(Editorial Note: Part 420 of a series of development in the early days that impacted Franklin County. Sources: Idaho Enterprise, 1878-1890; Hometown Album, compiled and edited by Newell Hart; Cache Valley Newsletter, compiled and edited by Newell Hart; Preston Standard news, 1901; Preston News, 1908-1910)

Law and order soon becomes a need in the settling of a civilized country. The area that is now Franklin County was a small part of what was then Oneida County. Oxford, Idaho was a booming city that had sprung up with the railroad heading into the northwest part of the nation, as well as prospecting and mining being developed to the north in Idaho and Montana. Freighting of supplies was an important industry and drew people who were coming to the western United States. "The towns in Oxford's league in those years of railroad growth and speculation were Malad City, Battle Creek, Eagle Rock, Soda Springs, Montpelier, and Ogden. Neighboring towns such as Clifton, Dayton, Weston, Franklin, Swan Lake -even Logan -- were rarely mentioned."

A well-known Oxford lawman was William H. Homer. He had been born in 1845 in Illinois and came west with his family about 1858 to the Salt Lake valley. Homer served at Sheriff of Oneida County from 1881 -- 1886, and then as a United States Deputy Marshal thru 1894. Oneida county was a huge area that was later broken into 13 smaller counties.

Homer was also a stockman with a beautiful farm in Oxford. He worked with other residents to form an Agricultural and Stockmen Association in 1879. He was often called upon as a witness for those seeking proof of development on Homestead claims. With the lack of a jail, Sheriff Homer brought prisoners to his own home, putting them on their code of honor not to escape. As a Marshal he often had prisoners who were on their way to be jailed in San Francisco. Others that he had to deal with were Mormon polygamists who were being tracked down and serving jail time. Fred Duboise, of Oxford was very much anti-Mormon and polygamy gave him a program to deny voting to those practicing that way of life. The Homer family later moved to Utah.

With sufficient population and trade Preston became a village in 1900 and the founding fathers realized there was one more problem to deal with- that of no jailhouse. The town was located in such a place that there were occasional drifters, burglars, conmen(and women) that were temporarily attracted to this new place. Preston also sported several saloons. A place to house miscreants and less offenders had to be found. Malad City, then the county seat of Oneida county, was too distant to take care of this housing problem.

There was no question as to the need. The Preston Standard reported in 1901 of five prisoners escaping from the county jail at Lewiston by cutting a hole eighteen inches square through a thick brick wall lined with steel. A brace and bit were the tools used and the criminals had been assisted by accomplices outside the jail. Residents were aware this could easily happen close to home.

According to Newell Hart, a temporary solution showed up when a granary behind the Shipp Building close to the center of town was offered to the town for the rental price of one dollar per month. Shoemaker John Christensen purchases the property from Dr. Shipp and he also rented out the granary.

At the time the village marshal was Hyrum D. Jensen, who had been the road overseer and poundkeeper. The lease on the granary was a monthly situation. When it was rented by someone other than the town or was not available for whatever reason as a jailhouse another granary, this one belonging to Will Hawkes, became a place for prisoners.

In the meantime the village leaders were looking for a better arrangement. "In 1903 a lot was purchased from merchant J. G. Smith, present site of the Legion Hall. Mason John Nuffer was awarded a contract to build the 18 ½ ft. by 18 ½ ft. stone jail. Contract price was $866.58. Work was begun in the fall of 1903 and finished in the spring of 1904. Some of the men hired to work on the jail yard were: Elmer Mecham ($6), Ether Esplin ($8), Parley Stokes ($8) Dan Taylor ($1.75), Julius Johnson ($5), Clarence Hansen ($3), David Davis ($2).

The local news included such bits as a scheme of curing "dope" fiends by placing them in city jails where they couldn't get their drug craving fixed. This was being tried by Boise, and finding great success. Another news flash from Boise was the escape of ten prisoners who had sawed in two, a large Rale lock which fastened to an alley the door of the city jail. The escapees were regarded as bad characters and all efforts were put forth for their recapture. With escapees Boise did not feel so far distant to the rest of Idaho.

By 1910 there were some strong anti-liquor groups making themselves heard by the law. An Anti-Saloon league was being enforced. There were age restrictions. Some saloon keepers were deciding to close their shop due to too much observance from the local law. Vagrants and transients passing through settlements were collected by the law officers, spending the night in jail before being told to "move on."