1904 Biography - JOSEPH B. BISTLINE

Among the representative business men not only of Pocatello but of Bannock county, Idaho, where he is now in business in the lumber trade, having - large and well-supplied lumber yards, located on East Center street, near the courthouse, is Joseph B. Bistline, a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born on April 10, 1862, a son of Benjamin and Jane (Nesbitt) Bistline, also natives of the Keystone state, where his father was a farmer and a son of Joseph B., a German emigrant. After a thorough education in the public schools Mr. Bistline engaged in successful teaching in Pennsylvania and Illinois, continuing this occupation until 1884, when, going to Nebraska, he became connected with agriculture, but in 1886 he removed to Kansas and there engaged in the selling of hardware and agricultural implements until 1890, when the business conditions of the state being almost paralyzed by the unusually dry season, Mr. Bistline sold out and came to Pocatello, Idaho, where he became identified with railroad operations, in connection with the Oregon Short Line Railroad as an employe in the motive power department until 1898, when he established the lumber-yard business here in which he continues his operations, his patronage coming from an extended area.

As a member of the Democratic party he has been identified with its campaigns and its public affairs, and by reason of his popularity receiving a very gratifying election to the office of mayor of Pocatello in 1899. Social in his nature, Mr. Bistline would necessarily be in harmony with fraternal organizations, and we find that he is a member of the Masonic order, active in its councils and valued in the lodge. In the local lodge of Knights of Pythias he is a past chancellor and has served annually as a delegate to the grand lodge since 1898.

On April 10, 1887, Mr. Bistline married with Miss Gracia Gross, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Philip and Clara (Stier) Gross, the family circle including the following children: Claude, Ida May and Jean Nesbitt.

Extracted from Progressive Men of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremont and Oneida Counties, Idaho, published in 1904, page 473, contributed 2021 Jun 15 by Norma Hass