Byron Defenbach, 76, former resident of Lewiston and prominent for almost 45 years in the political, fraternal and literary life of Idaho, passed away yesterday morning at 6:15 at his home in Boise, where he had been bed-ridden for two weeks with heart disease.
Recognized as an outstanding student of public finance and historian, he had been active in state political and governmental affairs since he came to Idaho in 1903. An independent Republican, Defenbach had served in the state legislature, as state treasurer, state tax commissioner and was a candidate for governor.
News of his death came as a shock to friends at Lewiston although members of the family had been warned by his physician that he could not recover. He had suffered a brief illness with angina pectoris a year ago and had never completely regained health. His last visit to Lewiston was in September 1946.
Defenbach was born at Rome, Wis., Dec. 5, 1870, the son of Philip and Bertha Winckler Defenbach. his parents soon moved to Nebraska where he completed his education in the public schools and at the Methodist Episcopal College at York.
FORMER SANDPOINT MAYOR
His first public office was serving as a clerk in an Indian school at Genoa, Neb., in 1891, where he also gained his first intimate glimpses into Indian life and character which later were useful in his historical writings. During 1892 he served as superintendent of the U.S. Indian School at Fort Belknap, Mont.
From 1892 to 1897 Defenbach was in the railway mail service, operating out of Spokane. He then served six years as assistant postmaster at Spokane, during which period George Temple, one of the founders of the former Lewiston Mercantile Co., was postmaster.
Defenbach established his permanent residence in Idaho in 1903, at Sandpoint, where he was one of the owners of the Northern Mercantile Co. His associates in the enterprise included Tom Brewer, formerly of Genesee; Walter Burns, Spokane; and George Lynn, Sandpoint.
Defenbach was elected mayor of Sandpoint in 1905 and, in 1913, was elected state senator representing Bonner County. It was during his term in the senate that legislation was enacted creating Boundary County out of Bonner.
He moved to Lewiston after completing his legislative service and maintained his residence here until 1927 when he established his home at Boise. Defenbach was admitted to practice as a certified public accountant in 1917 and two years later organized the accounting firm of Byron Defenbach & Sons, which had a statewide practice and of which he was general manager.
DEFEATED BY ROSS
Defenbach re-entered political life in 1926 when he was elected state treasurer, serving two terms during the administration of Gov. H.C. Baldridge. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1930, the last year in which nominations were made under the political convention system but was defeated by the late John McMurray, Oakley, after a spirited contest at the Idaho Falls convention.
In the 1930 primary election, Defenbach won't the republican gubernatorial nomination without contest. In the general election that falls, however, he ran afoul of the first Roosevelt democratic landslide and went down to defeat with other republican candidates. Defenbach received 68,863 votes to 116,663 for the late Gov. C. Ben Ross, Democrat, and 3,476 for Steward, the liberty party candidate.
Defenbach then withdrew from active participation in politics, a.though he was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for Unites States senator and other high offices. He was appointed state tax commissioner in 1939 by former Gov. C.A. Bottolfsen, serving a two-year term.
Since then he had devoted his attention to his accounting practice and to serve as executive director of the Idaho State taxpayers league, which, he helped organize. He retained his keen interest in public finance and, a persistent advocate of the economy in government spending had recently engaged in sharp debate with educators as to the merit of increased expenditures proposed by the Peabody Education Survey Commission.
ACTIVE IN LODGE WORK
Defenbach had a zealous interest in two other activities in which he achieved widespread prominence - history, and Masonry. A painstaking research student and an accomplished write, he was the author of historical books, "Red Heroines of the Northwest", published in 1929, "The State We Live In", a history textbook for students published in 1933, and the comprehensive three-volume, "Idaho, the Place, and its People," published by the American Historical society the same year. For many years he wrote historical sketches for the Idaho Press, published under the title of "The State We Live In", and had contributed many historical articles to the Tribune and other newspapers of the Northwest. He was a member of the Idaho and Oregon Historical Societies.
