Alexander S. Womack - News Articles

The following is a transcription of the news article above:

Idaho Pioneer Who Has 50 Grand and 13 Great Grand Children (News Article) Date: 1910-01-02; Paper: The Idaho Daily Statesman

Idaho Pioneer Who Has 50 Grand and 13 Great Grand Children

Alexander Womack who with his son, grandson, and great grandson, were photographed for the Stateman's pioneer column, is an old timers who has seen lively times in the early days, having participated in the Bannock Indian was as well as being a veteran in the Civil War. He has made his home near Emmett for the last 30 years and gives an interesting account of the naming of that town.

Mr. Womack was born in Shelby County, Ill. March 26, 1836. With his parents he moved to Missouri when yet a child. In 1855 he was married. He lived in Missouri till the spring of 1870 when he moved to Idaho, locating in the Payette valley about two miles above where the present town of Emmett is now located. At that time there was a very small settlement in that section. After living on his homestead for over a year Mr. Womack moved to Emmett building the second house in that vicinity and residing here continuously wvwer since. He enjoys the distinction of being the oldest settler now residing in the town.

For several years after moving to Idaho Indians were more plentiful that whites not always being on the most friendly terms. At one time in particular, during the Bannock war, the few settlers were in fear of an attack for some time.

Mr. Womack engaged in the blacksmith work soon after moving here and conducted a shop for over 30 years, when the business was taken over by one of his sons who still conducts it. He is a veteran of the civil war, was in the Forty-fifth Illinois infantry and saw three years services, most of the time in the army of the Tennessee. He is an interesting talker and well posted on the early history of Idaho and especially of this section of the state.

Mr. Womack gives the origin of the name of the town of Emmett from the establishment of a postoffice by that name on what was known as the old Payette ranch, six miles below the town. Thomas Cahalan established the postoffice at this ranch, naming it in honor of his son, Emmett, about the year 1884. The office at the ranch was discontnued and moved to Emmett, retaining the name ever since.

Mr. Womack is the father of 15 children, 12 of whom are still living. In the family were nine girls and six boys. There are now living over 50 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Mr. Womack is 69 years of age, hale and hearty, exceppt for a slight rheumatic trouble the las few years. He is wonderfully well preserved for a man of his years and could easily pass for a man of 60.

The accompanying picture shows the four generations all living, they are: Alexander Womack, Isaac Womack, his son. Walter Womack, and Elmer Womack. A family reunion was held a short time ago at which there were about 75 descendants present.

Emmett Loses Loved Pioneer Alexander S. Womack, Indian Fighter of Early Days, Passes Away (News Article) Date: 1916-12-03; Paper: The Idaho Daily Statesman

Alexander Selkirk Womack, one of the beloved pioneers of Emmett, died in the city November 19, in his eighty-first year. Mr. Womack, who came to the Emmett country 45 years ago, saw the first school building erected, the first church organized, the first irrigation ditch dug, and from that time on watched the sage brush plains blossom into beautiful, cultivated fields.
He was born in Springfield, Ill., March 26, 1836, and was married to Pheobe A. Perkins, May 13, 1855.

Mr. Womack heard the call of the west in 1860 and he crossed the plains from Missouri to Denver, then a mining town one year old, where he remained until the beginning of the civil war.
Fought Through Civil War.

When calls for volunteers were made, his intense patriotism caused him to return to the east and in 1863 he enlisted in the Forty-fifth Illinois infantry, where he served until the close of the war. After the war was over Mr Womack again decided to cast his lot in the west and with his family started for his new home in 1871.

On November 19, just 45 years prior to the day of his death, the family arrived at what is now the McConnell brothers' ranch on Anderson creek, then the home of "Uncle Ab" and "Aunt Polly" Wells, who will be remembered by all old settlers along the Payette valley.

At this time, Mr. Womack's brother Asa Womack, now living at Tikura Ia., had a blacksmith on the Payette river at the Dr. Haley place. Both families moved to Emmett and the brothers opened a shop there, the first in the place.

Organized Against Indians.

Soon after settlers began coming to this valley the Bannock Indian war started, then the local Indians became hositle and the Payette valley was among many other fronier localities that suffered from the numerous depredations of the painted red men.

Mr. Womack, with 60 or 70 other settlers, formed a company under Captain Page, now of Weiser. Guns and ammunition were obtained from the government and a stockade was built about where the Emmett depot now stands. After the Bannock war was ended peace came again to the Payette valley.

Mr. Womack followed is trade continuously until 14 years ago, when he gave up active labor and hos business was taken over by one of his sons. Blacksmithing was somewhat different then from now. There was no electric power and Mr. Womack usually burned his own coal pits, a slow and tedious undertaking, as they had to be watched day and night to prevent the wood from blazing. he was a successful inventor and secured patents to several of his inventions.

Endured Many Hardships.

Little do the citizens of the present day realize the hardships these sturdy pioneers endured, when the nearest doctor was at Boise and the only was to get him was to ride on horseback: when Kelton, Utah, was the nearest railroad station and everything had to be freighted from that point.

On New Year's day, 1912, Mr. Womack for the last time had his family all together. His faithful wife, who had journeyed with him for 49 years, died in 1914. Theirs was a large family, 15 children, 55 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He left to mourn him 10 children, Isaac and William of Emmett; Ralph of Cascade; George of Seattle; Mrs. G.W. Edwards, Payette; Mrs. F.S. Holdrider, Weiser; Mrs. George Woods, Mesa, and Mrs. J.B. Cox, Mrs. Laura Kelley and Miss Elizabeth Womack of Emmett.