Omer Samuel Call

Omer (Omie) Samuel Call was born in Willard, Box Elder, Utah, on September 25, 1857, to Omer Call and Sarah Maria (Ferrin) Call. His parents were Mormon pioneers who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. He was the oldest of 11 children born to Omer and Sarah and the oldest of the 22 children born to Omer. Omer grew up and attended school in Willard, Utah. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 16,1866, and remained a faithful Latter-day Saint throughout his life. As a young man, Omer worked at many different jobs, such as freighting, railroad construction and lumbering, which took him to Idaho.

He started the work of homesteading in the spring of 1883. He went to Cassia Creek with his brother, Cyril J., their brother-in-law George A. Cordon and a cousin Josiah Call. They were not successful in locating a homestead there so they traveled to the Snake River Valley in Southeastern Idaho that fall. They selected homesteads on what is now the town-site of Labelle, Idaho, before they returned to Willard, Utah for the winter.

While he was in Idaho, Omer corresponded with a young woman from his home town and his bride-to-be, Anne Mette Madsen. Annie was a beautiful blond girl from Willard, Utah, whose people came from Denmark. Omer asked Annie to think of him while she was having a good time in Willard. Omer continued to court Annie and the couple were married in March of 1884 in Salt Lake City, Utah before Omer returned to Idaho shortly after that.

The following excerpt is from the autobiography of George Albert Cordon: "We returned to the Snake River in the spring of 1884 with the intention of locating on our selected places, but we found the “Mad River” swollen and most formidable due to high water. There was no ferry or bridge to gain the opposite side. Someone had to swim and Josiah made such a suicidal attempt he came near losing his life. This caused our plans to be altered materially, Cyril J. and I decided to scout around a bit. We found a location near where Rigby is now located, much to our liking and the river need not be crossed to reach it. It took considerable persuasion on our part to attract the boys to this new selection.

However, they decided to look it over, which resulted in our locating here at Rigby. The next day we filed our homestead claims on the four places at Eagle Rock, (Idaho Falls, Idaho). O.S. (Omie) and I left for Beaver canyon to work during the summer. C.J. and Josiah returned to Willard. In September of 1884, O.S. and I returned and worked until November [in the Spencer, Idaho, area] hauling timber out to prepare our homes; we also surveyed for the canal known as the Rigby canal.

We found D.S. Robbins and family had moved in from Cache Valley and were greatly in need of a house. Omie and I assisted him in getting the house logs cut and hauled out. We then put them up and covered and plastered it all with mud. The night they moved in [October 24th] a snow storm came that was extremely wet and disagreeable. Soon after we returned to our Utah homes".

According to Omer's son, Delbert Call, "It was during this time that an event took place that always stood out in their memories. Omer Samuel's parents, Omer and Sarah Maria Ferrin Call had not previously been sealed in the temple and neither had Omer and Annie. While visiting with Omer Samuel's father, Omer Call, a decision was made to make the trip to the Logan L.D.S. temple in Utah, accompanied by George & Sarah Agnes Call (Aggie) Cordon. Omer and Annie did their temple work and were sealed together. The Logan Temple records show them as being sealed together on December 31, 1884.

Early in the spring of 1885 the group of men returned and broke up a few acres of ground and sowed it to wheat. They then went up the river to Granite Creek where they secured house logs for their homes. The summer of 1885 was busy and very productive for this group, they built their homes close to one another and did the work necessary to qualify for a homestead. Omer and Annie Call were some of the first pioneers to settle in the Rigby area. They homesteaded 160 acres just north of the canal where the housing additions and Harwood Elementary school are now. The legal description for the land that Omer filed on is Lots 1 & 2 and the East 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 18, Township 4, North of Range 39 East.

In November of 1889, he filed for notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim and on December 21,1889, he did so in the 3rd Judicial District Court in Eagle Rock, [Idaho Falls, Idaho]. Conditions were primitive, but they were young and other relatives were also there to help bear the hardships. The families were dependent on each other, not only for goods and services but for companionship and moral support. Living conditions were rough and to begin with, they had to camp and sleep in their wagon until they could build something a little better.

For the first two years they would go back to Willard, Utah, for the winter and get needed supplies. According to Delbert Call "They were also instrumental in building a canal that brought water to the land as well as other community projects that were necessary. Among other things, they had no church organized, nor did they have any building to hold meetings in. Their old friend, William F. Rigby was on the Stake Presidency in the Fremont Stake in Rexburg, Idaho, and with his assistance, they organized a branch of the Lewisville Ward and they called it the Rigby Branch of Lewisville Ward.

For a meeting house they obtained the use of Daniel S. Robbins residence and he was made the Presiding Elder at that time. It soon became evident that this arrangement had it's short comings, so they went ahead to obtain land and build a meeting house There were some people by the name of Parks who had come and started to homestead immediately west of the George Cordon farm and kitty-corner from the Omer Call farm. They arranged to purchase 12 acres of ground on the corner of the ranch and proceeded to build a log church and meeting house on that location".

