Percy Groom, making reply to a published expression of “it don’t
matter
– let’s give in,” said steadfastly, “My advice to him is to change his
views and become a booster. Never knock, always boost and in case you
cannot boost a respectful silence would be the better way.” To a man
who started his life in one nation and concluded it in another, to a
man who went threading needles in a textile mill to presiding over a
court of law, to a man who raised a family of four successful sons and
daughters such a philosophy was more than a passing thought – it was a
way of life.
This way of thought consistently reappears in Percy’s life story,
recounting his strong English heritage, his spirited youth, his
struggles and successes as farmer, businessman, lawyer, judge,
churchman, family man, and his innumerable acts as a friend.
Nathan Groom’s life took on a new perspective after he met the Mormon
missionaries. He joined the church while still a young man. He went on
to work as a game keeper on various large estates. It was at home of
one of his employers that he met his wife, Emma Elizabeth Hill. She was
a well to do daughter of an estate owner; her courtship and subsequent
marriage to Nathan caused friction between her and the family. Nathan
and Emma made their first home in Hertford County, living in a thatched
roof house with walls of stone.
A further wedge in Nathan’s relationship with his in-laws was his newly
acquired religion. The Hills were strong Methodists. In fact, Emma
Elizabeth grew up a devout Methodist and remained so until after her
marriage when she was over twenty years old. At the time of her
marriage she was not yet converted. But through Nathan’s efforts, by
attending meetings, with the association of members, and guided by the
teachings of the missionaries Emma also became a Latter-Day Saint. Emma
found herself ostracized from her family. Having first breached the
levels of English society by marrying Nathan, her conversion to
Mormonism only closed the door to any further contact with her family.
After Nathan and Emma Elizabeth were married, they drifted away from
their former home, never to return to it again. Several of the older
children were born in the thatched roof home in Hertford County. The
family located for a short time in Ireland, and then in the Shire of
Lancashire which encompassed the region of Manchester, England. Here
another son was born, the date being January 29, 1874, and the baby
being named Percy Groom.
While living in Manchester, many Mormon Elders visited the Groom home.
Sometimes they stayed for two or three days at a time. Percy himself
wrote these visits. “These visits gave mother a good chance to learn
from them all about their new doctrines, the place called Utah where
the Mormon people largely resided, and they had pictured of Utah and
photographs of the Elders of the church.” Encouraged by the views of
the church leadership, soon the family had one desire: to make the
journey to Utah and gather with the saints in Zion. Zion was described
as a beautiful and highly desirable area; this made the Groom’s
yearning to leave England very strong.
In order to finance such an undertaking, the family moved again, this
time to a more highly industrialized area in and around Manchester. As
a very young lad, Percy threaded needles at a cotton manufacturing
plant where his mother and sister Annie were also employed. Living
conditions were difficult, the art of staying alive in England during
this period took some doing. The overall poverty, widespread disease,
and conjested conditions common to the industrial area of the textile
mills were more than a lot of people could survive. For eleven years,
Percy’s family lived, labored, and scrimped with their money. The
immigration fund was kept secretly hidden in an old brown earthen pot
buried in the garden.
This was obviously a difficult time for Emma Elizabeth. She was not use
to such a lowly life. On one occasion later in Percy’s life he visited
his mother’s childhood home. He recalls: “I looked well over the scenes
of my mother’s childhood and young womanhood. She was born at
Cockernall, a country place; the old home was a two story brick house,
set back some distance from the road, surrounded by a brick wall and
iron gates for entrance and a winding gravel path leading from the gate
to the house, with a well assorted line of flowers, rose bushes, and
plants covering all the front of the building, and a garden at the
back; we may say that mother never in her life here in Utah or Idaho,
had such a house to live in as she had during her childhood and young
womanhood. The Methodists’ Church that she worshipped at with the
family was a brick building close to the house, everything lovely so to
think. However, I never heard mother say once in her life that she
missed the charm of the old place. She never so much as heaved a sigh
when I told her how beautiful her home in England was after I returned
from my mission in England. I was quite disappointed at the coolness of
the reception she gave me about her former home; mother was like Ruth
in the Bible, when she left England she left her country for good, and
all that it had previously held for her. Of course this was quite
common for converts. When they left their native land, they forsook all
past memories of their former homes, wealth, and values.”
Henry Groom, Percy’s older brother, was the first to leave England.
Sent by his parents to travel with a group of missionaries returning to
Utah, Henry boarded the S.S. Nevada on April 11, 1883. He lived with
friends in Utah until his parents arrived.
Nathan, Percy’s father,was the next to leave. Also a passenger on the
S.S. Nevada, He left on April 9, 1884, almost to the day one year since
Henry’s departure. Nathan’s passage cost 14 pounds 10 shillings.