A member of the Masonic Order for 55 years, defenbach received many honors for his devoted fraternal work. He was grand master of the Idaho grand lodge of Masons in 1910-11, was master of Lakeside Lodge at Sandpoint in 1905, had served since 1935 in the appointing office of the grand historian of the Idaho Grand Lodge, was a32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine. He affiliated by demit with Nez Perce Lodge at Lewiston in1915. Defenbach was presented the 50-year Masonic pin at a ceremony at the grand lodge session at Payette in 1942.
Defenbach also was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Fraternal Order of Eagles fraternal orders, The Sons of Veterans and was past president of the Idaho Trails and landmarks Association.
He was married to Susia A. Wise, May 19, 1889, at Columbus, Neb. She died at Lewiston in 1921.
On June 8, 1923, he was married to Jane Adam, at Idaho Falls.
Survivors include a son by his first marriage, Ralph B. Defenbach, of Lewiston, a daughter, and twin sons by his second, Mrs. Mary JaneHarionian, Millsbury, Mass., and James Adam and Will Sheridan Defenbach, students at the University of Idaho, Moscow. Seven grandchildren also survive.
Lewiston Tribune Wednesday, February 26, 1947 pg. 14
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Recognized as an outstanding student of public finance and historian, he had been active in state political and governmental affairs since he came to Idaho in 1903. An independent Republican, Defenbach had served in the state legislature, as state treasurer, state tax commissioner and was a candidate for governor.
News of his death came as a shock to friends at Lewiston although members of the family had been warned by his physician that he could not recover. He had suffered a brief illness with angina pectoris a year ago and had never completely regained health. His last visit to Lewiston was in September 1946.
Defenbach was born at Rome, Wis., Dec. 5, 1870, the son of Philip and Bertha Winckler Defenbach. his parents soon moved to Nebraska where he completed his education in the public schools and at the Methodist Episcopal College at York.
FORMER SANDPOINT MAYOR
His first public office was serving as a clerk in an Indian school at Genoa, Neb., in 1891, where he also gained his first intimate glimpses into Indian life and character which later were useful in his historical writings. During 1892 he served as superintendent of the U.S. Indian School at Fort Belknap, Mont.
From 1892 to 1897 Defenbach was in the railway mail service, operating out of Spokane. He then served six years as assistant postmaster at Spokane, during which period George Temple, one of the founders of the former Lewiston Mercantile Co., was postmaster.
Defenbach established his permanent residence in Idaho in 1903, at Sandpoint, where he was one of the owners of the Northern Mercantile Co. His associates in the enterprise included Tom Brewer, formerly of Genesee; Walter Burns, Spokane; and George Lynn, Sandpoint.
Defenbach was elected mayor of Sandpoint in 1905 and, in 1913, was elected state senator representing Bonner County. It was during his term in the senate that legislation was enacted creating Boundary County out of Bonner.
He moved to Lewiston after completing his legislative service and maintained his residence here until 1927 when he established his home at Boise. Defenbach was admitted to practice as a certified public accountant in 1917 and two years later organized the accounting firm of Byron Defenbach & Sons, which had a statewide practice and of which he was general manager.
DEFEATED BY ROSS
Defenbach re-entered political life in 1926 when he was elected state treasurer, serving two terms during the administration of Gov. H.C. Baldridge. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1930, the last year in which nominations were made under the political convention system but was defeated by the late John McMurray, Oakley, after a spirited contest at the Idaho Falls convention.
In the 1930 primary election, Defenbach won't the republican gubernatorial nomination without contest. In the general election that falls, however, he ran afoul of the first Roosevelt democratic landslide and went down to defeat with other republican candidates. Defenbach received 68,863 votes to 116,663 for the late Gov. C. Ben Ross, Democrat, and 3,476 for Steward, the liberty party candidate.
Defenbach then withdrew from active participation in politics, a.though he was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for Unites States senator and other high offices. He was appointed state tax commissioner in 1939 by former Gov. C.A. Bottolfsen, serving a two-year term.
