Payette County ID Archives Biographies.....Moss, Albert Bartlett 1848 - 1914 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com October 21, 2005, 9:52 pm Author: Howard Mason HISTORY OF FIRST SETTLEMENT ALONG LOWER PAYETTE RIVER 1865-1900 By Howard W. Mason 1920 ALBERT BARTLETT MOSS Hon. Albert Bartlett Moss, founder of the town of Payette, was in many other ways sincerely associated with the city of Payette, particularly in shaping its political development and in promoting those interests which had to do with the upbuilding of the commonwealth and the upbuilding of high civic ideals. He was born in Belvidere, Illinois November 29, 1849 and there acquired his early education but throughout his life he was a close student of many events and learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Drum Corps and in the Battle of Shiloh, sustained wounds which compelled his father to take him home as soon as he could locate him. His oldest brother, James Moss, was captain in Co. B of the Fifty-eight Illinois volunteers and lost his life in the memorable engagement at the Red River Crossing in Louisiana where his valor won him distinction. Albert Bartlett Moss was 32 years of age when in 1881 he arrived in the Payette River Valley in Idaho. There he took a contract with the Oregon Shortline Railroad for getting out 250,000 railroad ties. In order to accomplish this he had to build roads and bridges to Long Valley where the timber was located. He employed 827 men and the following year floated the ties down the river. The same year he and his brother established a store at Payette as a supply camp for the Oregon Shortline and by the end of the year they were employing over 100 men who had decided that there were excellent opportunities for young men who would join his fortunes to those of the Payette. Mr. Moss remained here for years and owned and conducted important business interests which constituted a most important element in the development of the city. He was at the head of the Moss Mercantile establishment, one of the most modern department stores in the West. With the settlement of the district his business rapidly developed until it reached mammoth proportions, and Mr. Moss not only gave his time and attention to the upbuilding of an immense mercantile trade but also became actively interested in banking. He likewise fostered horticulture and in many ways promoted the welfare of Payette, the county and the state. In a business way he recognized opportunities which others heedlessly passed by and his enterprise and progressiveness brought him to the front as a leader in substantial development of this section of the country. His efforts too brought to him the just rewards of labor and he became a man of affluence in his section of the state. At the same time Mr. Moss was a leader in shaping public thought and action, he became a potent force in political circles. He attended many of the state conventions of the Republican part and in 1898 was nominated for the office of governor but without his solicitation. He had no chance to win against the populist-democratic silver republican combination yet he made a remarkable campaign and was defeated by less than 3,200 votes in a state which had given an enormous majority for a ticket of that kind two years before. The campaign promoted by Mr. Moss and his associates on the ticket paved the way of the Republican success two years later. In the midst of his political and commercial activity Mr. Moss found time to serve the people of Payette in various and honorable but unremunerative positions and he was for a considerable period a member of the board of directors of the Blackfoot Insane Asylum. He gave liberally of his time, his efforts, and his means for the upbuilding of the state and the advancement of public welfare. At the same time he studied business conditions closely. That he had a comprehensive and masterful view of the situation was indicated in an excellent paper of the benefits of organization which he read before the Idaho Hardware and Implement Dealers Association at its annual convention. He had the keenest interest in the welfare and development of Payette and did everything in his power to promote a beautiful city, planting many shade trees which add so much now to its attractiveness and loveliness. It was on the 10th of March 1881 that Mr. Moss was united in marriage to Miss Celia A. Mellor, who was born in Wetherfield, Illinois, a daughter of W. H. and Elizabeth (Scott) Mellow, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. To Mr. and Mrs. Moss were born the following children: Wentworth H., 36 years of age, was graduated from West Point in 1905, served in the Philippines and Mexican Border and after the entrance of America into the World War, was identified with various training camps. Later his duty was in Washington, D. C. where he had the rank of Lt. Colonel. Albert Bartlett, now 34 years old, was the first white child born in Payette and at present is associated with his brother Frederick in the Moss Mercantile Company thus being an active factor in the life of his city. In 1907 he married Grace E. Kellar of Kansas, whose parents were native of Pennsylvania. They now have a family of three children: Helen E., Albert B., and Celia A., all attending school in Payette. Charles H., the next of the family died at the age of five years. Frederick M. now 30 years old is a graduate electrical engineer from WSC in Pullman, Washington followed by four years with Idaho Power and Light Company in Boise. At present he is engaged in merchandizing with his brother Albert B. Moss. He was married in June 1917 to Loretta Brennan of Graceville, Minnesota and they have Dorothy J. William A. now 25 years of age, was attending the agricultural college in Pullman, Washington when he enlisted in the regular Army and is now a First Lieutenant having trained for the Intelligence Corps. He was an officer of the Twelfth Infantry and had 50 men under him ready for service when the armistice was signed. He was married on March 31, 1918 to Doris Hudson, a native of Fresno, California and a niece of Professor Holland and a daughter of William Hudson. Professor Holland is with the staff of WSC at Pullman, Washington. They have a daughter, Sylvia born May 7, 1919. Herbert R., now 16 years of age, is attending a private school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania possessing great musical talent which he is cultivating. Gertrude E. and Gilbert W. both died in infancy. All the sons save Herbert are graduates of the Payette High School. Albert B. Jr. was trained by his father in all the different lines of business in which he was engaged and at the time of his father’s death returned to Payette from Portland, Oregon where he had been employed in a mercantile line. He is now associated with his brother, Frederick, in the business. He is also interested in the automobile business. The family is one of which mother has every reason to be proud. The death of the husband and father occurred March 14, 1914. He left a record of successful business achievement and of great good accomplishment in connection with the public life of his adopted city and state. To his family he was largely the ideal husband and father, finding his greatest happiness in promoting the welfare of the members of his own household. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/bios/moss11gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb