Lewis A. Critchfield

Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 2 by James H. Hawley 1920)

Lewis A. Critchfield, farmer and stockman residing at Oakley, was born at Tooele, Utah, February 17, 1869, and is a son of William A. and Orissa M. (Bates) Critchfield. He spent his boyhood to the age of eleven years at the place of his nativity and then
accompanied his parents to Oakley, the family home being established near the present farm of Lewis A. Critchfield, who in his youthful days attended the public schools of Oakley and afterward operated his mother's ranch until he reached the age of thirty
years. He then began raising and dealing in horses and likewise carried on general farming. He purchased a part of the old homestead and bent his energies to the further development of his place and the conduct of his business affairs. After a time he sold his horses and concentrated his efforts and attention upon cattle raising, while still later he also became interested in sheep. In February, 1903, he purchased his present
farm of fifty acres and is now engaged in raising both sheep and cattle. He has added to his land from time to time until his possessions now include twenty-five hundred acres and he is one of the prominent and successful live stock men of his section of the state.
He has closely studied the most practical and the most scientific methods of stock raising and his efforts have been so intelligently directed that his labors have been attended with a notable measure of success. As he has prospered he has also extended his efforts into other fields and is now the vice president of the Oakley State Bank and a director of the Warren Springs Water Company.

In the fall of 1888 Mr. Critchfield was married to Miss Jane W. Wilson, a native of North Ogden, Utah, and a daughter of Robert and Ann (Blood) Wilson, her parents
having been early settlers of Utah. To Mr. and Mrs. Critchfield have been born eleven children: Viola P., who for two years was engaged in mission work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Ethel J.; Lewis R., who for three and a half years was connected with the mission field at St. Louis, Missouri; Roland A., who enlisted January 29, 1918, in the Fifth Regiment of Marines and after arriving in France on the
8th of June participated with the Second Division in all of the many important engagements in which the American troops took part in the war for democracy; Claud W.; Anna O.; Lloyd C.; lone, who died in infancy; Rodetta W. and Odetta W., twins; and Arnold C.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, in the work of which Mr. Critchfield has always taken an active and helpful part. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school and has been a high official in church circles. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is ably discharging the duties of county commissioner, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1914. He deserves great credit for what he has aecomplished. He started out in the business world a poor boy, empty-handed, but by persistent effort has worked his way steadily upward. He early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins and he made industry the beacon light of his life, guiding him through all the changes and trials of a business career and bringing him at length to the goal of prosperity, for he is today one of the most successful of the farmers and stockmen of Cassia county.

Lewis A. Critchfield and wife Jane W. Wilson Critchfield