Idaho Gem of the Mountains - I.O.O.F Ribbon & Medallion - A.K. Steunenberg, P.G.M.

I recently acquired this I.O.O.F ribbon and medallion. A.K. Steunenberg was an active I.O.O.F member and as you see on this ribbon, a Past Grand Master (P.G.M.) to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. I do not know if A.K. was at this 1906 session of the Sovereign Grand Lodge or not, what with the assassination of his brother, Ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg, having occurred just nine months prior on December 30th, 1905. He was busily involved with representing the family interests during the course of the investigation. Unbeknownst at the time, A.K. was nearing his own death--to come all to soon on March 16, 1907.

From Big Trouble:
"Early in 1907, Operative 21 reported on a bold attempt to infiltrate some of the community's 'respectables' on the defense's behalf. The target was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, one of Idaho's most active fraternal organizations. Ralph Gilbert, a tender of irrigation ditches in Parma and a 'sympathizer with the prisoners,' had long been an Odd Fellow in Parma. Operative 21 reported that Gilbert had agreed, 'on condition that his name was never brought into the affair,' to make regular reports to the defense on the conversations of Fred E. Fisk, chairman of the Canyon County Board of Commissioners, and other prominent Odd Fellows. If the Parma lodge was replete with local muck-a-mucks, Caldwell's boasted an even showier roster useful to the defense. A. K. Steunenberg held high rank, having served successfully as grand secretary, grand master, and grand representative to the Sovereign Lodge. John, Will, and Pete Steunenberg also belonged, as did their confidant Monte Gwinn, John Rice, Albert F. Isham, and Sheriff Nichols. Moreover, as of January 1907--thanks to A. K.'s efforts--the Caldwell lodge, in its brick building by the railroad tracks, became the headquarters of Idaho's Odd Fellows. If Ralph Gilbert kept his ears open around the lodge bars in Parma and Caldwell, there'd be no end of information he could pass on to Darrow's defense team."
-- Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas








--Early Caldwell Through Photographs

Although most of the architectural details have been covered, lost or modified, the following Google street view is the same IOOF Lodge building today near the old Caldwell Train station.

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Click above link for larger view on Google maps. It may take a minute or two or require you hit reload a couple times to get a larger and clearer picture. Seems to be going slow. Those of you receiving email notifications probably won't see the above Google map image. Go to my blog post as that is always a better view anyway.







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Seventh & Main Street

I.O.O.F. Oct. 7, 1889 Grand Encampment of Idaho held in Caldwell

I.O.O.F. Oct. 7, 1889 Grand Encampment of Idaho held in Caldwell

Something for the IOOF fans. October 7, 1889 Grand Encampment of Idaho held in Caldwell. Both AK and Frank Steunenberg were active members in the IOOF. AK more so perhaps then Frank. AK held various positions in the IOOF and was serving as Grand Scribe at the time of this encampment. Just let me know if you would like to see more of what is inside or are looking for particular names. Great old piece in rather fragile condition. Note printers inscription on the front "Caldwell, Idaho: Steunenberg Bros., Printers 1890

7th Avenue, Caldwell, ID pre 1906

Here is an early real photo postcard from the undivided back era (1901-1907). There is no writing, postmark or stamp. On the back is a one cent stamp box.

We are looking West down 7th Avenue toward the intersection with Main Street in Caldwell, ID. The Blaine Street intersection would be to the East behind the photographer and in 1907 would become the site of the new Caldwell City Hall. Feel free to straighten me out if I got it wrong or to comment with additional information.

Up on the right at the street corner of 7th Avenue and Main Street we can see the brick facade of the Caldwell Bank & Trust and across Main on the same side is the I.O.O.F. brick building that housed various businesses over the years. On  the opposite left corner is the Saratoga Hotel identified by its steeples.

Here is the same view today about as close as I can get it on Goggle Street view. Takes a minute to upload sometimes.

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" As the governor crossed Seventh Avenue, he approached the pale cream facade of the Saratoga Hotel, Caldwell's principal hostelry, the fulcrum of its social life." —Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

If we enlarge the photo, we can see the Herr Clothing store nearest on the right (J. F. Herr Clothing Co). A man is squatting down as he appears to be working on a sign at the edge of the street with advertising for the store.

