Payette County ID Archives Photo Person.....Coughanour, William A. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com September 7, 2005, 10:23 pm

Source:             Payette County Historical Society
Name:               William A. Coughanour
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/photos/coughano126gph.jpg
Image file size: 145.0 Kb

William Albert Coughanour was born March 12, 1850 in Belle Vernon, Fayette 
County, Pennsylvania.  He aquired his education there and followed the 
profession of teaching for two short years.  

In 1870 he made his way west to Quartsburg, Idaho, joining up with his uncle 
david E. Coughanour in the Goldhill Mine.  After work had been going on long 
enough for him to have a sizeable amount of savings to make an investment, the 
company was organized under the name of "Goldhill Gold & Silver Mining 
Company."  During Mr. Coughanour's association with the mine, they took out 
three million dollars in gold.  

In 1886, William Coughanour left the mines and traveled to Boise, Idaho.  In 
1887, he came to Payette where he engaged in the manufacture of lumber for 12 
years.  He also invested in real estate and made a considerable accumulation of 
property that included farm lands and 12 hundred acres of cultivated land 
stocked with cattle.  On this ranch he raised the largest range steer in the 
world, or so it is told.  The animal, hay and grain fed, weighed 3232 pounds.  
He also raised horses, mules, cattle and shetland ponies.  This extensive 
operations made him one of the most prominent stockmen of Idaho.  

Mr. Coughanour was greatly responsible for the developement of early Payette.  
He possessed two of the largest brick business blocks in town, and built and 
owned many residences.  He was vice-president and Chairman of the Board of 
Directors of First National Bank of Payette; President of Lower Payette Ditch 
Company; he served as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows and also 
Grand Treasurer.  He was the 76th member of Lodge No. 310 B. P. O. E. of Boise; 
he served as a member of the Governor's staff and in 1896 he was elected to the 
fourth Senate of Idaho while thus serving promoted the State Horticultural 
Inspection Board by appointment of Governor Steunenberg.  While conducting his 
mining operations, he filled the office of commissioner of Boise County for two 
years.  He was elected to the office of Mayor for Payette, 7 times in 11 
years.  During that time he presented the city of Payette with an electric 
lighted drinking fountain for animals of which a life-sized oxidized copper elk 
is the ornamental and central figure.  The gift was made at a cost of $1000.  

In 1874, he married Galena Bunting.  They had two chidren, Emma and William M.  
William A. Coughanour died om 1936 and is buried at Riverside cemetery in 
Payette.

On the photo back it states that the bull was born on the North Powder Ranch and that
it died at 6 years of age in 1904. It also stated that Mr. Coughanour was 5' 8" tall.  

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/photos/coughano126gph.txt

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