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

Josiah Call, a prominent farmer and banker of Rigby, was born in Wlllard City, Utah, April 18, 1862, a son of Homer and Nancy (Merrill) Call, the former a native of the Buckeye state and the latter of North Carolina. Homer Call was one of the early settlers of northern Utah, having located in Willard City in 1851. As soon as he had established himself in his new home, he began farming and stock-raising, in which he was more or less interested the remainder of his life. In those early days improved methods in the harvesting and grinding of grain were not used in that part of Utah where he had settled, and he performed a signal service for his neighbors by building and operating the first grist mill in northern Utah. It was he, too, that brought the first threshing outfit to that section and he continued in the threshing business, along with farming and stock-raising, the rest of his life. His death occurred in July, 1908, after he had reached the age of seventy-three years, and that of his wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, in April, 1882.

Josiah Call remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, rendering valuable assistance to his father in the development of the latter's farming and business interests. It was also during this period that he made use of the limited educational facilities which the northern part of Utah at that time afforded. In the '70s and '80s the railroad facilities of the far west were in no wise so extensive as they are today and goods had to be freighted from points on the railroad far inland, and it was in this work that Mr. Call engaged after he left the home of his parents in 1880. From freighting he turned to railroad construction, at which he worked until he came to Idaho in 1884. In that year he located in that part of Oneida county which is now included in Jefferson and there took a homestead. With the energy which characterized his later activities, Mr. Call set to work to improve his farm, which was entirely of new land, and now it is one of the most highly developed in the entire county. A few years after his arrival he added to his holding by pre-empting a quarter section which is now included in town site of Rigby, and it was on this tract that he built a beautiful modern home, where he now resides, on the corner of Second North and State streets.

Although Mr. Call devotes the major portion of his time to his farming interests, he nevertheless takes a prominent part in the business activities of Rigby. He is vice president of one of the most important financial Institutions in Jefferson county — the First National Bank of Rigby, which depends much upon his good business sense and sound judgment. He is also a stockholder in the Bower-Schweitzer Mercantile Company and president of the Judd Motor Corporation.

In December, 1884, Mr. Call married Dove Facer and to this union were born ten children, all of whom are living. They are in the order of their births: Dr. O. F., a physician and surgeon of Rigby; Mary N., the wife of William J. Chandler, who resides in Ririe, Idaho; Ethel M., who married W. W. Hymas and is now living in Rigby; Elmo J., who is attending school in Davenport, Iowa; Dove Alida, who is the wife of W. R. Dixon and is a student in California; Royal Glenn, a member of the Army of Occupation in Germany; and Vivian A., Allen W., Leland and Lola, all of whom are at home. The wife and mother died April 2, 1915, and Mr. Call was married April 24, 1918, to Mrs. Lettie E. Sessions.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Call are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which the former has rendered valuable and efficient service in missionary work and as an officer. In his earlier years he was for two years with the southern states mission and furthered the interests of his denomination in the state of Kentucky. The Rigby ward was organized in 1886 and was one of the bishopric where he labored for twenty-two years, at the end of which time the Rigby stake was organized and he was called to the presidency, where he has since labored. In politics Mr. Call takes his stand with the republican party, and, although he has devoted little effort to acquiring public office, he has been a member of the city council of Rigby and has served as justice of the peace.