On May 25,1886, the Rigby 1st Ward was created and George A. Cordon was called as the 1st Bishop of the ward. Omer Samuel Call served as the Superintendent of the Sunday School at that time. Another excerpt from the autobiography of George Albert Cordon states; "And so we came to play a very important part in the pioneering of this great valley of the Snake River. During the winter of 1885 we started the construction of a log meeting house; the next spring it was moved to the town-site and there completed. They hooked horses onto it and drug it over into the center of the community and located it in close proximity to what later became the Rigby Stake Building. By the Spring of 1886, the building was complete and ready for use. We held our Sunday Schools, meetings, dances and all gatherings here until 1898 when the Rock Church was erected.

We were then but a branch of the Church with Brother D.S. Robbins as our Presiding Elder. Yet we had all organizations fully officered, most of us filling several positions as we were few in number. During this time the headquarters for the church was at Rexburg, and all stake meetings and conferences were held there. We early settlers can spin many a yarn of the times we forded the Snake River near Lorenzo. In the winter we crossed on the ice. The fall and spring months were the most hazardous, with mush ice or high water running. Later on we had a ferry which was some degree safer. Incidents most humorous, and those not so full of humor, are related even today at our reunions and family gatherings.

On May 22, 1886, the Rigby Ward was created. It was named in honor of William F. Rigby, a man whom the Saints here held in high esteem. I was set apart as their Bishop and ordained a High Priest. For over thirty years I fulfilled this calling, until December 7, 1917. This was the year my health began to break. My son, Omer, was called to take my place, a tribute that filled my heart with much joy and gratitude. The Rigby Ward was later divided into the First and Second Wards. Omer continued as the Bishop of the First Ward.

The story of how the town-site of Rigby came to be, is most interesting. In the fall of 1886, a man by the name of John Stander had filed on the quarter section now occupied as the original town-site of Rigby. He came to me and wanted to sell his relinquishment, and offered the same for $20. Up to that time we had made no provision for a town-site, but now decided the proper thing to do was to buy him out, which we did. I remember going around to the other settlers soliciting money in order to pay this man $20 for his relinquishment. Money was extremely scarce and my errand was not an easy one. However, when I called on George E. Hill Sr., who had just moved here from Salt Lake, he gave me a $5 gold piece. It looked to me as large as a wagon wheel. I was successful in raising the $20 and got Mr. Stander’s relinquishment.

The intention at that time was to let the Probate Judge file on this land on behalf of the settlers. This we proceeded to have done but we were informed by him that if we showed our good intentions it would not be necessary for us to live on the town site. Accordingly, a number of us went to work and fenced our lots and planted trees. These were the first trees planted in Rigby. One cold Sunday we went to Sunday School and found a man named John Robinson living in the meeting house. He had jumped our claim. In order to get rid of him we had to pay him $250. Josiah Call filed a pre-emption on the place and proved it up in six months’ time. He then sold the lots out for a town. When we bought Mr. Stander out for $20 we turned around and sold the timber on the lot for $24. thus we made a profit of $4 on that deal.

Education has always been my paramount interest. We few pioneers here decided our children should not be deprived of a school. A one room log school was provided for and I was engaged as the teacher. I taught 20 scholars during the winter of 1886 and 1887. Our textbooks were brought from the old homes in Utah and no two in the room were alike. The benches consisted of slabs rested upon wooden legs. Writing desks were boards fastened to log walls. When they were used for writing they were raised and when not in use were dropped. And yet we obtained a fair degree of success and I am proud of those scholars for the men and women they later became".

Omie was a good older brother and he helped some of his siblings to make the move from Utah to Idaho and make a start in the area. Annie and Omer became the parents of eleven children, Sarah Annie [Call] Hoggan (1886-1917), Omer Matthew Call, (1888-1972), Sylvester Call (1891-1984), Irene Pearl [Call] Larsen (1893-1979), Heber Leslie Call (1895-1919), Floyd Call (1897-1970), Cyrus Bernard Call (1899-1974), George Charles Call (1902-1970), Delta Rhea [Call] Cottle (1904-2001), Delbert Fremont Call (1907-1982) and Lavina Call (1910-1979).

Omer was a farmer and had a large farm on the north side of Rigby. He also had cows, large roan work horses, pigs and chickens. He was a hard worker but also took time to enjoy his family. Omer and Sylvester both played in Rigby's first brass band. They rode in a wagon pulled by horses in parades. Sylvester played the tenor horn and Omer played the snare drum.

Later in life, Omer suffered a stroke and became an invalid for many years. Annie took care of him until he passed away on May 13, 1930, in Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho. He was 72 years old. Omer was buried in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery on May 16, 1930.

Biography was compiled by Lorraine Larsen Simmons from information provided by Delbert F. Call, Marion Call Hamilton, Sally Agnes Call Cordon, George Albert Cordon and other family members.

SOURCE: Find A Grave.com