This week I’m featuring some pictures that came from the Mink family. I hope they will turn out OK when printed in the newspaper.
James D. Mink came to this area in 1918 with his wife, Rebecca and a number of children. That year they acquired the ranch originally owned (as nearly as I can tell) by George Gould. (The Goulds traded for their better-known ranch north of Council in 1909.) The house Gould built still stands at the east end of what was once called “Gould Lane,” which was the part of Cottonwood Road that runs straight east of Highway 95.
Jim and Rebecca Mink retired and moved to Weiser in 1946, at which point their son, Fred, known as “Dick” Mink (1907 – 1953), took over the ranch and eventually purchased it in 1952. Dick was killed in an accident the next year, at the age of about 46. He was crushed between a tractor and a combine. The Leader reported: “The accident occurred when the machines went out of control on a steep hill on his ranch in the Cottonwood creek area, south of Council.”
At some point not long after this, the ranch was acquired by the Frasiers – John (1908 - 1990) and Cleone (1917 - 1993) Frasier – who owned the place for most of my lifetime, along with their son, Jack (1947-2024).
Other sons of Jim and Rebecca Mink who were well-known here and are shown in the family’s photos were: Ira Fitzhugh “Fitz” Mink 1897 – 1976; Leo M. “Jack”Mink 1899 – 1987 and his son, Leo L. Mink 1928 - 2010; Tanner C. “Bob” Mink 1901 -1987 (his son was Boyd 1930 - 2017); Owen C. “Bud” Mink 1903 – 1964. Several of their descendants still live in this area. Most of the photos here seem to be from the 1920s.
Fitz Mink also died violently at the age of 78 in 1976. His car was struck by a train at Weiser.
100 years ago
September 3, 1925
“Mrs. Irene McMahan and her sister, Mrs. Glendore McDonald, arrived Wednesday from Portland and are visiting at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert McDowell, of Indian Valley. Miss McDowell will again teach the Heath school which begins the 14th.”
“Henry Clare was up from Midvale Tuesday. He was making arrangements to move his threshing machine to Indian Valley where he has several jobs threshing alfalfa. Each year the growing of alfalfa for seed in the Upper Country is becoming more popular.”
“Fire at New Meadows – Flames Eat Out Big Hole in the Business Section – A fire which originated in the rear of the Hancock Hotel at New Meadows completely wiped out the main business block of the village Tuesday evening. Among the buildings burned were the Thamert drugstore, Hancock Hotel, Witherspoon Barbershop, a pool hall, restaurant, and William Steckman’s confectionery a store.”
75 years ago
August 31, 1950
“Largest Crowd in History a Rodeo Attend Sunday Afternoon Program – According to reports received from the Washington County Fair and Rodeo Association, approximately 500 attended the first day’s program Friday. The second day saw a much larger crowd, and Sunday, Weiser Day, broke all attendance records.”
49 years ago
August 19, 1976
Idaho Power Company received authorization from the Federal Power Commission to install a fifth generating unit at Brownlee Dam.
25 years ago
August 24, 2000
School building report. Walls are being painted, the mechanical equipment is being installed in the gym addition, roofing is being completed, the mow strip, sidewalks, curbs and gutters systems have been poured and the stucco is completed.
Died: Frank Oliver “Red” Grimm, 78, Midvale.
This issue contained the continuation of an article from last week: “Salubria School House History” by Nan Rhodes.
