A Fishing Trip to Remember, Early Career Mentors, Job Change, Move to Spokane

A Fishing Trip to Remember
Once when I was making a field trip in the Salmon River country over near the Montana line, I stopped at the ranch of my good friend Steve Mahaffey. He said, “The salmon are going up the Lemhi River that flows through my ranch and I want you to stay over night with us so the boys can show you how to spear a salmon.” So I did.

Salmon River, Lemhi County, Aug. 1942.  Library of Congress

That night, it was the dark of the moon which was right for spearing. Three of Steve’s hands took me to the nearby river where I put on my hip boots and we waded into the stream that was only about kneedeep, and very clear, except for occasional deeper holes near the bank. One of the men who knew the stream very well would caution me frequently to “watch out for that log or rock right ahead of you”. The salmon were in the deeper holes near the bank. My guide had a gas lantern with a shield that could be closed when we were just wading along. When they opened the shutter and flashed the light into the eyes of the salmon, it was blinded for a minute or so, long enough for two of the men to spear it. Each had a three-pronged spear and they would attack the salmon simultaneously--one spearing in the back just ahead of the tail and the other spearing just back of the head. They would force the salmon to the bed of the stream and by maintaining pressure on the spears, sliding it up the rather low bank onto the grass. The big red Columbia River salmon averaged from 30-40 inches long and weighed about a pound to the inch. After they had a 36 inch salmon for me and a couple for the ranch, they let me take a spear and try my luck. I didn’t do so good as the reflection of the water caused me to touch the fish at a wrong place and caused it to dart to safety. They took my fish from that cold stream--wrapped it in freshly cut alfalfa and it kept cool until I got back home the next day, when we had a real treat with that good meat.

Colville fisherman holding a spear in Kettle Falls, Washington, ca. 1930s.  Library of Congress

There were many deer on Steve Mahaffey’s big cattle and sheep ranch and sometimes when he came to Pocatello, he would bring us some venison or lamb chops or freshly butchered beef. He said I had saved him from losing his ranch during the bank holiday and serious depression by financing his business and paying his creditors who were threatening him. I didn’t take any undue risk as he had a splendid big ranch with fine livestock and he and Mrs. Mahaffey were experienced and entirely trustworthy people.

Mahaffey cattle

Early Career Mentors
The president of my company was Edgar Largulier, the President of the Largulier and Co. Bank, a rather small, but an extremely conservative and sound bank that was started by his father when Soda Springs, Idaho area was being settled.

Edgar was very kind and considerate of me, a young man starting out in the livestock lending business. He and John Galbraith, the other member of my loan committee and former Assistant manager of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, gave me the kind of sound lending advice and coaching that represented many years of successful banking and financing experience. I am very grateful that I had enough common sense to carefully follow their advice. Also I had a very capable and loyal livestock inspector in Alfred McCoy who knew how to evaluate livestock, knew the danger signs when a rancher was trying to do something unsound or irregular, and would always provide me with accurate and complete reports. “Mac” was a tough old tobacco chewing pioneer character but he always kept us away from loan applications that were unsound operations.

My Uncle “Nick” Scott was another very capable inspector. Mary’s Uncle Arthur Smith was a very valuable man in handling the field work for our feed lot lamb and steer loans.

Kenneth and Mary with Kenneth's uncle, Charles Jared Scott

Financial Decisions
When the Kraft Cheese Co. opened their first plant in southern Idaho, I financed the good dairy cows they were instrumental in having the agricultural agents bring in from good Utah herds. It was also a fine diversification for the potato farmers. At the suggestion of the Kraft people, I made dairy loans in the Swiss colony in southwestern Wyoming for the production of Swiss cheese.

A Job Change
In 1932, I began following closely news items about a new nationwide Farm Credit System the Roosevelt administration was developing to give badly needed credit to agriculture following the Bank Holiday and depression that had very seriously dried up credit for agriculture. It became increasingly apparent to me that the Livestock Credit Corporation would have a hard time trying to compete with the Production Credit Associations with their millions of government capital.

Kenneth LeRoy Scott, 1930s

The Production Credit System
In 1934, while I was trying to find out if I could get some of the government capital to strengthen my company, I received a call from Charlie Stewart in Washington, D.C. who said he was an official of the newly organized Farm Credit Administration. He asked if Mary and I would meet him at the Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City at a stated time the following week. Mary and I met him at the appointed time and after a nice dinner and probably a couple of hours questioning me extensively, he said his experience was in financing large livestock outfits and he would like to have me become his assistant in organizing some statewide livestock financing associations in Texas and the other western states under the new Farm Credit Act He said that would mean considerable travel for a while then moving to Washington, D.C. as a credit officer to help supervise the New Production Credit System.

He asked if we could give him our decision in the morning when we had breakfast together. Mary and I had a big decision to make, but by the next morning we both decided our answer should be “Yes”.

