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HomeMy Public PortalAboutGreenleaf, IdahoLone Iowa Farmer's Homestead Grew Into Hamlet of Greenleaf By MIRIAM BAR The Idaho Statesm THE IDAHO STATESMAN, Boise, Monday, January 26, 1976 cilities. A bond issue to pro- GREENLEAF — The City of Green- leaf and the Friends Church and Acad- emy owe their start to William Brown, the first settler in this vicinity under the Homestead Act. Brown, however, did not move to Idaho to start a city, church, or school. He came from Iowa in 1905 to farm on the sagebrush land that had been opened to homesteading by the govern- ment. He claimed land about two miles southeast of the Greenleaf townsite. Boise Project ditches were being built in the valley, but were not dug at Greenleaf when Brown arrived. As a promoter for the area and a member of the Society of Friends, Brown encouraged other members of his church in Iowa to come. One by one, families arrived and the commu- nity grew. Most of the first families were from Iowa and Nebraska. The city has been incorporated since June 8, 1973. In that short time, there have been three mayors and changes in the City Council. Greenleaf incorporated so it could apply for a federal grant for water and __ _._ city s share of the project costs was defeated when the total costs were higher than property owners had thought. The church, school, grocery store, meat processing piant and lockers, Post Office and some houses are on a private sewer line, and newer devel- opments are using septic tanks with approval of the Southwest District Health Department. Dean Douty, a contractor, took office as mayor Jan. 8, with his brother, Del- bert C. Douty, and Ray Mayfield as new councilmen for four -year terms. Olen Fountain, the only remaining original councilman, and Gary Brown are holdovers for two years. Mrs. Anna Mills is city clerk. The incorporating mayor, i.loyd R. Puntenney, was postmaster of Green- leaf for a number of years. He moved to Fruitland two years ago and was (Continued on Page 18, Col. 5) Lone Iowa Farmer's Homestead Grew Into Hamlet of Greenleaf (Continued from Page 17) succeeded as mayor by Derrol L. Hock - ett, one of the initial city councilmen. Greenleaf is the home of Canyon County Sheriff George W. Nourse, and his officers police the city. Money saved by not operating a city hall and police department allow municipal taxes to be lower than in other cities. Lower municipal costs attract people to Greenleaf. The city is using 427 as its population figure, but the city clerk said the town is "a lot bigger now." Greenleaf is about five miles west of Caldwell on Idaho 19. Notus, Parma and Wilder are on the north and north- east, and Homedale and Marsing to the southwest. In 1907, about the time the Friends were planning to build a church, I.S. Binford, a homesteader, was planning to leave. He donated his land to the other settlers for a church and a school. His land was the townsite. Not much is known about Binford, who apparently did not stay long. He must have been opposed to the use of liquor, however, because of a stipula- tion printed on the original deeds for property in the townsite. The deed states that if alcoholic bev- erages ever were manufactured or sold on the premises, the land would revert to the original owner. doubt that r V3 Lone Iowa Farmer's Homestead Grew Into Hamlet of Greenleaf (Continued from Page 17) succeeded as mayor by Derrol L. Hock - ett, one of the initial city councilmen. Greenleaf is the home of Canyon County Sheriff George W. NOUrse, and his officers police the city. Money saved by not operating a city hall and police department allow municipal taxes to be lower than in other cities. Lower municipal costs attract people to Greenleaf. The city is using 427 as its population figure, but the city clerk said the town is "a lot bigger now." Greenleaf is about five miles west of Caldwell on Idaho 19. Notus, Parma and Wilder are on the north and north. east, and Homedale and Marsing to the southwest. In 1907, about the time the Friends were planning to build a church, I.S. Binford, a homesteader, was planning to leave. He donated his land to the other settlers for a church and a school. His land was the townsite. Not much is known about Binford, who apparently did not stay long. He must have been opposed to the use of liquor, however, because of a stipula- tion printed on the original deeds for property in the townsite. The deed states that if alcoholic bev- erages ever were manufactured or sold on the premises, the land would revert to the original owner. Present residents say they doubt that requisite could be enforced, because no one knows if there are any heirs of Binford. Nevertheless, neither alcohol nor to- bacco is sold in Greenleaf. The city is accepting its proportionate share of the state liquor tax. Almost every resident for many years belonged to the Friends Church, and their children attended the secon- dary school. Only about half the resi- dents now are Friends. The Friends in the area gathered at the Brown home Jan. 3, 1906, and took steps to establish a monthly meeting, the Friends' name for an organized service. The first service, called the Mountain View Monthly Meeting of Friends, was held in the home Jan. 7, 1906. The name, Greenleaf Friends Church, first appeared in the minutes of the monthly business meeting for June 19, 1909. Members made plans in September, 1907, to build a church. A 32x50 -foot church opened for services Feb. 9, 1908, with 83 persons attending Sunday School and 120 at the worship service. That church remained in use until 1943, when the present red stone structure was built. Anson Cox was the first pastor.. Ezra Pearson was called in July, 1908, and was pastor for many years. The academy opened in the church building Nov. 10, 1908. The church oper- ated classes for grade school students for a few years, but the elementary ROBIN ROURKE TAKES A BOOKKEEPING CLASS City Clerk Anna Mills teaches the Friends Academy course students have attended public schools for most of the 67 years. The public Greenleaf Grade School, District No. 44, now replaced by the West Canyon Elementary School of Canyon District, was a mile south and one -half mile west of Greenleaf. Miss Lualla Beals, daughter of Isaac Beals, was the first teacher in the church- sponsored day school, Mrs. Floyd Fivecoat of Nampa recalled. She said her family moved from Iowa to Greenleaf in 1909, and she attended the public elementary school except for her fourth through sixth grades. Fivecoat said she graduated from the academy in 1920. She remembered that 1916 was the year the lower grades were discontinued. Supt. Ken Smitherman now has 158 students in grades five through 12, and expects to add the third and fourth grades next year. The fifth and sixth grades were begun last September, and the seventh and eighth grades the year before. Smitherman said the church and school administration began planning several years ago, and intend to add two grades each year until students will be offered 12 years in a religious atmosphere. He said the officials have not made a decision about whether to offer kindergarten. "Enrollment has been going up steadily the past three years," Smi- therman said. The increase is in addi- tion to adding lower grades. There are no facilities at the acad- emy for boarding students. Smither- man said three or four students from outside commuting distance are living with local residents, "but we don't so- licit" students from other areas.