Son of William Wallace Casper and Sarah Ann Bean

Married Eliza Wray, 21 Oct 1885 at Logan, Cache, Utah

Children - Nellie Wray Casper, Joseph Heber Casper, William Wallace Casper, George Melvin Casper, Juliana Casper, Mary Ann Casper, Florence Casper, Eliza Casper, Elizabeth Lucille Casper, Charles Wray Casper, Lavenia Emma Casper

History - George E. Casper, who follows farming two miles south of Lewisville and five miles west of Rigby, was born at Millcreek, Utah, December 15, 1861, a son of Major William W. and Sarah A. (Bean) Casper, natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. The father was a member of the Mormon Battalion and by way of California went to Utah, the battalion having disbanded in California. With others he came by pack train in 1847 to Fort Hall, Idaho, where they remained a short time and then proceeded to Utah. On joining the battalion he left his wife on the Missouri river but sent word to her to join him in Utah. She drove a yoke of oxen across the plains together with a yoke of cows, reaching Salt Lake ahead of her husband. He took up land in Salt Lake county and improved and cultivated the place throughout his remaining days, passing away in July, 1909, when nearly ninety years of age, the mother passing away in April, 1884.

George E. Casper was reared in Salt Lake county, remaining at home until he attained his majority. He then began work in a sawmill in Weber county, there remaining for several months. He was next employed on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad for several months between Greenriver and Castlegate and after the completion of the road was in the railroad employ for several years. He saved what he could to gain a start and in 1885 came to Idaho to look over the country, accompanied by his brother and several others. They found Jefferson, then Bingham county, a promising district but Mr. Casper decided that he would not then secure a homestead. He returned to Utah, where he remained for two or three years longer. In October, 1885, he wedded Eliza Wray and afterward worked around the old homestead there for some time, or until he had accumulated more money.

In May, 1888, Mr. Casper started for Idaho, being eleven days upon the road from Salt Lake City, traveling with one horse and an old mule as a team. He filed on his present place of one hundred and sixty acres, then covered with sagebrush, and at once he took up the arduous task of breaking the sod and transforming the land into rich and arable fields. His labors soon wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place. During the first year he built a log house, which is still standing. He then returned to Utah and that winter worked in the mines, but when spring came again took up his abode upon the farm, which he has since cultivated. Not only has he produced splendid crops but has also raised high grade stock, and his close application and indefatigable energy have been salient features in the attainment of his present day success. He has also been keenly interested in the development of the community and in everything pertaining to the betterment of the county and has assisted in building all of the roads and canals in his district.

Upon the home farm Mr. and Mrs. Casper have reared their family of eleven children: Nellie, the wife of Lyman J. Ball, of Rigby; Joseph H., manager for the Smith Mercantile Company at Lewisville; George M., living at Kilgore, Idaho; Juliana, the wife of Stephen Peterson, of Lewisville; Mary, the wife of C. H. Smith, of Holbrook, Idaho; Florence, the wife of Lloyd Peterson, of Lewisville; Eliza, Charles and Emma, all at home; William, who was a twin of Joseph and died at the age of one month; and Lucille, who died at the age of two years and two months.

Politically Mr. Casper is a republican. He belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served as president of the elders in the Seventy and now belongs to the High Priests Quorum. Many times he has been ward teacher and on one occasion he filled a mission for the church in North Carolina but after serving a short time was released on account of illness. He has always led a busy and useful life, caring for the comforts of his family and interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and development of the district in which he lives.

(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley 1920)