Dr. Ephraim Smith became the first mayor of Boise in 1866 and served until 1867.  For years he has not been recognized as the first mayor of Boise, despite the fact that a story ran in the Idaho Statesman on June 14th, 1936, with a picture of the man and the original Certificate of Election. It is believed that Smith also served as the first Territorial Treasurer. Smith operated a drug store as well as opened up a private hospital in Boise.

Source: The Idaho Statesman

Charles Bilderback was born in Kentucky on January 20th, 1846. He came to Idaho on a wagon train when he was 18. Bilderback was elected to the Boise city council in 1879, and again in 1885. He served as mayor of Boise from 1880-1881. He eventually became mayor of Emmett for two terms as well. He was the Postmaster of Boise City when Idaho was a territory. Bilderback died on August 10, 1917 and was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Boise.

Source:Founding Fathers of Idaho

James Pinney was born in Franklin County, Ohio on September 29, 1835. By 1850 Pinney moved to California for the Gold Rush, and came to Idaho in 1862, ending up in the Boise Basin. He became a merchant in Idaho City, and in 1873 moved to Boise permanently to operate his bookstore on Main Street. Pinney built the Columbia Theater in 1892, and after it was razed built the Pinney Theater, which opened in 1908. He served three times as mayor of Boise (1881-1885, 1889-1893, 1905-1907). During his various times in office, the Morris Hill Cemetery was purchased, the toll bridge of 9th Street was bought and the tolls stopped, the City Hall on the corner of 8th and Idaho was built, and one of the first sewer systems in the City was put in.

Source:The Founding Fathers of Idahoand The Idaho Statesman.

Solomon Hasbrouck was born on May 28, 1833 in New York. Hasbrouck spent time in California and Idaho as a miner, and was elected a County Commissioner in Owyhee County. In about 1868 he came to Boise and stayed, serving in various government offices, including being the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He served on the Boise City Council when Thomas Logan was Mayor, and was elected Mayor in 1885. Hasbrouck died September 7, 1906 and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery. He lived at 213 S. 9th Street.

Source:Founding Fathers of Idaho

Peter Pefley was born near Roanoke, Virginia in 1830, and in 1851 he traveled to Oregon. Pefley came to Boise in 1864, and bought the "City Hotel" located on Main and Sixth Streets. He also opened a saddle and harness shop, the Idaho Saddlery Company, at 833 Main Street in Boise in the early 1870s. Pefley served as a City Council member, and served as Mayor from 1887 to 1889. Pefley also served on the school board, and contributed to the consolidation of the smaller school districts into the Boise Independent School District. He died in 1906 and was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery.

Source: Founding Fathers of Idaho

James Pinney was born in Franklin County, Ohio on September 29, 1835. By 1850 Pinney moved to California for the Gold Rush, and came to Idaho in 1862, ending up in the Boise Basin. He became a merchant in Idaho City, and in 1873 moved to Boise permanently to operate his bookstore on Main Street. Pinney built the Columbia Theater in 1892, and after it was razed built the Pinney Theater, which opened in 1908. He served three times as mayor of Boise (1881-1885, 1889-1893, 1905-1907). During his various times in office, the Morris Hill Cemetery was purchased, the toll bridge of 9th Street was bought and the tolls stopped, the City Hall on the corner of 8th and Idaho was built, and one of the first sewer systems in the City was put in.

Source:The Founding Fathers of Idahoand The Idaho Statesman.

Peter Sonna was born in New York City in 1835, and came west as a teenager to mine for gold. He came to Boise in 1863 and opened up a hardware business that sold mining supplies. The Sonna building on 9th and Idaho Streets was one of Peter Sonna's first buildings, and through the years he built more on that block, leading to the name 'the Sonna block.' He built his house at 216 9th Street and lived there until his death. Sonna was elected Mayor in 1893 and served until 1895. One of the projects that he undertook as Mayor was to purchase the police uniforms with his personal money.