Finally, on May 16, 1885, the finances were sufficient to allow three
or more of the family to travel to America leaving only Annie, age 19
at the time, to save for the passage. Annie, left alone for a year or
two was encouraged by donations from members in her parents’ ward in
Utah and by the promises of the missionaries that as she paid her
tithing she would be able to leave soon. Emma Elizabeth, brother Nathan
Jr. who was eighteen, and Percy who was eleven, sailed from the British
port of Liverpool on the S.S. Wisconsin. Percy recalls: “One bright May
morning in the early eighties, mother, my brother Nathan Jr., and
myself left so called merry England for Utah. Mother had sold all the
goods and chattels she wanted to sell, and some not being saleable, she
gave the away or left them in the house for others to use. However,
mother had some nice china tea sets and some dresden ware and other
bric -a- brac that she neither would sell or give away and other heir
looms that were dear to the heart of English women.
Things went well at the start, we boarded the good ship Wisconsin at
Liverpool and with about 300 other emigrating saints from Denmark,
Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland, and other parts of the British Isles,
we started across the mighty deep. The odd ship was a rather rickety
tub and it was in the habit of twisting,yawning, squeaking and groaning
as it made its way against the buffeting of the waves, but the saints
were going to their Zion, and they made the welkin ring with their
Mormon songs. Strange, but all these nationalities could sing the
piece; that is, the tune was the same, but the words were expressed
differently – but what lacked in unison of words, they made up in the
rendition of such as “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” “We thank Thee, O God,
for a Prophet,” and “Israel, Israel, God is Calling,” etc. .
The trip was quite exciting seeing whales, porpoises and other marine
animals and birds. It is strange how long a flock of sea gulls will
follow a ship and keep up with it without resting a spell. Some thirty
large ice bergs were seen on the way as May is a good time to cross if
one wants to see these dull, silent, grey piles of artic glaziers as
they majestically float down from Greenland and eventually melt in the
Gulf Stream. One large pile of ice had as a passenger a polor bear.
This boy was no doubt beyond his depths, as when the ice berg melted,
which it surely would do, then the bear would be without footing, and
while very clever in water, they have to come up for breathing, and
eventually the poor bear would become a victim of its own
thoughtlessness. It took a total of thirty days to cross the Atlantic.”
The immigrant passengers on the ship Wisconsin crowded the deck,
everyone pushing to the rail jostling on another to get their first
glimpses of America. Mothers lifted their small children to a better
vantage point. The Statue of Liberty lifted her torch to the new
residents entering New York Harbor. Each member of the family read the
inscription on the base of the giant lady which reads, in part:
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Percy and his mother were soon to find out, however that the government
would tempest toss the Grooms just once before sending them on their
way to the Salt Lake Valley, This came through te agents of the U. S.
Customs Service. At Ellis Island all the passengers were medically gone
over. Each took his turn being given the very painful small pox shots.
Then Uncle Sam stuck his nose in Emma’s business looking for taxable
items. Percy remembers about that experience: “My mother never thought
that Uncle Sam was so keen nosed to search through her baggage. They
spied the sets of china, the dresden plate and other bric -a- brac and
immediately put the usual tariff charges against it. This placed her in
a position to either leave her precious goods in the hands of the
government, or pay the charges; she chose the latter. However, this
almost cleaned her of our passage money to buy food from New York to
Salt Lake City. After shelling out to Uncle Sam, she had in American
money the sum of $1.96 to keep herself, and two boys in food from the
American metropolis to Zion.
Customs completed, we made out way to Grand Central Station in New York
to board the train for the four day trip to Utah. With good scotch
thrift mother made the $1.96 go as far as it could, but even then our
food consisted of water from the tap, bread, and canned meat. The train
journey seemed long and our meager rations dwindled to none. No more
food became available until the morning after our arrival at
Buttlerville Bench, east of Murray, Utah. I was so hungry and my
stomach hurt so badly I was unable to sleep my first night in Zion.”
The family had been separated in part for two years but now their
journey to Utah was complete and so was the family. The stay in Utah
was relatively short. Living in the Holladay area on the east side of
town the Grooms tried to farm. Of course, with the valley conditions as
they were irrigation was a necessary companion to any farming effort.
Percy, his father and brothers learned the art of irrigating from an
experienced black farmer in the area. In addition to the field crops,
they also acquired some livestock. All during their two year stay in
Holladay, the Grooms were preparing to move to southeast Idaho where
under the Homestead Act they could gain a title to farm land by
settling on the land.
Early in the spring of 1887, the family made their move to the Snake
River Valley. Specifically, they chose the area at Garfield, Idaho
which then Bingham County, but has since become the southern most part
of Jefferson County. The actual piece of the lands that could be
homesteaded was designated by federal survey markers. The land was
covered so densely with tall sage brush that it took several days
before the markers were found. With a long rope extended taut between
them, two men walked over the land trying to snag the markers in order
to locate the bench markers and establish the boundaries of their land.
