Cyrus Arthur Harris Brief History

I, C.A. Harris, was born at Salem, Idaho in the year 1889.  I attended the public schools at Salem and Sugar City.  I graduated from Ricks Academy and then took a three year commercial course in June, 1909.  I was president of the student body at Ricks and business manager of the Student Rays and also represented Ricks in the debate team in 1908 and 1909.  I entered the employ of the Spaulding Buggy Manufacturing Company in 1910.  I was time keeper of the sugar factory in the fall of 1910 and 1911.  In the spring of 1911, I entered the employ of the Rexburg Implement Company, then a branch of the Utah Implement Vehicle Company of Salt Lake City.  In 1912 it was organized by incorporation to the Farmer’s Implement Company with over one hundred stock holders, and I became General Manager of this institution and remained such from 1912 to 1924.  During this time the company had established branch houses in St. Anthony, Ashton, Teton and Newdale with a 1918 yearly volume of $248,000.00.  During this time I was elected on the City Council for two years, also elected President of the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce for one year and elected President of the Rexburg Rotary Club.

I went into the Implement Hardware business for myself January 1, 1924.  In 1919 organized the Farmer’s Building Company with 15 stockholders and built the building I now occupy with my present business, having purchased the building from the company three years ago.  I have been in business for myself for the last sixteen years and I have gradually grown and developed until today I have branch stores in St. Anthony and Ashton in addition to Rexburg.  During six years of this period I served as counselor to the late Henry J. Flamm in the Second Ward Bishopric.  I was director in the Intermountain Hardware Association and have served as the President of it for the last three years.  It covers Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, part of Oregon, and part of Nevada, known as the Intermountain Empire.

I was County Chairman of the Republican party for four years and was State Committeeman for six years.  At the present time, in addition to the Implement and Hardware business, I am also wholesale distributor for the Standard Oil Company of California in Madison and Jefferson County.  I was married to Zina Cole in 1912 and our family consist of eight children, seven of which are living; five boys and two girls.

(This history was given to me, Joann Harris by my father in 1940 when I was in a Junior Genealogy Class.)