That was a major turning point in our lives and moving clear across the country from where our families resided.  I could keep my stock investment in the Livestock Credit Corporation, but I must completely sever my activities in respect to its affairs, and in fact, do what I could to help establish PCA’s with lots of capital and almost unlimited loans funds, some of which would compete with my former business.

Father Helps with Transition
Father became the manager of L.C.C. and it was gradually liquidated over a period of about 4 years. Dad kept our stock investment, and some he had acquired, safe and we ultimately received a full return of our investment.

Kenneth and his father, Elzumer Scott, early 1930s

Preparation to Move to Washington, D.C.
I spent two weeks in Washington, D.C. becoming familiar with the policies of the Production Credit System and in receiving instructions from Charley Stewart about my responsibilities. I spent weekends with Uncle Zene and Aunt Myrtle Scott and in sight-seeing around our nation’s capital.

Aunt Myrtle and Uncle Zene Scott

Drought in San Angelo, Texas
My first field assignment was to go to San Angelo, Texas in the far western part of that big state and evaluate the loans and policies of the Texas Livestock Credit Association. That had a large volume of loans to ranchers experiencing their third year of severe drought. The main feed for the sheep and cattle was ground cactus plants for sheep and the cactus plants with the thorns burned off by gasoline torch for the cattle. They were not trying to raise lambs and calves but only to save the strongest breeding stock.

I requested an opportunity to go out and see the range country and spent a week traveling in a car with a very experienced livestock man who told me about the various native browse and grass feeds. We saw many livestock outfits and talked with the owners and their hired hands. We stayed at ranches and ate some meals at the camp wagons. The area was very sparsely settled and extended down along the Rio Grande River.
The next two weeks I spent in the office reviewing the loan folders and deciding the extent to which I should recommend that they should set up valuation reserves against the loans.  Tulley Gamer, the son of Vice President ______ Gamer, was the President of the Texas Production Credit Corporation, the state supervisory agency and I gave a copy of my report to him. This was the beginning of a friendship with Tulley that extended over a period of years and included visits in his home with his family.

Kenneth with a moustache and goatee, circa 1930s

Official Visit to Spokane District
My next official visit was to the Spokane District, which included Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho. In addition to reviewing large livestock loans, I helped organize a stateside livestock PCA in Idaho by persuading some of my friends who were successful livestock men to become members of its board of directors.

Move to Spokane
I was requested to make Spokane my headquarters for awhile and supervise the work of the Production Credit Corporation of Spokane and the similar Corporation at Berkeley, California that served California, Nevada, and Arizona.  Mary and I stored our furniture in Pocatello and with the boys, moved to a furnished apartment in Spokane.  Mary had two brothers and their families living in the area, Clair and Ralph--Ralph in Spokane and Clair not far away at Colfax. This “home” lasted about four months when I was asked to move to Washington, D.C. as a permanent headquarters and supervise the Spokane and Berkeley districts from there.

Mary Eliza Whittle, circa 1930s

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES, BIRTHS OF GERALD, RICHARD AND WALTER; CAREER AND TRAVEL

Christmas Memories
Digressing from Kenneth’s story, I thought it would be fun to see a few photos from early Scott family Christmases.  These are all the photos we have digitized so far.  If anyone would like to contribute more, please email them to me and I’ll post them on the blog.

An early Christmas in the home of Elzumer and Carrie Mae, Kenneth's parents

Gerald?  What is the story?

This looks like Wayne, right?

Date? Place? Memories?

Porter Street?  Date? 

Flash forward to the future...I couldn't resist including this picture! 

Front: Mary,  Mary Lee, Cindy, Debbie.  Back:  Walter, Richard, Jeanene, June, ca. 1958.  Porter Street?

Back to Kenneth's autobiography:

First Home in Blackfoot
Our first home was in the Cobra Apartment in Blackfoot. We spent our first Christmas there. Later we moved to a house across the street from Mary’s parents.



Gerald’s Birth
Gerald was born on July 6, 1926 in the Whittle home, there being no hospital in Blackfoot. That was a mighty happy occasion for us. It was good that Mary could be close to her mother and learn from her years of experience how to take care of this precious young man.

Gerald Leroy Scott

Mary and Gerald

Gerald and Mary

Kenneth recreated with Gerald the picture his father took with him as a child

Manager of Livestock Credit Corporation
In 1927, I was asked to become manager of the Livestock Credit Corporation with headquarters in Blackfoot. I resigned as bank receiver and accepted the new position which proved to be a very good move. I became well acquainted with the officials of the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank at Spokane, Washington--the source of our loan funds and also with two very capable bankers who were members of my board of directors and who gave me invaluable counsel and training in the extension of sound credit. They were Edgar Largulier and John Galbraith. Ultimately it led to my being called to Washington D.C. to help organize and become an officer of the national Production Credit System.