Percy who was 13 and his brother, Henry William, who was two years
older has the responsibility to drive the cattle to their new home. For
thirty days the two brothers put up with heavy spring snow storms, mud,
poor trails – and they walked the entire distance. A small log house
was built on the property. The logs were transported across quite an
expanse, being brought down from Granite up above Antelope. east of the
present day town of Ririe, Idaho. The sage brush grew so tall that it
was difficult to see the house when out a distance from it. A tall pole
with a gunny sack nailed at the top was erected at the side of the
house to act as a guide post back.
The land where the Grooms settled was uncultivated, virgin ground. The
sage had to be grubbed out and the land had to be plowed. This was
tremendously hard work, especially when Percy, his dad, and his two
brothers didn’t have all they should have to eat. Being yet
uncultivated, the land provided little food and there was no money to
buy any. Many times in the beginning years the family wondered what
they would eat for their next meal.
One late afternoon after the four men had put in a hard day, once more
they had the chore of getting their supper. Jackrabbits were plentiful
out in the sage brush. Percy’s dad and his brother Nathan Jr. took the
shot gun and shot three big jacks. Nathan Jr. put the rabbits in a
bucket and walked two or three miles to swale where there was a small
stream so he could skin and dress out the rabbits. He put the prepared
rabbits into a bucket full of water for the walk back. By the time
Nathan Jr. got back to where the other three were, all the water had
slopped out of the bucket. The rabbits were covered with bits of sage
Brush as the bucket hit against the sage brush and dropped into the
bucket. No matter, Percy, Nathan Sr., and Harry quickly built a fire
and roasted the meat. The bits of sage on the jackrabbits probably even
enhanced the taste. The principle problem facing pioneer farmers was
the same as that confronted in Utah – the need for irrigation. To solve
the problem plans were laid to construct a canal extending from the
banks of the Snake River, 20 miles to the east of the Groom Homestead,
and reaching out to the dry farmland.
Percy and his brothers, Nathan Jr., and Henry, along with other men in
the area, took their teams and slip scrapers to the Snake River and dug
the canal moving in the direction of home. The year was 1890. Digging
the canal was another real pioneer experience in itself. Their
traveling camp consisted of the wagon which carried the several barrels
of water, a few cooking pots, some bedding, and a few tools. At night,
the wagon tongue was extended up into the air and the wagon cover
thrown over it to form a shelter to protect the exhausted workers as
they made their bed on the hard ground. Their food rotated between
jackrabbits, sage chicken, and fish from the Snake River.
Mary Godfrey Groom, Nathan Jr.’s wife, who was helping on the project,
was credited with naming the canal in honor of President Benjamin
Harrison, President of the United States, at the time. There were no
survey instruments available – the canal was surveyed by the natural
eye. The final length proved to be twenty – seven long miles of canal.
In 1948 a survey was made showing the water carried in the Harrison
Canal reached out to water 13,000 acres of farmland. Today, the canal
continues to work, having the water turned into the canal at the Great
Feeder Headgate.
Percy’s formal schooling was somewhat limited. He received his earliest
schooling in England before coming to America. While living in Utah, he
was able to resume his schooling for the two years the family remained
there, but the Idaho frontier had little to offer in the way of
schooling. Percy wasn’t going to be denied, however, he found other
ways to satisfy, at least in part, his unquenchable thirst and thrill
for learning.
He read everything he could find to read. Percy would ride horseback
the 10 to 12 miles to Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls) to get old
newspapers and pick up the mail. The letters from relatives in England
were easily identifiable – especially if the letter brought news of a
death in the family. The envelope was clearly distinguishable by a _”
wide black band around the outside.
Another favorite source of reading material to Percy was Oscar Short
who lived over on Willow Creek. After completing the day’s work he
would ride over in the evening to borrow Oscar’s/Ogden newspapers and
to discuss the economic, political, and world problems. Adella Short,
Oscar’s oldest daughter, turned out to be Percy’s bride some few years
later. Living a small distance away from and having business to
transact in Eagle Rock, Percy was there to see the modern day city of
Idaho Falls grow out of Eagle Rock. Twenty years before Idaho became a
state and some 14 years before the Groom Family made it to southeast
Idaho, Eagle Rock had its small beginning at Taylor’s Ferry, later
becoming Taylor’s Toll Bridge.
Taylor made a successful business of crossing packers, prospectors, and
freightors over the rough Snake River.
With the addition of Anderson Brothers’ Bank and a post office the
little place gradually grew up. The railroad also played a significant
role. The Utah and Northern Railroad set up Eagle rock as a division
area with all the corresponding monies, shops, and peoples. Anderson
Brothers’ Bank was known throughout the area for its slanting floor
boards. In 1890, Eagle Rock was reorganized and renamed Idaho Falls.
Percy and his father homesteaded eighty acres of land, knowing they
would gain legal title to the property after seven years of settlement.
