CURTIS H. SARGENT

History of Idaho, Volume 2, by Hiram T. French, M.S.
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York 1914, Page 747-748



The maps of old geographies of a half-century ago, or even later, depict frontier lines passing through Kansas, Nebraska and other states of that range; today there are no frontier lines. Most of the men who fifty and sixty years ago formed the advance guard in carrying civilization westward in our country rested east of the Rockies; but later many of their sons, inheriting the restless energy of their pioneer ancestors, followed the paths of the western stars and have formed the larger quota of the strong and capable men of the far West. Among such young men who have elected to cast their fortunes with Idaho is Curtis H. Sargent, of Fruitland, who first came here in 1901 and who became a permanent resident of this state in 1904. As president of the Fruitland State Bank and as an extensive fruit grower he has been a very active and influential factor in the upbuilding of Canyon county and especially of his immediate section.

Curtis H. Sargent was born February 27, 1870, in Lyon county, Kansas, and comes of New England and Virginia ancestry. Storey L. Sargent, the father, a native of Vermont, became a Kansas pioneer in 1860 settling in Lyon county of that state, where he was engaged in the real estate business and merchandising and also conducted a large farm. He also was a stockman and raised large numbers of cattle, taking much pride in having the finest herds in his section. He departed life at the old home place in Lyon county on July 1, 1910, at the age of seventy-two. He was a veteran of the Mexican war and took an active and prominent part in the political and civic affairs of his community, being actuated in this activity only by a desire for good government, for he never sought or held public office. In Kansas, Miss Magdaline Sowers, a native daughter of Virginia, became his bride. She had come there as a young girl with her parents, who settled in Lyon county in 1858, and she is yet living, being now a resident of Fruitland, Idaho. She bore her husband six sons, and of these Curtis H. is second in order of birth.

Educated to the age of eighteen in the county schools of Lyon county, Kansas, Curtis H. Sargent grew up on the farm and then at the age of twenty started out independently. For the following eleven years he operated, rented and purchased lands in his native county; then in 1901 he sold his interests there and removed to Idaho, but did not locate permanently until 1904, when he settled at Fruitland. Here he purchased lands and took up horticulture, now having one hundred acres of orchard lands in operation, from which he will ship this year (1912) upwards of fifty car loads of fruit. He also was a leader in organizing the Fruitland State Bank which opened its doors for business on February 10, 1910, and of which he became and has remained president. Though established but a little more than two years; it has had a most gratifying growth and has won the confidence of a large patronage and one that is steadily increasing. Mr. Sargent is a member of the Fruitland Commercial Club and enters heartily into all movements that mean development for Canyon county. In political faith he is aligned with the progressive party and is an active worker in its behalf, as well as in all that touches the civic upbuilding of his community. In religious views he is identified with the Brethren denomination.

He was married in Lyon county, Kansas, to Miss Clara Eldredge, a daughter of A. B. Eldredge and a native of Kansas, and to their union have been born four children named: Gladys Mary, Paul, Olive and Dorothy. Much of industry and more of perseverance have been the means of Mr. Sargent's rise in a financial way and he well deserves his success, for it represents his own merit. With the characteristic loyalty of Idaho citizens he says that now no state of the Union could supply Idaho's place to him.



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