The territory of the Livestock Credit Corporation extended west to Caldwell, Idaho, and throughout southern Idaho--with some range sheep loans in Utah and Nevada. I made occasional trips to visit our large borrowers and local bankers whom I often helped by financing some of their large livestock borrowers whose credit needs exceeded the loan limits of the local bank. Occasionally, Mary would accompany me on short trips up to Yellowstone Park or over into Jackson, Wyoming or to the Twin Falls, Idaho, country.

Move to Pocatello; Richard’s Birth
In 1928 we changed the headquarters of the Livestock Credit Corp to Pocatello--a more central point for our business. Mary and I rented a furnished house from Dr. R. O. Young. Incidentally, we were able to move our household items in two trips with our car.

Kenneth's and Mary's home in Pocatello in 1930s according to Richard, who took the photo several years ago.

Shortly after this our second son, Richard Gordon was born on Nov. 7, 1928 in the hospital in Pocatello. The blessings and joys of our home were multiplying.

Richard Gordon Scott

Gerald and Richard

Richard and Gerald

Gerald and Richard sledding

Mary with Gerald and Richard

Parents Move to Pocatello
By . . ., the volume of loans in LCC had increased so much that I needed additional help in the office to handle them. We persuaded Father to become Vice President of our company and he and Mother and Roland and Marvin moved to Pocatello.

Brother Roland
Roland, while still in high school, was showing evidence of natural leadership ability, along with a very cheerful and friendly manner. Mary has recalled the times she saw him in such a role where there were work assignments, for example, when a group of students were asked to gather up some trimmed limbs and haul them away in a truck. She said, “There was Roland on the truck, directing his schoolmates to put all the limbs on the truck and with his cheerful remarks having everyone doing the work without complaint.” Roland’s natural ability to play the piano led to his organizing a dance band that successfully performed.

Roland (1910-2003), Kenneth's brother, on a family hike

Roland Scott

Brother Marvin
Marvin had become quite expert with the trombone, in fact, he won the high school tryouts that enabled him to go to Chicago to compete in the finals for the entire country. Unfortunately, he became quite ill from food the day before the contest--but even with that serious handicap, he won second place.

Marvin Scott in band uniform with trombone

Elzumer, Marvin and Kenneth

While Marvin was attending his first year of study at the McMinnville, Oregon Baptist College, he contracted a serious kidney illness and passed away on May 19, 1936. He was buried in the family plot in Pocatello.

Marvin Scott (1916-1936), Kenneth's brother

[It is sad to realize that only two of Elzumer's and Carrie Mae's children, Kenneth and Roland, survived until adulthood.]

Walter’s Birth
On March 31, 1931, Mary and I were blessed with another fine son, Walter Conrad, in the Pocatello hospital.

Walter Conrad Scott

Walter and Kenneth

Walter and Gerald

Kenneth with Richard, Walter and Gerald

Mary with Gerald, Richard and Walter

Cook and Housekeeper Hired
We engaged the services of Juanita, a country girl who was a fine cook and housekeeper, to help Mazy with these three lively sons. 

Juanita is to the left of Kenneth according to Richard, who said she was his favorite of all the hired help they had.

  Juanita took over the job of teaching Walter to walk and had him doing that when he was only 8 ½ months old.  During this period, Mary and I would quite often play nine holes of golf early in the morning and come home to a warm shower and a delicious breakfast that Juanita would have ready. Mary was good at golf and we enjoyed those games together.

Kenneth and Mary with golf clubs, circa 1940s

Mary’s Parents Move to Pocatello
While we were living in Pocatello, Mary’s parents moved to Pocatello and were living there when we later moved to Washington, D.C.

Attended World’s Fair
In 1932, Mary and I, traveling in our new Chevrolet Sedan, drove to Chicago to attend the World’s Fair. That was a great experience for us. We stayed with my Uncle Charles Scott in west Chicago and rode the elevated train to and from the fair, as that city traffic was far too much for a country couple from Idaho.

Gerald’s Need for Glasses
When Gerald was about a year old, we discovered that the coordination of his eyes was weak causing them to turn in when they became tired--impairing his eyesight seriously. We arranged to have him receive special treatments which continued regularly with frequent changes of glasses until he finished college when his eyes were strong enough for regular glasses. We have always been grateful that there was expert knowledge and special equipment available and that we had the means to make it available to that fine son.

Richard and Gerald with glasses

Family Recreation
One of the things our family liked to do when we lived in Pocatello was to go to the foothills in the fall and pick wild choke cherries. They made delicious jelly.

Gerald and Richard joined the Pocatello school band at an early age. Gerald played the trumpet and Richard the clarinet.