The only taxes owed was the yearly $7.00 or $8.00 tax assessed against
the livestock. The Grooms paid this tax with the thought in mind that
it was a small price for the freedom, privileges, and lands they
enjoyed. Throughout Percy’s life there was hardy respect and loyalty
shown to the American government at all levels.
The Groom farm continued to look better and better as the returns from
the harvest became more abundant. Great pride was taken in all the
efforts to make the farm prosper. The hay stacks were all uniform in
size and shape, the grain was properly stacked, and the furrows were
plowed straight and uniform. Percy made many trips to the dry bed north
of Rigby to dig wagon loads of cotton wood saplings. These were planted
in rows around the farm area to make wind breaks. These great saplings
have had nearly a century of growth and are there today.
The fence, gates, and bridges were always kept in good condition. All
the animals were well fed and cared for. On the farm there were cattle,
hogs, and horses. Wild pheasants, rabbits, and song birds also found
refuge on the farm.
The Willow Creek ward was organized August 11, 1888, the church house
being some four miles from the Groom farm. Percy was called to be the
first secretary of the Mutual Improvement Association in the Willow
Creek Ward. The ward meeting house became the center for all religious,
social, and political activities of the area. MIA and the other goings
on gave Percy the chance to become more acquainted with Adella Short
and her sisters. In time Adella’s and Percy’s relationship grew more
serious.
At the age 24, Percy made applications in Bingham County to become a
citizen of the United States of America. He received his certificate of
naturalization and becamea citizen on September 26, 1898. Throughout
his life Percy sincerely cherished his citizenship in this country.
Some eight months following Percy’s naturalization, the courtship
between Adella Short and himself developed in to marriage plans. A few
days prior to the ceremony, again covering the forty miles on
horseback, Percy went to the Bingham County Court House in Blackfoot to
file for the marriage license. On June 25, 1899 Percy and his bride
were married at the home of Adella’s mother, Harriet Louisa Shurtliff,
by Bishop Alfonzo B. Simmons.
No carrying the additional responsibility of a wife and soon – to be
family, Percy made his first project the building of a home. Choosing a
desirable sight on the Groom homestead, Percy built a two room house
where Adella and he began their married life together.
A child was soon born to the newlywed couple, but their joy was short
lived. James Ivan was born January 18, 1900. He lived for two short
years, falling victim to the widespread epidemic of black diphtheria
which claimed the lives of so many small children. James died April 4,
1902 and was one of the first to be buried in the Ucon Cemetery.
With the loss of James, the sealing ordinance performed in the holy
temples became paramount in the minds of Percy and Adella. Not being
married in the temple, they were not yet promised the blessing of an
eternal family. Exactly three years to the month after James’ birth,
Percy traveled to Salt Lake City with his wife to attend the temple. On
January 7, 1903 the marriage of Percy and Adella was sealed in the Salt
Lake Temple. These ordinances became ever important as more children
blessed their home. On July 14, 1903 another baby boy was born at the
family home on the farm in Garfield. Their second son, was named Golden
Berkley Groom.
Pursuing his talents further and in order to meet the financial needs
of his family, Percy opened a mercantile store on the old town site
next to the Willow Creek Meeting House. He bought the supplies for his
store from Z.C.M.I. in Salt Lake City. Also keeping up with his
farming, Percy operated the store for over three years.
The merchandising venture met an abrupt end, however, due to the
actions of a vandal. One evening after Percy closed the store, someone
broke in and poured coal oil over all the merchandise and set it on
fire. The vandal promptly left, shutting the door tightly behind him.
Because the store was shut up so tightly the flames never successfully
ignited because of the lack of oxygen. The merchandise smoldered
throughout the night. When Percy discovered the situation the following
morning, the goods were beyond hope and had to be disposed of. This
incident ended Percy’s mercantile operation and he never got back into
it. Percy always maintained that the person responsible for the
vandalism was a man he refused to give credit to and he did it to get
even.
Percy faced another abrupt change in his life in 1906. Sent from the
Willow Creek Ward, at the age of 32 he accepted a call to the British
Mission, with headquarters in Liverpool, England. Set apart in Salt
Lake City, Percy left his family behind and traveled to New York City
where he took passage to Liverpool. Twenty-one years after Percy left
England with his mother, he returned to the British shores to devote
two years to preach the restored message to his fellow Britains.
Released from his mission on August 13, 1908, Percy set out quickly in
order to be reunited with his family. Beyond the influences he spread
to others by teaching the gospel message, the mission experience caused
Percy to make the decision to further his own education and become part
of the professional world. One of the first items for discussion
between Adella and himself was his desire to pursue an education. With
purpose in mind, Percy told his wife, “A period of five years will see
us off the farm.”