Since then he had devoted his attention to his accounting practice and to serve as executive director of the Idaho State taxpayers league, which, he helped organize. He retained his keen interest in public finance and, a persistent advocate of the economy in government spending had recently engaged in sharp debate with educators as to the merit of increased expenditures proposed by the Peabody Education Survey Commission.
ACTIVE IN LODGE WORK
Defenbach had a zealous interest in two other activities in which he achieved widespread prominence - history, and Masonry. A painstaking research student and an accomplished write, he was the author of historical books, "Red Heroines of the Northwest", published in 1929, "The State We Live In", a history textbook for students published in 1933, and the comprehensive three-volume, "Idaho, the Place, and its People," published by the American Historical society the same year. For many years he wrote historical sketches for the Idaho Press, published under the title of "The State We Live In", and had contributed many historical articles to the Tribune and other newspapers of the Northwest. He was a member of the Idaho and Oregon Historical Societies.
A member of the Masonic Order for 55 years, defenbach received many honors for his devoted fraternal work. He was grand master of the Idaho grand lodge of Masons in 1910-11, was master of Lakeside Lodge at Sandpoint in 1905, had served since 1935 in the appointing office of the grand historian of the Idaho Grand Lodge, was a32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine. He affiliated by demit with Nez Perce Lodge at Lewiston in1915. Defenbach was presented the 50-year Masonic pin at a ceremony at the grand lodge session at Payette in 1942.
Defenbach also was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Fraternal Order of Eagles fraternal orders, The Sons of Veterans and was past president of the Idaho Trails and landmarks Association.
He was married to Susia A. Wise, May 19, 1889, at Columbus, Neb. She died at Lewiston in 1921.
On June 8, 1923, he was married to Jane Adam, at Idaho Falls.
Survivors include a son by his first marriage, Ralph B. Defenbach, of Lewiston, a daughter, and twin sons by his second, Mrs. Mary JaneHarionian, Millsbury, Mass., and James Adam and Will Sheridan Defenbach, students at the University of Idaho, Moscow. Seven grandchildren also survive.
Lewiston Tribune Wednesday, February 26, 1947 pg. 14
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Byron Defenbach, 76, former resident of Lewiston and prominent for almost 45 years in the political, fraternal and literary life of Idaho, passed away yesterday morning at 6:15 at his home in Boise, where he had been bed-ridden for two weeks with heart disease.
Recognized as an outstanding student of public finance and historian, he had been active in state political and governmental affairs since he came to Idaho in 1903. An independent Republican, Defenbach had served in the state legislature, as state treasurer, state tax commissioner and was a candidate for governor.
News of his death came as a shock to friends at Lewiston although members of the family had been warned by his physician that he could not recover. He had suffered a brief illness with angina pectoris a year ago and had never completely regained health. His last visit to Lewiston was in September 1946.
Defenbach was born at Rome, Wis., Dec. 5, 1870, the son of Philip and Bertha Winckler Defenbach. his parents soon moved to Nebraska where he completed his education in the public schools and at the Methodist Episcopal College at York.
FORMER SANDPOINT MAYOR
His first public office was serving as a clerk in an Indian school at Genoa, Neb., in 1891, where he also gained his first intimate glimpses into Indian life and character which later were useful in his historical writings. During 1892 he served as superintendent of the U.S. Indian School at Fort Belknap, Mont.
From 1892 to 1897 Defenbach was in the railway mail service, operating out of Spokane. He then served six years as assistant postmaster at Spokane, during which period George Temple, one of the founders of the former Lewiston Mercantile Co., was postmaster.
Defenbach established his permanent residence in Idaho in 1903, at Sandpoint, where he was one of the owners of the Northern Mercantile Co. His associates in the enterprise included Tom Brewer, formerly of Genesee; Walter Burns, Spokane; and George Lynn, Sandpoint.
Defenbach was elected mayor of Sandpoint in 1905 and, in 1913, was elected state senator representing Bonner County. It was during his term in the senate that legislation was enacted creating Boundary County out of Bonner.
