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| Source: | HISTORY OF IDAHO, Vol. III. |
| By Hiram T. French, M. S. The Lewis Publishing Company. Chicago & New York. 1914. Pages 910-911. |
Davison H. Eastman. Through his interposition in the agricultural and stock-growing industries in Idaho Mr. Eastman has gained independence and definite prosperity, and he is still the owner of one of the valuable landed estate in the beautiful Boise valley, though he is now living virtually retired in an attractive home in the city of Boise. He has been a resident of Idaho for more than a score of years and has fully availed himself of the splendid opportunities here presented, with the result that he has achieved marked success through his well ordered efforts and has become one of the substantial citizens of the state, even as he is liberal and progressive in his civic attitude. A man who commands unqualified esteem in the community and now incumbent of the office of county commissioner, Mr. Eastman is eminently entitled to specific recognition in this publication.Davison H. Eastman was born in Benton county, Iowa, on the 14th of December 1864, and is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of the Hawkeye state. He is a son of Harmon and Caroline A. (Shields) Eastman, both of whom were born in Indiana, where the respective families were founded in the pioneer days, and both of whom now maintain their home in East Boise, Idaho, the former being seventy-seven years of age and the latter seventy years at the time of this writing, in 1912; they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1909 and both are held in high regard in the community in which they have chosen to pass the gracious twilight of their lives. Harmon Eastman was reared to adult age in his native state, and as a young man he removed to Illinois, where he was identified with agricultural pursuits for a number of years. In the late '50s he went to Iowa and numbered himself among the pioneers of Benton county, where he secured a tract of government land and developed a productive farm. He was one of the representative citizens of that county for many years and finally disposed of his interests in Iowa to pass the residue of his life in Idaho.
He was one of the loyal sons of the republic who went forth in defense of the Union when the Civil war was precipitated on a divided nation. In 1861, in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front and with which he took part in a number of important engagements marking the earlier period of the great conflict between the North and South. After a year of faithful and efficient service his health became impaired to such an extent that he was unable to continue in the ranks, with the result that he was given an honorable discharge, on account of physical disability. He has ever retained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and signified the same by his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, in the affairs of which he has been active and appreciative. He has ever been a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Christian church. Of the five children Davison H., of this review, was the second in order of birth.
Davison H. Eastman was reared to the sturdy discipline of the old homestead farm in Benton county, Iowa, and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the public schools of the locality and period. He continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in his native state until he went to South Dakota and took up a claim near Redfield, Spink county, where he effected the development of a considerable part of his claim. Thereafter he was for a time a resident of Topeka, Kansas, and later he established his residence in Salt Lake City, where he engaged in business in the locating and boring of artesian wells. He devoted a few years to this line of enterprise, in which he was successful, and then came to Idaho, with the civic and industrial interests, of which state he has been closely and worthily identified. He obtained government land in the Boise valley, and through close application and judicious management he here developed a fine property, becoming one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of this section of the state. A substantial competency represents the concrete results of his well directed endeavors, and he has no reason to regret the fact that he thus early availed himself of the opportunities afforded in the state which is consistently termed the "Gem of the Mountains." As a cattle-grower Mr. Eastman utilized an extensive range and built up a large and prosperous business, in connection with which he shipped the major part of his live stock to the eastern markets. His valuable ranch property is now leased to a reliable tenant, and in 1911, on account of the delicate health of his wife, Mr. Eastman removed to Boise, the fair capital city of the state, where he resides in an attractive and modern home, at 1600 North Eighth street. He is fond of sports afield and makes frequent hunting and fishing trips, besides which, with his high- grade touring automobile, he and his family find diversion in making long tours through the beautiful mountains and valleys which give Idaho its picturesque charm.
In politics Mr. Eastman is a stalwart advocate of the cause of the Republican party and he has given effective service as a worker in its local ranks. In the autumn of 1912 he was elected to represent the second district as a member of the board of commissioners of Ada county, and his progressiveness and public spirit insure effective service on his part in this important office. He is affiliated with the local camp of the Sons of Veterans and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church. In the Boise Valley, at the home of the bride's parents, was solemnized, on the 29th of October, 1894, the marriage of Mr. Eastman to Miss Nellie Everett, who is a daughter of Phelps and Elizabeth (Wilson) Everett, sterling pioneers of Idaho, where they established their home fully forty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman have five children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are here noted: Clifford, August 28, 1896; Helen, January 8, 1898; Harold, September 23, 1901: Vernon, October 2, 1903; and Muriel, in April, 1908.
Transcriber's Note: Harmon Eastman and Carolina A. Shields were married in Benton Co., Iowa on October 22nd, 1860,.
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