Percy’s chosen study was the field of law. He decided to become an
attorney, He did not attend a law school, but by disciplining himself
to devote his toe and energies to his studies he taught himself. He
concentrated on learning judicial theory and legal application. Using
Blackstone and John Marshall’s volumes as guides. Percy studied the
relevant court cases setting the precedents in United States Law. After
sufficient study and practice, Percy was admitted to the Idaho State
Bar Association in 1914.
Shortly after returning from England and just as he was beginning his
legal studies, another child – this time a baby girl was born. Elsie
Evelyn was born October 18, 1909, bringing the family size to four.
Also, since his return from the mission, Percy served as second
counselor in the Bishopric of the Willow Creek Ward. He held that
position for seven years until 1915. Percy jumped both feet into the
political and legal arenas immediately upon getting close to the end of
his studies. On February 18, 1913, Governor Haines of Idaho approved an
act creating the county of Jefferson from the southwest part of Fremont
County. The voters in the soon-to-be created county had to have a
majority margin in favor of Jefferson County. The secondary issue
developed as the where the county seat should be located – Rigby and
Menan were the leading petitioners. Percy came out in firm support of
county division and supported Rigby for county seat.
Just prior to the special county division election, the citizens of
Garfield had a special request. They felt their numbers were sufficient
and the distance to Rigby far enough to warrant a special voting
precinct at Garfield. Percy was asked to write and present the
application with the petition of the citizenry to the county
commissioners. The request and the Garfield citizens were able to vote
in their own area.
Some 20 days prior to the special election, on October 21, 1913 this
article authored by Percy was printed under the heading:
“Word from Garfield”
“One of the most enthusiastic meetings ever had in the place was pulled
Monday evening when a large delegation of Rigby citizens accompanied
with a brass band and glee club came down to discuss county division.
Good practical talks were given by Josiah Call, Alfred Cordon, and
George Hill. The band music and singing by the glee was loudly
applauded. Garfield has been ready for division these many years and
now the opportunity presents itself and they will avail themselves of
the opportunity. Rigby by its geographical and commercial advantages
together with its growth and development cannot help but appeal to the
unbiased as the logical place for the county seat of Jefferson.
Garfield’s citizens think so and will vote practical solid for Rigby
November 4th. We would be pleased to have the boys come down again
before the election if possible – being assured of a loyal reception.
The slogan is county division and Rigby.” Percy Groom
The results of the election turned out favorably in Percy’s view as the
county was approved 1,827 votes to 603, and Rigby was chosen as county
seat with a vote of 1,368 to 961.
Right in the middle of all this activity, Adella gave birth to their
third son. Ray Cleo was born April 7, 1913. Like the two previous
children Ray was also born out on the Garfield farm.
Having contributed greatly to the county issue in 1913 and having
prepared himself properly in the field of law, the year 1914 found
Percy active in the election process once again. He ran for probate
judge in Jefferson County. The first step was to face the primary
election to earn the right to take the Republican slot on the November
general election ballot. In the primary voting, Percy received only
four votes opposing his selection to the Republican ticket. He went on
to win the November election as well. With the campaign pledge: “If
nominated and elected, equal justice to all and special privileges to
none.” He promised the residents of Jefferson County fair and equitable
justice.
For fourteen years, comprising seven two year terms, Percy retained his
judicial seat, election after election. During these years, Percy
became known to the people as “the Judge.” At the time of his service,
the position he held was probate judge. This would be closely akin to
the district court judge of today – not the judge which would preside
solely over estate settlement cases as the word “probate” might suggest
in today’s venacular. His office on the north side of the corridor in
the cold frame courthouse served a continual flow of litigants. During
Percy’s tenure, prohibition, bootlegging, and all the subsequent
offenses came and went. A large number of cases dealing with liquor
crimes filled his court docket.
Throughout these years Judge Percy was not confined strictly to
judicial duties. He served in many civic offices, and occupied the
offices of justice of the peace, as well.
By about the time, it appeared that the “horseless carriage” was here
to stay. Deciding that he too must have one, Percy made his first car
purchase a Model T ford. The day Percy accepted delivery on the car was
the first day Percy had ever driven an automobile. The salesman got
into the driver’s seat first, explaining all the different levers,
knobs, and gauges. The two drove around the block a couple of times.
Then heading the car in the direction of Garfield, the salesman slipped
out from underneath the wheel onto the running board. Percy slid under
the steering wheel, taking his place, Jumping down off the running
board, the salesman waved leaving Percy to the fate of his own
inexperienced driving.
Clutching the steering wheel with a firm tenseness; Percy realized he
was on his own. He took a deep breath and cautiously increased the
speed. Driving a car bore little resemblance to driving a team of
horses, but after a mile or two he began to relax a little and almost
enjoyed his adventurous ride.