Source: The Founding Fathers of Idaho and the Idaho Statesman

Walter E. Pierce was born near Waco, Texas in 1860, and moved to Boise with his business partners, L.H. Cox and John M. Haines. The firm that they started was primarily interested in real estate, and developed many residential parcels, including the Hyde Park, Locust Grove, and Warm Springs Ave. Pierce was also responsible for starting the Interurban streetcar line to Caldwell, and setting up the first bus company after the streetcars stopped running. The W.E. Pierce Company office was located in the Gem Noble building on the corner of Tenth and Main. Pierce served as Mayor from 1895 to 1897.

Source: Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series by Arthur Hart and Idaho Daily Statesman

Moses Alexander was born in Obrigheim, Bavaria on November 13th, 1853, and immigrated to the United States in 1868, at the age of 15. He moved to Boise in 1891 at 38, where he opened a men's clothing store on 9th and Main. He served as mayor from 1897-1899, and 1901-1903, and went on to become the first Jewish Governor of Idaho during World War I.

Sources: Idaho State Historical Society-Annual Report, 13th, "Moses Alexander Collection."
Ethnic Landmarks: Ten Historic Places that Define the City of Trees by Todd Shallat
Boise: An Illustrated History by Merle Wells and Arthur Hart.

James Richards was born in Ohio on May 5, 1852. He practiced law in Colorado and came to Boise in 1889 and helped to promote and construct the Payette ditch. He also organized the Payette Valley bank and the Payette Land and Improvement Company. Richards served as a county commissioner in Canyon County for one term. In 1894 Richards was elected judge of the Third District of Idaho. After two years he resigned and began practicing law in Boise. He was elected mayor of Boise in 1899 and served until 1901. He died in 1936.

Source: Idaho Daily Statesman

Moses Alexander was born in Obrigheim, Bavaria on November 13th, 1853, and immigrated to the United States in 1868, at the age of 15. He moved to Boise in 1891 at 38, where he opened a men's clothing store on 9th and Main. He served as mayor from 1897-1899, and 1901-1903, and went on to become the first Jewish Governor of Idaho during World War I.

Sources: Idaho State Historical Society-Annual Report, 13th, "Moses Alexander Collection."
Ethnic Landmarks: Ten Historic Places that Define the City of Trees by Todd Shallat
Boise: An Illustrated History by Merle Wells and Arthur Hart.

James Hawley was born in Dubuque, Iowa on January 17, 1847. When he was 14 he went to California with an uncle to mine for gold. In 1863 Hawley moved to Placerville, ID to mine. A year later he returned to California for school, but returned to Idaho in 1868 to practice law. He settled in Boise in 1886, still practicing law and mining. Hawley held several political offices throughout the state of Idaho, including being a Boise County commissioner and the United States District Attorney for Idaho. He served as mayor of Boise from 1903 to 1905, and as the Governor of Idaho from 1911 to 1913. One of the notable changes that Hawley initiated while he was the mayor of Boise was to end the volunteer Fire department and replace it with a paid Fire Department. Hawley died on August 3, 1929.

Source: Who's Who for Idaho, The Idaho Statesman

James Pinney was born in Franklin County, Ohio on September 29, 1835. By 1850 Pinney moved to California for the Gold Rush, and came to Idaho in 1862, ending up in the Boise Basin. He became a merchant in Idaho City, and in 1873 moved to Boise permanently to operate his bookstore on Main Street. Pinney built the Columbia Theater in 1892, and after it was razed built the Pinney Theater, which opened in 1908. He served three times as mayor of Boise (1881-1885, 1889-1893, 1905-1907). During his various times in office, the Morris Hill Cemetery was purchased, the toll bridge of 9th Street was bought and the tolls stopped, the City Hall on the corner of 8th and Idaho was built, and one of the first sewer systems in the City was put in.

Source:The Founding Fathers of Idahoand The Idaho Statesman.

John Haines was born in Iowa, on January 1st, 1863. When he came to Boise he started work at W. E. Pierce & Co., a real estate company. Haines became the mayor of Boise during 1907 and served until 1909. One of his goals as Mayor was to bring more development to Boise, and to grow the city. He became Idaho's governor in 1912 and served until 1913. He died January 4th, 1917 in Boise.