He moved to Lewiston after completing his legislative service and maintained his residence here until 1927 when he established his home at Boise. Defenbach was admitted to practice as a certified public accountant in 1917 and two years later organized the accounting firm of Byron Defenbach & Sons, which had a statewide practice and of which he was general manager.
DEFEATED BY ROSS
Defenbach re-entered political life in 1926 when he was elected state treasurer, serving two terms during the administration of Gov. H.C. Baldridge. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1930, the last year in which nominations were made under the political convention system but was defeated by the late John McMurray, Oakley, after a spirited contest at the Idaho Falls convention.
In the 1930 primary election, Defenbach won't the republican gubernatorial nomination without contest. In the general election that falls, however, he ran afoul of the first Roosevelt democratic landslide and went down to defeat with other republican candidates. Defenbach received 68,863 votes to 116,663 for the late Gov. C. Ben Ross, Democrat, and 3,476 for Steward, the liberty party candidate.
Defenbach then withdrew from active participation in politics, a.though he was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for Unites States senator and other high offices. He was appointed state tax commissioner in 1939 by former Gov. C.A. Bottolfsen, serving a two-year term.
Since then he had devoted his attention to his accounting practice and to serve as executive director of the Idaho State taxpayers league, which, he helped organize. He retained his keen interest in public finance and, a persistent advocate of the economy in government spending had recently engaged in sharp debate with educators as to the merit of increased expenditures proposed by the Peabody Education Survey Commission.
ACTIVE IN LODGE WORK
Defenbach had a zealous interest in two other activities in which he achieved widespread prominence - history, and Masonry. A painstaking research student and an accomplished write, he was the author of historical books, "Red Heroines of the Northwest", published in 1929, "The State We Live In", a history textbook for students published in 1933, and the comprehensive three-volume, "Idaho, the Place, and its People," published by the American Historical society the same year. For many years he wrote historical sketches for the Idaho Press, published under the title of "The State We Live In", and had contributed many historical articles to the Tribune and other newspapers of the Northwest. He was a member of the Idaho and Oregon Historical Societies.
A member of the Masonic Order for 55 years, defenbach received many honors for his devoted fraternal work. He was grand master of the Idaho grand lodge of Masons in 1910-11, was master of Lakeside Lodge at Sandpoint in 1905, had served since 1935 in the appointing office of the grand historian of the Idaho Grand Lodge, was a32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine. He affiliated by demit with Nez Perce Lodge at Lewiston in1915. Defenbach was presented the 50-year Masonic pin at a ceremony at the grand lodge session at Payette in 1942.
Defenbach also was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Fraternal Order of Eagles fraternal orders, The Sons of Veterans and was past president of the Idaho Trails and landmarks Association.
He was married to Susia A. Wise, May 19, 1889, at Columbus, Neb. She died at Lewiston in 1921.
On June 8, 1923, he was married to Jane Adam, at Idaho Falls.
Survivors include a son by his first marriage, Ralph B. Defenbach, of Lewiston, a daughter, and twin sons by his second, Mrs. Mary JaneHarionian, Millsbury, Mass., and James Adam and Will Sheridan Defenbach, students at the University of Idaho, Moscow. Seven grandchildren also survive.
Lewiston Tribune Wednesday, February 26, 1947 pg. 14
=====
Recognized as an outstanding student of public finance and historian, he had been active in state political and governmental affairs since he came to Idaho in 1903. An independent Republican, Defenbach had served in the state legislature, as state treasurer, state tax commissioner and was a candidate for governor.
News of his death came as a shock to friends at Lewiston although members of the family had been warned by his physician that he could not recover. He had suffered a brief illness with angina pectoris a year ago and had never completely regained health. His last visit to Lewiston was in September 1946.
Defenbach was born at Rome, Wis., Dec. 5, 1870, the son of Philip and Bertha Winckler Defenbach. his parents soon moved to Nebraska where he completed his education in the public schools and at the Methodist Episcopal College at York.
FORMER SANDPOINT MAYOR
His first public office was serving as a clerk in an Indian school at Genoa, Neb., in 1891, where he also gained his first intimate glimpses into Indian life and character which later were useful in his historical writings. During 1892 he served as superintendent of the U.S. Indian School at Fort Belknap, Mont.