All occurring in a few seconds of time, Percy suddenly had a new worry
enter his head as he turned the car into the long lane leading to the
house. What if he couldn’t get the car stopped? Percy began yelling
“whoa! Whoa!” – but the car didn’t listen. Percy had his new black
monster machine finally stopped when the car rode right up on the
tongue of the wagon parked at the end of the lane. The wheels of the
car continued to spin around until the engine finally stalled a minute
or two later.
Hearing the commotion going on outside, Adella ran to the door to see
what was happening in the yard. Seeing her husband sheepishly sitting
in his car stranded on the wagon tongue, made her more apprehensive
than ever about the new car age.
During his years on the bench, Percy’s involvement in the family farm
obviously had to be curtailed. He had wanted to get off the farm
anyway, and his legal career was a means to that end. After a few years
into his new career, Percy moved his family to Rigby. They took a first
home at 151 North 300 West, and later moved to their permanent
residence of many, many years at 382 West 100 North. It was at this
house that Ella Mae was born on May 15, 1920. She was the second girl
and the fifth and last child.
Percy certainly had political tendencies to his interest in
adjudication of law. His motivation behind seeking public office was to
serve the people in the most proper manner. In the fall of 1926, Percy
decided to try his hand in state politics and ran with more locally
seated offices and concerns.
Unsuccessful in his bid for the legislature, Percy prepared to
establish a private practice. In January, 1927, he set up his law
office in downtown Rigby. Already well known from his years of service
on the bench, Percy’s office soon became a rendezvous for those who
enjoyed a few moments of leisure mixed with a word or two of the
“Judge’s”favored philosophy. One of Percy’s great loves was literature.
His office walls were lined with most of the great classics and the
legal books of the era. Being a prolific reader he knew the material of
all his books. He assisted several students in the preparation of their
master’s thesis dealing with literary topics. Also, Percy’s wide
expanse of knowledge was a valued resource to many teachers in the area.
With all his successes in his secular life, Percy had one thing firmly
fixed as his number 1 priority. That was his wife, and two sons, and
his two daughters. He enjoyed his family and liked nothing better than
to spend time with them. The Grooms’ favorite activities seemed to be
fishing and camping trips.
Percy’s oldest son, Golden, was especially fond of fishing. Now on his
third or forth Model T Ford, Percy loaded up the car with fishing gear,
camping equipment, and food. Fitting everyone into the Model T they all
set out toward Swan Valley to fish on Rainey Creek or Pine Creek.
Coming out of the Ririe area, the road known as Granite Dug-way was
narrow and went up over a hill. It was necessary to push the car to the
top of the hill. It was a case of pushing the car as far as the family
could before running out of stamina, blocking the back wheels so the
car wouldn’t roll backwards, and then resting for a spell. This
procedure was repeated until they reached the top of Granite dug-way.
Which was ten miles or so.
By the time the summit was reached, the foot brake was well on its way
to being burnt out from braking and clutching and reving up the motor
to get to the top of the hill.
It was all down hill from there. The narrow dug-way sloped down just as
much as it was steep on the uphill side. At the bottom of the road, the
narrow Swan Valley Bridge crossed the swift and deep Snake River. There
were no other gears on the Model T to slow the engine down, and by the
time the Model T was rolling down the dug-way, the brake was completely
gone and the momentum was carrying the car and its occupants like the
“clatter wheels of hell.” As the car hit the lip of the bridge, it
jumped into the air and finally down onto the noisy boards of the
bridge floor. Clattering across the planks the car whizzed past the
bridge and headed for the flat plain of the valley. The car and its
passengers would eventually roll to a stop.
On the banks of Rainey Creek, Percy, his wife, and children would camp
for two or three days. Golden and his friend, Claxton Foster, would
fish and catch many pan sized trout. There was no limit on the number
of fish caught, and the creeks were filled with trout. Percy never was
one for fishing but he thoroughly enjoyed walking along the bank of the
stream taking in the beauty and freedom of the area. As he put it “he
communed with nature.” The family was always ready to call it quits
after being eaten by mosquitoes and living in the great outdoors for
two or three days.
The tedious task of pushing and riding began once again to get the
Model T out of the valley and up the dug-ways to Ririe and then on the
way home. The first stop made in Rigby was at the Ford garage to have
the brakes repaired. It was only by special providence the family was
not killed on one of those summer trips.
On the days that Percy stayed home he enjoyed working on his house and
in and around his yard. Each spring he would break out his bucket and
brush and white wash anything that needed it. The stucco around the
base of the house got white washed every year, whereas the frame
structure was done only as needed. The yard was very clean, the grass
watered and cut. Flowers bloomed bright in the spring and summer months.
Throughout his working years in Rigby, Percy always was active in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was called to be the
firs Stake Sunday School Chorister in the area. President John W. Hart,
President of the Rigby Stake, later called Percy to be the Stake
Genealogy Leader. For several years he served in the position of Stake
Priesthood Teacher. To all his callings, Percy gave a strong
commitment, but his home teaching was his particular strength.