Source: Idaho Statesman, Sunday Morning, May 22, 1949

Joseph, or John Pence, was born near Ottumwa, Iowa on November 9, 1869. He earned a Bachelor's of Arts at Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa, and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1900 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Pence came to Boise in 1900 to practice law. In 1909 he was elected as mayor of Boise and served until 1911. During his time as Mayor, the City began to develop Julia Davis Park into a park.

Source: History of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains, Vol. II

Harry Fritchman was born on February 10, 1865 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Fritchman came to Boise in 1909. According to an Idaho Daily Statesman article, Fritchman helped to develop Julia Davis Park. He also served on the park board.

Source: Idaho Statesman.

Arthur Hodges was born on March 14, 1865 in Benton County, Oregon. Hodges spent much of his time in Oregon, including growing up in Prineville. He attended the Corvallis State Agricultural College in 1882 and graduated from the Columbia College in Portland in 1884. Hodges held several political offices in Oregon, including being elected as mayor of Prineville in 1888. Hodges moved to Boise in 1907, where he was elected Mayor in 1912, serving until 1915. Afterwards, he helped to create the Boise Motor Car Company.

Source: "History of Central Oregon" By F.A. Shaver
"History of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains" Vol II

Jeremiah Robinson was born near Owensboro, Kentucky on July 18, 1860. Robinson traveled around the west, studying law and working as a banker. He came to Boise in 1890, and in 1891 became the chief clerk in the United States Assay office. In 1915 he was elected Mayor, where he drove out "the saloons, the gambling houses and the slot machines." He also tried to wipe out the red light district. He was recalled after fourteen months in office.

Source:History of Idaho: Gem of the MountainsVol. II

Samuel Hays was born in Juneau, Wisconsin on May 18, 1864. Hays was on the Boise City Council from 1894-1895. He was the Attorney General of Idaho in 1898, and oversaw the Martial law enacted in response to the mining riots in Coeur D'Alene. In 1916 Hays was elected mayor of Boise, and served until 1919.

Source: History of Idaho, vol. III

Ernest George Eagleson was born on January 13, 1864, in Cadiz, Ohio and came to Boise in 1891, where he became mayor from 1919 to 1921, and again from 1925-1927. He was the City Engineer of Boise for eight years. Eagleson also became the chief engineer of construction for the New York Canal. He was also involved with the creation of Arrowrock dam and the reservoir.  

Source:History of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains,Vol. II

Before coming to Boise in 1909, Eugene Sherman was a teacher and superintendent in Nebraska. In Boise he opened a lumber business, and was elected Mayor in 1921 and served until 1925. After living in Boise for approximately 15 years, he moved to California and entered real estate.

Source: Idaho Daily Statesman

Ernest George Eagleson was born on January 13, 1864, in Cadiz, Ohio and came to Boise in 1891, where he became mayor from 1919 to 1921, and again from 1925-1927. He was the City Engineer of Boise for eight years. Eagleson also became the chief engineer of construction for the New York Canal. He was also involved with the creation of Arrowrock dam and the reservoir.  

Source:History of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains,Vol. II

Herbert Lemp was born in Boise on June 24, 1884. Before being elected mayor of Boise, Lemp served as director of the Pacific National Bank of Boise and the Idaho State Life Insurance Company and the Boise Stone Company. He had a corporate presence in Boise. When Lemp was elected he was wildly popular. In May 1927, Lemp received a head injury from a polo accident. He was sworn in as Mayor the next day in the hospital, but he ended up passing away after only a few days.

Source: The Idaho Statesman andHistory of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains

Walter Hansen was the president of the City Council while Herbert Lemp was mayor. When Lemp died days after being sworn into office, Hansen became mayor in his place, completing Lemp's term.

Source: "Mayors of Boise City, Idaho-1867 to 1943."

