison County, Idaho: Harold & Ila Bek Koon

120. History of Photography in Rexburg, Idaho: Ralph S. & Elaine Maheras Anderson

121. Biographical Sketch of Henderson & Kirby Families: James J. Kirby

122. Food Services to the Public in Rexburg, Idaho Between 1937-1969

123. Biographical Sketch: Lettie Estella Lawson Sessions & Vivian A. Call

124. Water Regulation in Rexburg, Idaho: Delbert Leroy (Bud) Armstong

125. The Indian Placement Program of Idaho: Deanna Cook, Ray & Nola Gallup and Mary Miller

126. Biographical Sketch of Judge Samuel Swanner: Sterling Swanner

127. The Wilding Family: Dollie & John Henry Wilding, David DeWayne Wilding & Vivian A. Call

128. Biographical Sketch: Nephi & Lorna Christensen

129. City of Rexburg, Idaho Chief of Police: Raymond Eli McIntire

130. Idaho History Book Writer: Merrill Dee Beal

131. Settlers at Felt District, Idaho: Rulon E. Ward & Terrell L. Arnold

132. Farming with the Weather Elements of Rexburg, Idaho: Eddy, Orville & Henry McCulloch

133. Ricks College Campus Radio-Kric: John Haeberle

134. Biographies of James Henry & Annies Elizabeth Garner Pincock: Fern P. Ladle

135. Pioneer Music Played Between 1875-1930: Idaho Old Time Fiddlers Association

136. Henry Alvin "Harry" Munn's Life Story: Alvin W. Munns

137. Nelson-Ricks Creamery: Aloise H. Brock, George A. Engberson, Cliford W. Ward & Gerald J. Jeppson

138. Selling Office Equipment and Supplies in the USRV: Richard M. Mason

139. Biographical Sketches: Matti T. & Ezra A. Murdock

140. Early Madison County Schools: Ezra S. Stucki

141. Presbyterian Church at Rexburg, Idaho: Ruth S. Fowler

142. Idaho Agriculture: Hugh C. McKay

143. Scouting: Teton Peaks Council: Vernon L. Strong

144. Churches & School of Salem, Burton & Rexburg: Pauline & Emil Kauer

145. Pioneer Home and Lifestyle of Madison County: Tom & Eunice Mae Beattie Stoddard

146. A Butcher, cattle Rancher & Sugar City Postmaster: Ezekiel L. & Stella Jacobs Holman

147. The Community of Salem, Idaho: Fred Shirley

148. Sand Hills of Egin Bench, Fremont County, Idaho: Fremont Fullmer

149. Plural Marriage: William Roberts

150. Community of Teton City, Idaho Before 1920: Hyrum Justice Clark

151. Beet Sugar Factory, Sugar City: John Camphouse

152. The Community of Lyman: Herbert & Ida May Galbraith

153. "He Was a Hero to Family and Friends": John Rolland Clark

154. Biographical Sketches: Eli Moroni & Mary Alberta Jergensen

155. Japanese Immigrants to Idaho: Tiye Morimoto Hikida

156. Tommy Miyasaki's Triumph over Obstacles Along Life's Pathway: Tommy Miyasaki

157. Biographical Sketch: Luella Baker Richman

158. Egin Bench Area: Archie & Janet Powell Wood

159. Poole's Island Settlement: John and J. Rulon Poole

160. Biographical Sketch: Hyrum Thomas Moss

163. Emory Gilbert Adams: Emory Gilbert Adams

174. John Schwendiman: Switzerland to Upper Snake River Valley: John Schwendiman

180. Teton Flood & Recovery: W. Keith Walker

190. Hayden, Teton County: Jim Breckenridge

 

Railroad Removal: Ashton to West Yellowstone: Dean L. Palmer

History of Henry Flamm and Flamm's Funeral Services: Russell Flamm