Thirty-eight years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since Richard F. Jardine became a resident of Jefferson County. Through the intervening period he has been engaged in farming, transforming wild land into productive fields, and thus he has contributed in substantial measure to the agricultural development of the state. He was born in Shuttleston, Lanarkshire, Scotland, December 30, 1848, and is a son of James and Isabella (White) Jardine, who were natives of Scotland and emigrated to America in 1855. Settling in Pennsylvania, the father worked in the coal mines for a year and a half and then removed to Perry county, Illinois, where he again engaged in coal mining until 1859. In that year he crossed the plains with ox teams to Salt Lake, where he remained for a month, and, being out of funds, worked to get money to buy flour and other necessities. He then removed to Wellsville in Cache Valley, where he resided until 1866, when he took up his abode at West Weber, Weber County, UT, and entered land. This he developed and improved, continuing its cultivation until his death, and the place is still owned by his youngest son, William. The father died August 7, 1891, at the age of seventy-three years, and the mother passed away September 8, 1906, at the age of eighty-four.

To a limited extent Richard F. Jardine attended school during his boyhood, but his educational opportunities were very limited as at the age of nine years he began work in the coal mines in Illinois. He was principally reared in the Cache valley of Utah and was a member of the home militia for three years while living there. He worked with his father on the home farm until he attained his majority, when he entered land in Weber county, Utah, which he improved and cultivated until salt appeared upon the surface and then he almost gave it away. He worked at different jobs and made every effort to gain a start in the business world.

On the 3d of January, 1870, Mr. Jardine was married to Luna C. Ellsworth, a granddaughter of President Brigham Young of the Mormon church and a daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth (Young) Ellsworth. The father was born at Paris, Oneida County, NY, July 1, 1819, and was married July 10, 1842. He and his wife became pioneers of Utah, crossing the plains in 1848 and locating at Salt Lake City, where Mr. Ellsworth engaged in the sawmill business, while later he followed farming for several years. He afterward went to Arizona, where he followed farming and stock raising until his life's labors were ended in death on the 29th of December. 1893. The mother passed away in Lewisville, ID, February 2, 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Jardine were born thirteen children, all of whom are married and have reared families of their own. They are: Luna C, Frank, Leo, Rowenna H., Le Roy, Elizabeth, William, Minnie Belle, Joseph, Ellen, Lester, Mary and Ruth.

Following his marriage Mr. Jardine carried on farming in Utah until 1882, when with several others he came to Jefferson County, ID, then Oneida County, settling at Lewisville. He relinquished his rights in Utah and on coming to Idaho took up more land adjoining the town, where Bishop Green now lives. This he improved and cultivated for twenty-seven years and eventually sold the place to his son. He also took up a desert claim and developed both properties. After selling the home place he removed to the desert claim and continued to till the soil there until 1917, when he sold that property to his son and built an attractive residence in Lewisville. He has since resided in the town and is enjoying a well earned rest, having retired from active business.

Mr. Jardine is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the first bishop of Lewisville, his territory extending to Blackfoot. He thus served for twenty years. He was then appointed to the high council of the Rigby stake and is still filling that office. He has also done home missionary work. Politically he is a stalwart republican and he was one of the first county commissioners of Fremont county. He also served as county coroner for several terms and was quarantine marshal for ten years. He was appointed a member of the first city council of Lewisville but did not accept the office. He was constable for several terms and has at all times faithfully performed his duties of citizenship but prefers to concentrate his efforts and energies upon his business affairs. For years he was closely and prominently connected with agricultural interests and also made a specialty of raising pure bred Percheron horses, introducing the first Percherons into Lewisville. He contributed much to the development of high grade stock in the district and thus materially promoted the welfare of the community. He is now enjoying a well deserved rest. In January, 1920, he and his wife reached the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, having reared a large family of children, and they now have sixty-four living grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They are a highly esteemed and worthy couple, Mr. Jardine having passed the seventieth milestone on life's journey, and he well deserves the high respect and warm regard that are uniformly accorded him.
(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley, 1920; article courtesy Amanda Fox)