The Minor Family of Somerset

History of idaho 1914 Vol 2
Judge Alfred Budge. Judge of the fifth judicial district of ida
ho, and with residence at Pocatello, Alfred Budge has been promi
nent as a lawyer and in the public affiars of southeastern Idah
o for a number of years. He has had a career of unusual achieve
ments, both at the bar and on the bench, and represents some o
f the best elements of citizenship in the state.
Alfred Budge was born February 24, 1868, at Providence, Cache co
unty, Utah, a son of William and Eliza (Pritchert) Budge. His f
ather was one of the splendid old citizens of Idaho. Born in La
nark, Scotland, May 1 1828,a son of William and Mary (Scott) Bu
dge, of a highland family, and staunch old Prebyterian stock. W
illiam Budge, received his iducation by occasional andirrecula
r attendance at the schools of his native locality. That he sub
sequently became a highly cultured and profound sutdent, was du
e to the persistence and energy which he applied at his own init
iative through broad course of study. When twenty years old h
e was converted to the faith of the Mormon Church and did missio
nary work in England, Scotland, Germany and Switzerland.In 186
0 he brought to the United States a large colony consisting of s
omesix hundred men and women. From New York they journeyed acr
oss the country by railroad and steam boat to the vicinity of Om
aha, Nebraska, and thence madeup an immiGrant train of wagons a
nd oxen and William Budge captained this colony across the plain
s to Utah, where they arrived in October, 1860. At Farmington
, Utah, and subsequently in the Cache valley, Mr. William Budg
e engaged as a large farmer, was elected to public office and fi
lled many places ofresponsibility for his Church. In 1870 he c
ame to paris, Idaho, as bishop of the Bear Lake, Stake, and wa
s also appointed general manager of the affairsof the Church i
n this state. During his presidency was built a splendid tabern
acle at Paris, and also the fielding Academy. He was twice elec
ted to the upper house of the territorial legislature of Idaho
, and in 1898 was elected from Bear Lake county to the state sen
ate.
From almost his earliest childHood Alfred Budge has been a resid
ent of idaho, and until recently kept his home at Paris, the cou
nty seat of Bear Lake county. He was reared on the homeranch o
f his fther and though surrouned by a good moral environment an
d with ample physical comforts, his opportunities for schoolin
g were limited, andhe has really acquired most of his educatio
n and his training for the learned profession which he now honor
s as a result of his own persistent efforts.As a boy he attend
ed four or six months each year the common schools of BearLak
e county, and at the age of fifteen became a student in the Brig
ham Young Academy in Provo, Utah, where he spent three years. H
e was then sent on amission to Europe, where he spent thirty mo
nths, and on returning to americaentered the law department o
f the University of Michigan, where he was graduated n 1892. I
n July of the same year he opened an office at Paris, and in tw
o years had acquired a substantial and profitable practice. A
s a lawyer itis said that he never failed to resPond to the app
eals of the needy, and fora number of years he probably handle
d as much unremunerative law practice asany lawyer in Idaho.
Mr Budge on attaining his majority voted with the Republican par
ty and has always been one of
its most zealous supporters. In 1894he was elected district at
torney of the fifth judicial district, then comprising, Bannock
, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremon, Lemhi and Oneida counties, and dur
ing his four years in that office won a reputation which broug
h him furtheradvancement in political life. In November, 1898
, he was elected prosecuting attorney for Bear Lake county, an o
ffice which he filled for two years. Hewas then reelected to t
he same position, and i