Besides visiting often in the homes of friends and neighbors, Percy
also served as a ward teacher in the Rigby First Ward where he lives
for many years. At one time of another nearly everyone who was a member
of the 1st Ward had Percy visit their home in the capacity of a ward
teacher. He always made his visits during the first days of each month
and always visited everyone he was assigned.
The Last ward teaching partner Percy was assigned offered a special
challenge. The partner was Brother Smout, the Groom’s next door
neighbor, who was not an active member of the church. He hardly ever
went to church, but he was a good, kind, and honest man. After Brother
Smout was paired to home teach with Percy, he never missed a month in
making the needed visits with his partner. Brother Smout dressed in his
best clothes and was ready to go at the appointed time. The beginning
of each month the two partners could be seen walking up the street
chatting to one another. These two were home teaching partners until
Percy’s health began to fail later in his life and he was no longer
able to complete his assignment. Brother Smout unfortunately no longer
served as a home teacher when he did not have Percy as a partner. Percy
said of his loyal companion, “Brother Smout wouldn’t say much when we
were in the homes, but he was a faithful partner to always go with me.”
Percy Groom was certainly one not idle in the activities and events
happening around him. His judgeship and law practice required a great
deal of his time. Nevertheless, he presses himself during his 71 years
of residence – and he enjoyed dong it – to be active in civic,
political, and religious affairs. During the days of World War II,
Percy served as a legal advisor to the Jefferson County Draft Board.
For a time he filled the position of secretary for the Pioneer Cemetery
District. For several years Percy was the Rigby City Attorney. His
health finally forced him to give up his post.
Surely Percy’s literary works, his education, and his years of varied
experiences honed Percy into a potent spokesman. His written word was
always clear, concise, and clever. Under the headline “The Dead past
Speaks” Percy made the following comments in The Camas Leader prodding
those with a comment to make it a constructive comment or else be
silent.
The voice of Percy Groom, Probate Judge, speaks out from the pages of
“The Camas Leader”, the January 19, 1917 issue being a collector’s
prized copy and loaned to this writer.
The front page account under the caption “Fade Away All You Knockers”
written to the editor of the Camas Leader on January 12, bears sober
thinking, even on this date forty years removed.
The letter was written about the time that Camas was losing ground from
her hey-dey era and was rapidly sinking to the status of a “ghost
town.” A reader of the Leader had expressed himself that “oh, it don’t
matter if the Leader is late. There’s nothing in it anyhow.”
Judge Groom’s reply in part was: “Our advice to the Knocker is to
change his views and become a Booster. Stay by the institutions that
you have instead of helping to tear down. Get behind them and build up
your community. It is the duty of all good citizens to keep his weather
eye open and grasp every opportunity that comes their way for the
betterment of their condition and the town, and school, and community
interest. Never knock, always boost and in case you cannot boost a
respectful silence would be the better way.”
Another illustrative example of Percy’s ability to write effectively is
the report he sent back on the Townsend Convention he attended. This
was a political convention held in July, 1936. Many prominent political
leaders of that day attended as Percy reports. Percy went as a delegate
from the Rigby Townsend Club. He had one particular idea he felt was
worthy for presentation to the convention. This was in the days prior
to any social security system. Percy’s idea was to support or aid the
senior citizens of the nation by giving them $200.00 a month. Percy
reported on the convention with this letter.
“The hottest place this side of hades is Indiana. We came through with
116 degrees of heat. The night we reached our destination we were as
wet as dishrags and as wilted as the corn of the great corn belt of
America. Six train loads pulled into the big terminal depot and all
Cleveland seemed to be at the station to bid us welcome. What with
cheering, back slapping and hand shaking I felt as though we were being
over-rated, but it was thrilling to say the least.
“Now as to the delegates. They are the men and women of the farms,
small shop keepers, and business men. A A splendid cross section of the
big middle class. About half of the convention delegates are women, and
can they holler. You should hear them. We have a brass band, cow bells,
flags and sticks and all manner of noise producers. And when the
convention stampedes it is surely bedlam. The meetings are opened with
prayer and singing of “America.” “The prayers are given by eminent
Catholic and Protestant clergy-men.
“This is a big town, has an immense centennial exposition going on all
summer. The lake front swarms with ships, airplanes and two immense
blimps. Everything has gone off lovely with the exception of five
delegates from Arizona, who were out sight-seeing and went over the
cliff. Two dead and the balance in the hospital.
“The auditorium is as huge a building as I ever sat in. Imagine 15,000
people on the floor and 40,000 in the galleries, and room for 5,000
more. If five Mormon tabernacles were put into one, they would be as
big as this place. The hearing is perfect. I purposely went to
different parts of the building, in fact so far away is the back, that
the speaker cannot be identified by his personal looks, but you can
hear him. To illustrate a person standing on your church steps and
talking to someone at the court house is about the distance. Some
buxsom women who sings somewhat like Kate Smith taking the “Moon Over
the Mountain,” can be heard as easily in her clear soprano voice as
though she were singing in the First Ward Church.