James Pope was born near Jonesboro, Louisiana on March 31, 1884. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1909 and began practicing law in Boise. He became the city attorney of Boise from 1916-1917, and the assistant attorney general of Idaho from 1918-1919, while Moses Alexander was Governor. He was elected mayor of Boise in 1929 and served until 1933 when he resigned due to an election to Congress. He served in the United States Senate from 1933 until 1939. He was then appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as director of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and served in that position from 1939 to 1951.

Source: "James P. Pope, Senator from Idaho,"Idaho YesterdaysFall 1971

Ross Cady was born on October 29, 1884. He moved to Boise in 1918, where he became manager of the Idaho Laundry. He was elected to the Boise City Council in 1927, and again in 1929 for a four year term. He served as the president of the council. Cady became mayor of Boise in 1933, serving from February 15th to May 1st, 1933. He served such a short time because he replaced J.P. Pope when he resigned to become a U.S. Senator, and Cady did not get reelected.

Sources:Idaho: The Place and Its People, A History of This Gem State From Prehistoric to Present Days.

John J. McCue was born in Buffalo, New York on May 14, 1875. McCue served variously as a lawyer, banker, and accountant throughout his life. When he came to Idaho in 1909 he was practicing law. McCue served as the city attorney of Boise during Mayor Ern G. Eagleson's administration. He was elected as Mayor in 1933 and served until 1935. He died two months after his service as Mayor.

Source: The Idaho Daily Statesman

James Edlefsen was born at Ovid, Idaho, on July 19, 1874. Edlefsen worked on the Oregon Short Line Railroad in Pocatello, and later for the Studebaker Brothers Company. He was elected mayor of Boise in 1936, and served until 1939.

Source:History of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains,Vol. II

James Straight was born in Boise, Idaho on January 31, 1909. His family had lived in Boise since 1865. Straight was elected Mayor in 1939 and served until 1941. His election was surprising for many reasons; Straight was only thirty years old, making him the youngest man to become Mayor of Boise, and he defeated incumbent Mayor J.L. Edlefsen. During his term the first parking meters were installed in the city, and he brought the policy to place street names at intersections to Boise. He died in 1981.

Source: The Idaho Statesman

'Wes' Whillock was born in Humansville, Missouri in 1904. In 1931 he established a retail business in Boise called Arbuckle, King and Whillock. He was elected Mayor in 1941, but shortly resigned because he was called into active duty in the Navy for WWII. One of the accomplishments that have been attributed to him was to encourage the airport to move to its current location. Whillock was appointed in 1946 after Sam Griffin resigned. In 1949 Whillock started the radio station KDSH, later called KBOI. He also founded the KBOI-TV station in 1953. Richard Eardley, Mayor of Boise from 1974-1986 worked at KBOI-TV under Whillock as a news director until Eardley became Mayor.

Source: The Idaho Statesman and "Personal and Family History" by Merrill Beal and Merle Wells.

Austin Walker was born in Gary, Minnesota on January 5, 1883. He came to Boise in 1900. Walker operated the Walker Drug Company. He served on the Boise City Council from 1937 to 1942, and was elected Council President in 1941. When Mayor Westerman Whillock resigned because he was called to active duty in the Navy, Walker was appointed to finish Whillock's term. Walker was re-elected in 1943. His term dealt with many repercussions of WWII, including an increasing population in Boise, and expansion of Gown Field. Walker passed away during his term, and Sam Griffin was appointed to finish his term.

Source: The Idaho Statesman

Samuel Griffin was born in Tekamah, Nebraska, on January 3rd, 1892. He became mayor in 1945 and served until 1946. In addition to being Mayor, Griffin was a lawyer, educated at the University of Nebraska. He lived at 1915 N. 17th St. in Boise, ID. Griffin served on the Boise City Council as president, and when Austin Walker passed away during his term as mayor, Griffin was appointed to serve. When Griffin resigned, Westerman Whillock was appointed as mayor.