Richard on drum, Gerald on trumpet

Gerald on trumpet, Richard on clarinet, in band uniforms

Richard and Gerald

Richard on clarinet, Walter at the piano, and Gerald on trumpet

Richard’s first instrument had “closed” keys as his fingers were too short for a standard instrument.  His instructor would hold Richard on his lap and say, “Bo, Ritchie, Bo!" They continued their private lessons until they became quite skilled with their instruments. The local theater in Pocatello announced a contest for young musical students. Gerald signed up Richard and the evening of the contest, we all attended.  Mother Whittle heard someone who saw Richard come on the stage with several others say, “That little boy surely can’t play very well. They have just let him come along to humor him.” When it came Richard’s turn to play, he walked out on the stage and played, “The Bells of St. Mary’s” without a mistake, and got a big hand from the audience as well as one of the prizes.

Courtship and Marriage

Meeting Future Bride
One day when I was sitting at my desk in the bank [in Blackfoot, Idaho], I noticed an attractive young lady passing by. During the next few days I noticed that she went by about the same time each day, but never even so much as glanced my way.

Mary Eliza Whittle in 1925, age 22

I had made the acquaintance of Paul DeMourdant, who owned the movie theater, since we both ate our meals at the Friendly Café. I asked Paul if he knew the young lady and he said from my description, he thought it was his cashier girl. So, the following evening, I went to the movie and sure enough there she was in the glass cage selling tickets. I thought she was certainly “all business” if not rather cold in dispensing my ticket.

A few days later, probably about the 28th of December 1924, Paul said, “I am taking my girl friend down to Pocatello this evening for dinner. Would you like for me to see if my cashier, Mary Whittle, would join us and make it a foursome?” I readily agreed and later in the day was told “Everything is arranged.” So that is how it all started.

We had a nice evening together and I was much impressed with the distinctly reserved attitude of this charming young lady. A few days later, I was permitted to walk with her when she was returning home from work. After several such walks and conversations, we began taking rides in my Ford coupe.

The members of Mary’s family--her mother and father, LeRoy, Clair, Lura, Ralph, and Theo were friendly and we soon became quite well acquainted.

It was the evening of June 18, 1925. The moon was full. We stopped the car where the moon reflected from the Blackfoot River and I proposed to Mary. To my great joy, I heard her say, “Yes”. I had felt confident enough that I had purchased an engagement ring that I slipped on her finger. Later on, we set our marriage date for July 20th, 1925.

Marriage (July 20, 1925)
It was not unusual at that time for friends of a bride and groom to play pranks such as forcefully separating a bride and groom on their first night of married life and Mary and I had good reason to believe our friends were planning that for us. In fact, they had arranged for Mary’s brother LeRoy to be watching for signs of our wedding day. So we quietly arranged for a simple wedding in the home of Mary’s parents.

The ceremony was performed by Bishop William Snyder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the presence of Mary’s mother, her sister Lura, and brothers Ralph and Theo.  LeRoy, who worked late each night at the movie house, was upstairs in the home sleeping.

Mary Eliza Whittle

Kenneth Leroy Scott

It was not until years later when I became an active and devoted member of the L.D.S. Church that I realized what a chance Mary took that she might never be able to have our marriage vows sealed for eternity in a holy temple of our Lord and bring our children up in the Church.

It was after I became an active member of the church that I became aware of why Mary had confidence that our marriage and family life would work out well. It was then that Mary told me that her wonderful mother had stated that she was confident I would become a member of the Church.

Margaret Smith Whittle, 1878-1952

I still believe that the time to get both members of a marriage right with our Savior and his teachings is to have their marriage performed in one of his holy temples for time and eternity when the marriage is first performed. Too many marriages have been unhappy when this was not the case.

Honeymoon
Immediately after our marriage, Mary and I got into our Ford Coupe and started on our honeymoon trip.

 

To try and keep away from our prank-playing friends, we stayed away from the main road toward Boise and drove to Arco, Makey, the Craters of the Moon lava deposits, and stopped in Hailey for the night.

Craters of the Moon, 1942.  Courtesy Library of Congress

The next day we took the “back road” over a low range of mountains and reached my parent’s home west of Boise in late afternoon. Roland and Marvin were in the yard watching for us. I was mighty pleased to present my sweet wife to my family where she was made to feel welcome.

After a few days, we started out again, headed for Portland, Oregon where Mary had a favorite uncle, George Smith. He was real nice to us. The next day we drove on over to Seaside, Oregon where we spent several delightful days on the beach.

Mary at  Seaside, Oregon

Kenneth at Seaside, Oregon

On our return trip, we especially enjoyed the Columbia River highway with its waterfalls and spectacular lookout points. We purchased a nice painting of Multnoma Falls that has always been in our home as a reminder of our delightful honeymoon trip. After a short visit with my folks, we hurried back to Blackfoot where I resumed my work as bank receiver.