“No doubt you heard Dr. Townsend over the radio. He is not a great
speaker, that is he has no flourish or dynamic method. His speech
written down is simply read by him to the audience. Not so with Gerald
Smith, the successor to Huey Long. There is a talker that you can take
you off your feet, whether you want to or not. He is as interesting as
Billy Sunday and wields consider able power in the South. Smith is an
old time democrat of the Jefferson, Jackson, and Bryan type and
deplores the New Deal and despises Franklin D. Roosevelt.
“Father Coughlin, the Detroit Priest, is a scholary person with a
capable vocabulary, can talk for an hour without notes. He dislikes
Roosevelt and called him a liar and a deceiver amid great commotion.
“When we hear Lemke, we shall have been in touch with all the notables
of the so-called third party movements. However, these whom I have
mentioned will not unite this year. Each will go his way. However, we
have observed the sympathy is dangerously akin to live. All the factors
feel that the present administration is faulty, and have no faith in
them. They are not sold on Landon either, so that after the fall
election, we look for them to consolidate and form a party of their own.
“The Townsend Movement will be pushed with vigor form now on. It surely
has taken hold in the East like measles. Oregon and California must
have 200 representatives here. Idaho has twenty, situated well toward
the front. The big daily papers are taking pictures and running off
extras every day. You can hear a person speak and when you go outside
newsboys are selling papers with the speech. Some speed these days.
“We surely have had the time of our life and are seeing things first
handed.”
On the weekend when Percy and Adella celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary, they shared it with many of their family and friends.
First on Saturday evening they went to dinner with their sons and
daughters at the Hotel Rogers in Idaho Falls. Then on Sunday, June 25,
1949, some two hundred friends and relatives visited at the Groom home
to congratulate them on their fifty years of marriage. Complete with
reception line, musical numbers, and a three tier cake Percy and his
wife greeted people that came from as far as Utah to celebrate with
them. The one impression seemingly common to every child is the
memories of his grandparents house. With small novelties and antique
items displayed throughout the house, grandpa’s and grandma’s house was
a fun place to visit. This was certainly no different for the ten or so
grandchildren claiming Percy Groom as their grandpa. Percy found great
pleasure and friendly companionship in each of his grandchildren.
Grandpa Groom’s yard was fun to play in, the big tall beds with brass
headboards were fun to play on, and Grandpa Groom always had a wise
word for his little friends.
Percy continued to go to his small uptown law office on Main Street
until he was 80 years old. Also, he kept on teaching Gospel Doctrine
Class in the Rigby First Ward. He frequently went on outings with his
family. As his health permitted he did some legal work in his home
until he was forced to give it up all together.
The summer Percy was 80 years old, the whole family including sons,
daughters, in-laws, and grandchildren all went to Yellowstone Park.
They rented a couple of motor boats complete with guides to take the
entire family fishing on Yellowstone Lake. They anchored their boats
out in the middle of the lake where the water was very deep and cold.
Before long, everyone had caught the limit on beautiful lake trout.
Having made camp on the lake shore, the large fishing party returned to
their camp and prepared for their feast. Soon the aroma of frying fish
filled the air with promises of a delicious meal. Merle, Percy’s
daughter-in-law, cooked him a fish just the way he liked it. She put it
on his plate for him to carry to his table. In getting the plate to the
table, Percy stumbled and the fish went into the dirt with Percy
exclaiming “jupiter woman.” The fish was retrieved from the dirt and
pine needles, cleaned off, and rewarmed in the pan over the campfire.
This time the plate was placed on the table for him.
Percy’s health remained relatively good considering the long years of
work his body performed. He enjoyed reading and writing letters in
corresponding with his family. Percy did suffer several strokes. After
he had recovered somewhat from one of them, Percy commented to his
youngest daughter “that when a man loses his voice and can no longer
speak, he wasn’t much good anyway.” Being able to talk and express
himself was such a vital part of his daily living.
Percy Groom, age 84, one of the state’s oldest attorneys, died July 27,
1958, in the L.D.S. Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The family buried
Percy in the family plot in Ucon, Idaho. At his death, all of Percy’s
four children were married – there were 13 grandchildren and one great
grandchild.
Percy Groom was respected by all who knew him and greatly loved by
those who knew him the best, his own family.
Transcribed by: John Bauman and Zane Jacobson
Summer 2002 2005, May: From Upper Snake River Valley Idaho
Histories on the BYU-Idaho family history web site. The
description says: "The collection is comprised mainly of short
historical sketches of pioneers who settled in the Upper Snake River
Valley between 1883 and 1893. The histories were written by members of
the Daughters of the Pioneers of the Upper Snake River Valley and
presented at meetings of the club."