In the distance (West down 7th Avenue) we see what I believe is the Union Pacific Railroad water tank along with a small building to the right facing the train tracks.The railroad had reached Caldwell in 1883 but the station we know today was not constructed until 1906 at the site of this tank. The Pacific Hotel, built by the Union Pacific Railroad, was just to the left of the water tank but I don't see it here—at least not all of it. According to Early Caldwell Through Photographs, the Pacific Hotel was cut in half and moved to 115 North Kimball. When exactly that occurred I do not know. I am guessing it had been moved by the time of this photograph—with the Saratoga having now been built across the street. To the left of the tower, but on the East side of the tracks, is I believe a peek of the roof line and chimney of the older depot (or perhaps a section of the Pacific Hotel?) soon to be torn down in favor of the brick building we know today.

In the 2012 Cavalcade, a similar but slightly later photograph shows 7th Avenue after the train depot has been erected and compares it to a contemporary view.
7th Avenue - Idaho Press-Tribune: Cavalcade

Real photographs of Caldwell, ID pre-1906 seem to be few and far between. I am always looking for items from that period that show the same view as would have been seen by Governor Steunenberg during his many walks up and down 7th and Main to the Saratoga and the Caldwell Bank before he was murdered.

Frank sighting in this photo postcard? What appears to be a rather large figure with hat and a full length coat standing on the corner directly in front of the Caldwell Bank & Trust. Frank would have been at the bank and back and forth to his office there on almost a daily basis.

"It wasn't so much of his size that made people cock an eye at the governor; it was the way the weight was distributed, much of it packed around his stubby neck and sloping shoulders, then again just above his belt. A long swatch of auburn hair was invariably plastered flat across the right forehead. The cumulative picture of awkward dishevelment gave many people the feeling there was something 'a little bit different' about Frank. One amicable commentator said he was 'a fit subject for  portrait by Rembrandt.' Another thought he had 'the face of a Roman Senator,' but not the heroic features of Marcus Antonius, more the slightly cockeyed visage of Popilius Lena. A friend fondly remarked, 'He didn't have so many peculiarities, but those he did have, he hugged very close to him.'" —Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

Early life in Caldwell Idaho

Here are a couple more old photo's I ran across from among the items at my parents home. They were taken somewhere in Caldwell, Idaho.

Above are my Aunt Doris, Uncle's Frank ('Bud'), Jule ('Juke') and Carrol ('Cal'). I believe I have the boys right as they always looked a lot alike and had those "bowl" haircuts when they were young. My mother Brenda was probably a couple years away yet. I would place this circa 1916/17.

Above my grandmother Francis Steunenberg holding my mother Brenda Steunenberg (born 8/26/1918). I would guess they are standing next to the family home. Circa 1919 in Caldwell.

This photograph of an early Caldwell home comes from Early Caldwell Through Photographs compiled and written by Elaine C. Leppert and Lorene B. Thurston. It is included here to show the structural similarities to the home in the previous photograph of my grandmother and mother. Montie Gwinn, mentioned in the caption above, would go on to become a leading citizen of Caldwell, a business partner of the Steunenberg's, vice president of the Caldwell Bank and would rub elbows with all of the towns finest as a member of the IOOF.  Before long, Montie would be moving into a much bigger house.

This one we have seen before. I am not exactly sure where in Caldwell my grandma Francis and grandpa Julian Steunenberg were living at the time. My mama Brenda is on he far left. Elsewhere on the blog I identified her in this photograph as the "little pip squeak". She laughed and always ribbed me about it.

One of the stories is that grandma and grandpa and the kids lived in this home that is now a pump house at Luby Park, not far down the road from Canyon Hill Cemetery. It's on what would have been Kimball Avenue in those days before it was split up by freeways and such. However, I don't believe the home dates early enough. I have more and better pics of it somewhere but can't locate them at the moment. The pump house windows and doors have long ago been sealed and painted over.

