Thomas C. Stanford
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Thomas C. Stanford is the founder of Carey, Idaho. He was a Mormon rancher and a state legislator in Idaho.
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[edit] Early years
Stanford was born September 30, 1865, in Logan, Utah, a son of Stephen and Louisa (Forman) Stanford. His father, a native of England, came to Utah in 1861. Of the ten children, Thomas C. was the fifth and was four years old when the family moved to Salt Lake City, where he grew up and received a basic education. He later attended the Brigham Young Academy. When nineteen years old he came to Albion, Idaho.
[edit] Homesteading and ranching
In 1884 he located a homestead in the Little Wood River valley, which was the center of his operations as a rancher and stockman. In 1895 he bought additional land and engaged in sheep raising as well a continuing his interests in cattle and horses. He was regarded as one of the most successful livestock producers in Idaho. In his later years he also raised hogs on an extensive scale. His home place consisted of 160 acres (647,000 m²) near Carey, Blaine County, Idaho. Further down the valley he had 240 acres (971,000 m²) of land. Both farms were under irrigation and capable of producing fine crops.
[edit] Organizing stock growers
Stanford was instrumental in the organized activities of Idaho stock growers and in 1908-10 served as president of the Idaho Wool Growers Association. He was instrumental in getting much legislation passed beneficial to wool growers, and as president of the association called the first meeting that led to the organization of the National Wool Warehouse.
[edit] Political activity
Stanford was a Republican member of the Ninth Idaho Legislature in the lower house (1907), and Governor Hawley appointed him a member of the livestock board of the state.
[edit] Family and religion
In June 1900, he married Ida Ivie, daughter of John Ivie, an old Indian scout, who served during the early Indian wars in Utah. The four children of their marriage were: Roka, Esther, Charles, and Frank.
Mr. Stanford was for a number of years actively connected with the Mormon church and served as a missionary in New Zealand for three years. Mr. Stanford assisted in developing irrigation projects in Blaine County and surrounding parts of Idaho.
[edit] Community development
Mr. Stanford’s name seems to have been associated both as a worker and liberal contributor to all the community development projects in the Little Wood River valley for many years. He was an organizer of the local telephone company at Carey, served as vice president of the company, and was afterward elected its president. He was also one of the organizers of the Carey State Bank and at one time was president of the Cooperative Store.
He moved to Boise, Idaho in 1945 due to ill health and died January 14, 1946. He is buried in the Cloverdale Memorial Park, west of Boise.