Source: Who's Who for Idaho

'Wes' Whillock was born in Humansville, Missouri in 1904. In 1931 he established a retail business in Boise called Arbuckle, King and Whillock. He was elected Mayor in 1941, but shortly resigned because he was called into active duty in the Navy for WWII. One of the accomplishments that have been attributed to him was to encourage the airport to move to its current location. Whillock was appointed in 1946 after Sam Griffin resigned. In 1949 Whillock started the radio station KDSH, later called KBOI. He also founded the KBOI-TV station in 1953. Richard Eardley, Mayor of Boise from 1974-1986 worked at KBOI-TV under Whillock as a news director until Eardley became Mayor.

Source: The Idaho Statesman and "Personal and Family History" by Merrill Beal and Merle Wells.

Potter Howard was born in Sydney, Nebraska on October 4, 1892. He attended the University of Nebraska to study pharmacy and chemistry. Howard was a pharmacist in Nebraska for two years, while also owning a large ranch. He came to Idaho in 1924, and became mayor of Boise in 1947 and served until 1951.

Source: The Idaho Statesman and Who's Who for Idaho

Russell Elmer Edlefsen was born September 30th, 1906, in Preston, Idaho. He was the son of James L. Edlefsen, who was the mayor of Boise from 1936 to 1939. Russell Edlefsen worked for the Idaho Highway Department, where he took a leave of absence to serve as Mayor, and continued to work for them after his public service. He served as Mayor from 1951-1959.

Source: Obituary from the Albertson's Library Special Collections Department, Boise State University.

Robert L. Day was born in 1920, and became mayor of Boise from 1959 to 1961. When he took office, Boise had a population below 35,000. During Day's time in office, Boise had a charter that restricted its ability to annex, and during his time in office that charter was abandoned. He also assisted in implementing one-way streets in downtown. During Day's administration the Bench Sewer District's infrastructure was modernized. He died in 1999, at the age of 79.

Source: The Idaho Daily Statesman

Eugene Shellworth was elected Mayor in 1961 and served until 1965. The Capitol City Development Corporation, a redevelopment agency, was formed by the City Council in 1965. Prior to being elected, Mayor Shellworth owned a sawmill and was a salesman. After his term in office, Shellworth worked as a public relations officer, a state safety inspector, an insurance salesman, and a bank security guard.

Source: Idaho Daily Statesman

Jay Amyx was elected mayor in 1966 and served until 1974. His term in office was marked by the beginning of the urban renewal era in Boise. Many of the buildings torn down in redevelopment occurred during his time in office.

Richard Eardley moved here in 1955 when he received a job at the Idaho Statesman, then called the Idaho Daily Statesman. In 1970 he was elected to the Boise City Council, where he served until 1974. In 1974 he was elected as Mayor of Boise. He served until 1986, a total of 12 years, making him the longest serving mayor of Boise to this day. Some of the events and issues during his time in office included: the first section of the greenbelt was completed, the Boise City Arts Commission was created, and the Boise City Historic Preservation Plan was approved. Redevelopment of the downtown was another issue during his time, as well as the major recession Boise experienced in the early 1980s.

Source: Oral History Interview with Richard Eardley, September 16, 2009.     

Dirk Kempthorne was born in San Diego, California and graduated from the University of Idaho with a political science degree. He was elected mayor of Boise in 1986 and served until 1993. His administration dealt primarily with the revitalization of downtown. The downtown began to be rebuilt, and its economic situation began to improve. Kempthorne ran for a Senate seat in 1992 and was elected. After his time on the Senate, Kempthorne became the Governor of Idaho.

Source: The Idaho Statesman

Brent Coles was elected mayor in 1993. Before his election he served 10 years on the Boise City Council. He emphasized regional cooperation, a comprehensive transportation system with rail, and fighting drug abuse. Coles resigned in February 2003 due to controversy.

Source: The Idaho Statesman

Carolyn Terteling-Payne was appointed as Mayor in 2003 when Brent Coles resigned. Prior to her appointment she had served on the Boise City Council since 1993. She received the nickname "Velvet Hammer" while dealing with the Coles' controversy.

Source: The Idaho Statesman

David Bieter was elected mayor in 2004, and is serving to this day. He has supported the creation of new libraries, sustainability and alternative transportation, and many other programs and initiatives.