From 1892 to 1897 Defenbach was in the railway mail service, operating out of Spokane. He then served six years as assistant postmaster at Spokane, during which period George Temple, one of the founders of the former Lewiston Mercantile Co., was postmaster.
Defenbach established his permanent residence in Idaho in 1903, at Sandpoint, where he was one of the owners of the Northern Mercantile Co. His associates in the enterprise included Tom Brewer, formerly of Genesee; Walter Burns, Spokane; and George Lynn, Sandpoint.
Defenbach was elected mayor of Sandpoint in 1905 and, in 1913, was elected state senator representing Bonner County. It was during his term in the senate that legislation was enacted creating Boundary County out of Bonner.
He moved to Lewiston after completing his legislative service and maintained his residence here until 1927 when he established his home at Boise. Defenbach was admitted to practice as a certified public accountant in 1917 and two years later organized the accounting firm of Byron Defenbach & Sons, which had a statewide practice and of which he was general manager.
DEFEATED BY ROSS
Defenbach re-entered political life in 1926 when he was elected state treasurer, serving two terms during the administration of Gov. H.C. Baldridge. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1930, the last year in which nominations were made under the political convention system but was defeated by the late John McMurray, Oakley, after a spirited contest at the Idaho Falls convention.
In the 1930 primary election, Defenbach won't the republican gubernatorial nomination without contest. In the general election that falls, however, he ran afoul of the first Roosevelt democratic landslide and went down to defeat with other republican candidates. Defenbach received 68,863 votes to 116,663 for the late Gov. C. Ben Ross, Democrat, and 3,476 for Steward, the liberty party candidate.
Defenbach then withdrew from active participation in politics, a.though he was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for Unites States senator and other high offices. He was appointed state tax commissioner in 1939 by former Gov. C.A. Bottolfsen, serving a two-year term.
Since then he had devoted his attention to his accounting practice and to serve as executive director of the Idaho State taxpayers league, which, he helped organize. He retained his keen interest in public finance and, a persistent advocate of the economy in government spending had recently engaged in sharp debate with educators as to the merit of increased expenditures proposed by the Peabody Education Survey Commission.
ACTIVE IN LODGE WORK
Defenbach had a zealous interest in two other activities in which he achieved widespread prominence - history, and Masonry. A painstaking research student and an accomplished write, he was the author of historical books, "Red Heroines of the Northwest", published in 1929, "The State We Live In", a history textbook for students published in 1933, and the comprehensive three-volume, "Idaho, the Place, and its People," published by the American Historical society the same year. For many years he wrote historical sketches for the Idaho Press, published under the title of "The State We Live In", and had contributed many historical articles to the Tribune and other newspapers of the Northwest. He was a member of the Idaho and Oregon Historical Societies.
A member of the Masonic Order for 55 years, defenbach received many honors for his devoted fraternal work. He was grand master of the Idaho grand lodge of Masons in 1910-11, was master of Lakeside Lodge at Sandpoint in 1905, had served since 1935 in the appointing office of the grand historian of the Idaho Grand Lodge, was a32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine. He affiliated by demit with Nez Perce Lodge at Lewiston in1915. Defenbach was presented the 50-year Masonic pin at a ceremony at the grand lodge session at Payette in 1942.
Defenbach also was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Fraternal Order of Eagles fraternal orders, The Sons of Veterans and was past president of the Idaho Trails and landmarks Association.
He was married to Susia A. Wise, May 19, 1889, at Columbus, Neb. She died at Lewiston in 1921.
On June 8, 1923, he was married to Jane Adam, at Idaho Falls.
Survivors include a son by his first marriage, Ralph B. Defenbach, of Lewiston, a daughter, and twin sons by his second, Mrs. Mary JaneHarionian, Millsbury, Mass., and James Adam and Will Sheridan Defenbach, students at the University of Idaho, Moscow. Seven grandchildren also survive.
Lewiston Tribune Wednesday, February 26, 1947 pg. 14
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