Cassia-Caribou County ID Archives Biographies.....Riblett, Frank 1854 - 
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Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1920)

THE experiences which have come to Frank Riblett in the course of an active life
have been broad and varied. He is now filling the position of United States
commissioner at Malta, Cassia county, and he has been identified with the work
of shaping the legislation of Idaho as well as contributing to the material
development of the state. He was born in Pekin, Illinois, December 24, 1854, and
is a son of Jacob H. and Diana (Fisher) Riblett. He was sixteen years of age
when he left Illinois in company with his parents, who removed to Keokuk, Iowa.
Later the family home was established in Clark county, Missouri, and in April,
1875, Frank Riblett went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he remained for a brief
period. He afterward traveled to Soda Springs, Idaho, making the trip with ox
teams. He taught the first school at Soda Springs and also worked for ranchers
in that section. Later he went to Dry creek, southwest of Burley, where lived
his uncle Jeremiah, and his next removal took him to the Marsh basin, where the
town of Albion now stands. He also taught the first public school there, when it
still formed a part of Owyhee county, and later he purchased a ranch where
Oakley is seen today. That was the year of the Bannock Indian war. There is no
phase of pioneer life with all of its attendant hardships, privations,
opportunities and privileges with which Mr. Riblett is not familiar. He has
studied the Indian at close range, knows his methods of warfare and his habits
in times of peace, and as the years have passed he has lived to witness the
wonderful changes which have occurred as the seeds of civilization have been
planted upon the western frontier. He continued to develop and improve his ranch
at Oakley until the spring of 1880 and in 1878 he carried the mail for a short
time. In 1879 Cassia county was struck off from Owyhee county and Mr. Riblett
was appointed county surveyor of Cassia county and his duties in that connection
brought him wide familiarity with the country, its conditions, its topography
and its opportunities.

   In January, 1881, he made the first location on what is now known as the
Minidoka Reclamation project and during that year ran a number of lines and
discovered its possibilities as a gravity proposition. Years later it was taken
up by the United States government and developed as existing today. Mr. Riblett
was chairman of the first organization of water users. In 1887, on his own
initiative, he made the first preliminary survey for a canal from Snake river to
irrigate the territory lying on the south side below the American Falls. The
report of this survey was widely quoted by Governor Stevenson and others,
including Delegate Fred T. Dubois in a speech made in congress leading to
surveys and investigations by the government soon afterward, and resulted in the
development of the lower Snake river valley. Mr. Riblett also discovered and
made a location on what is now known as the Twin Falls-Salmon River Carey Act
project in 1892-3, many years before it was taken up by any company for active
development. With his keen foresight he saw the advisability of starting these
projects almost a quarter of a century before they were put in execution.

   On the 26th of April, 1898, Mr. Riblett responded to the country's call for
troops for the Spanish-American war, joining Company C of the First Idaho
Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until September 25, 1899, his regiment
being with the First Division, Eighth Army Corps. After his discharge he
returned to Albion. He had been elected to the office of county surveyor in the
fall of 1898, while he was absent in Manila—a fact indicative of the trust
reposed in him by his fellow townsmen and their appreciation of his ability. Mr.
Riblett has been kept almost continuously in public office. In 1902 he was
elected to represent his district in the legislative session of 1903 and in the
spring of the latter year he was appointed state water commissioner and occupied
that office until the spring of 1907. In 1908 he was again elected to the state
legislature to serve through the following year and in 1911 he was appointed
United States commissioner, taking the office in June, 1913, since which time he
has served continuously in this position, the duties of which he discharges with
marked promptness, capability and fidelity. He also operates his ranch near
Burley and another near Declo, having secured forty acres near Burley that is
now within the corporation limits of the town. He has taken a prominent part
under Judge Hawley in some of the largest water suits of Idaho and there is no
man more familiar with irrigation conditions and interests in this state than
Mr. Riblett. He is a certified engineer and a member of the American Association
of Engineers.

   Long a stanch supporter of the republican party, he served for eight years as
chairman of the republican central committee of Cassia county and his opinions
carry weight in party councils and his co-operation is sought by prominent
republican leaders of Idaho. He has a very wide acquaintance in this state, has
served the public well in all positions to which he has been called and over the
record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of
evil. His fidelity and progressiveness in citizenship and his sterling personal
worth have made for popularity wherever he is known. Fraternally he is connected
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Masons and is a loyal
follower of the teachings of these organizations. During the World war he took a
very active part in Red Cross, Liberty Loan and other war work, to which he
contributed liberally of his means.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

IDAHO
DELUXE SUPPLEMENT
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1920


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