Above photograph of Caldwell taken from Canyon Hill. It also comes from Early Caldwell Through Photographs. Click on any of the above photos to enlarge for better viewing. A.K. Steunenberg's house is referenced in the caption and can be seen on the right before it was remodeled. If you have any knowledge of and/or recognize the surrounding buildings or land that might help identify the location of my grandparents first home—please let me know. 

"To Hell With The Man Who Breaks My Will"

Will in the widow of his Caldwell, ID store (Will on the right with unidentified person on the left).

From a daily diary/memo book. The last will & testament of Will Steunenberg on a page dated 5/9/1907. Some of you may have seen it before as moving up from the picture section at the end of the blog and adding a transcribed version. Certainly weighing on Will's mind as he wrote this would have been the untimely deaths of his brothers Frank and AK Steunenberg coupled with the passing of his father and family patriarch Bernardus Steunenberg. All were gone within an 18 month period beginning with that awful night of December 30th, 1905 when Governor Steunenberg was assassinated. Ancil Keppel “AK” died of a serious illness on March 16, 1907 and Bernardus Steunenberg passed away a short time later on March 29th 1907.

The following is a transcribed copy from the above 1907 diary along with a few additional entries of interest. Will was the second oldest of the ten children of Cornelia and Bernardus Steunenberg and the oldest brother of Governor Frank Steunenberg. He was a shoemaker by trade and owned the above pictured shop in Caldwell, ID. He was born 3/26/1857 in Holland, MI; died August 12, 1946 Caldwell, ID.

A few words are difficult to discern although eyes better then mine could probably figure it out. Will kept a daily diary throughout his adult life and typically made short and to the point notations on each calendar day. Most indicate the weather, lodge activities, visits to family, playing cards, results of hunting/fishing trips and daily personal and business expenses. The last will and testament appears in the memorandum section of the 1907 diary. The diaries are in the possession of my cousin Bill Crookham of Caldwell, ID and several were loaned to me for examination.

The names referenced in his last will and testament are of Will’s remaining seven Steunenberg siblings. I have attempted to use punctuation, capitalization and spelling as per the original. A few items in parentheses have been added for clarification or comment purposes.

May 9^th 1907 (Memoranda section of the diary)

In case anything should happen to me, I would like Jo & Deal (sisters Josephine and Delia) to have the property on Gospel ridge 9 blocks and house in block 33 Dorman’s addition. (space) The ¼ share I own in the home property Block (space) to go to John. let Charley (his brother Charles Benjamin Steunenberg often referred to as “C.B”) & George (Steunenberg) divide my share of the shoe store equally between them. If there is any Money left give Lizzie & Grace (Elizabeth and Jennie Grace Steunenberg) One hundred dollars each & divide the balance equally among you all. see that the guns get good keepers. And if any of Frank’s Boys ever show any tendency to guns & will take care of same; give them the gun that belonged to Frank the 30-303 savage.Don’t blow in (spelling?) money foolishly on funeral Just plain. and remember no mourning goes, Just be Jolly & forget and don’t drag my carcass to a Church I would like the K.P’s (Knights of Pythias) & Odd Fellows to Plant me if they can do so without making blunders & would like for Prof. Boone to make one of his nice sensible talks, No Preaching goes (spelling?). And give Boone $25.00 for his trouble.

Let John, Charley & George see that my wishes are carried out.

W. L. Steunenberg

To Hell with the Man who breaks my will.

Transcribed by John T. Richards Jr.

Other samples of the entries in the 1907 diary include:

3/15 – went to A.K.’s in evening & stayed all night at A.K.'s… A.K. very low.

3/16 – don’t see how A.K. can get well…A.K. died at 5 min to 12

3/19 –A.K. was buried by the IOOF Grand Lodge officers and the canteen assisting…it was a very large funeral considering the muddy & sloppy roads.

3/29 – Father died at 1:15

4/21 – rode out to the cemetery

4/23 – went home and found John and Charlie looking over Frank’s papers.

7/28 – The jury acquitted Haywood this morning of having anything to do with Frank’s murder.

10/27 – went fishing with T.W. Boone