Hon.
Alfred Budge, the present popular presiding judge of the Fifth judicial district
of the state of Idaho, which comprises the counties of Bannock, Bear Lake and
Oneida, was born on February 24, 1868 at Providence, Cache County, Utah, as the
son of Hon. William and Eliza (Prichert) Budge. For the ancestral history of the
family and for the distinguished career of his honored father the reader is
referred to a separate memoir appearing on other pages of this volume.During the boyhood days of Judge Budge he enjoyed few of what are now termed the comforts of life, for, from the exigencies of the case, he was compelled to aid early in life by diligent daily labor in the support of himself and also to assist in supporting other members of his father's family, by this out-of-doors employment, however, building up a strong constitution and an athletic physique. His early school life was limited, only covering a period of from four to six months a year at the primitive common schools of Bear Lake county until he was fifteen years of age, when for about three years he was-a student at the Brigham Young Academy of Provo, Utah, where he received his modicum of literary education.
Judge Budge has never had any other opportunity to secure a literary education, not being ever in a position to avail himself of the advantages of a college or university training, and the success he has attained in this direction has come to him solely from his own persistent efforts and from earnest study in the face of innumerable obstacles. He had, even when a mere lad a strong desire to educate himself as a lawyer, and. as he advanced in years, this desire grew upon him to such an extent that it became his firm resolve to make his life work in this noble profession. After his graduation from the academy at Provo, he passed thirty months in Europe, visiting Germany, France and England, and, after his return home, he matriculated at the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was duly graduated in 1892, and, in July of the same year he established himself in legal practice in his native town, without either money or a much-needed library.
His ability in the various departments of his chosen profession were soon recognized, and business, which was skillfully and promptly attended to, came to him, and in the small and inconspicuous county-seat town of his birth and residence, where he has been known to all, like the pages of an open book, from his childhood's days, he has built up a solid and fairly profitable practice. During these years he has accumulated an excellent library, numerous standard authorities of legal erudition finding their way to his shelves. He has never changed his residence, and has never had but one profession or business, that of the law, He has never charged a widow, an orphan or an invalid a fee, nor has he ever turned away the poor or forsaken the unfortunate.
Judge Budge has been a Republican from his first vote, and was one of the few faithful members of that party that did not join in the Free Silver heresy, when so many were carried from their moorings by its tempestuous force. He quaintly puts his opinion of such movements in these words, "I have always believed in settling family differences within the family circle," and, as he has been in the past, so he is today, a stalwart Republican, an earnest believer in and a strong supporter of the present Republican state and national administrations. He is heartily in favor of the seating of Hon. Reed Smoot as a member of the U. S. Senate from Utah, holding that religious tests are, and have always been, inimical to good government, but admitting that the U. S. Senate has absolute control in deciding upon the qualifications that entitle a member to a seat in its body.
In the fall of 1894 Judge Budge was elected by a complimentary vote as the district attorney of the Fifth judicial district of Idaho, then comprising Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremont, Lemhi and Oneida counties, and in the four years in which he served in this office he became extensively known and acquired many friends by his estimable personal qualities and won a high reputation for the ability shown in the discharge of his official duties. In attack or in defense his resources were seen to be at instant command, and all of his work was fortified and sustained by manly integrity. In November, 1898, official honors again came to him in his election as the county prosecuting attorney of Bear Lake County on the McKinley Republican ticket for a term of two years. His tact, energy and honesty of heart and purpose, combined with his accurate legal methods of procedure and his pleasing presentations of propositions of law, whether before the court or jury, so added to his personal strength, that, after serving his first term, he was returned for a second one by a re-election.
By this time his reputation as a legist had so far extended, and his popularity attained to so high a standing, that when the Republican leaders of southeastern Idaho began to cast about them for a candidate sufficiently strong in all the elements of legal learning, clear, cool and unimpassioned judgment, broad and vigorous intellect, as well as the possession of strength in the favor of the populace, to place in nomination against Hon. Joseph C. Rich, who had served four years as the presiding judge of the Fifth judicial district of the state, and was the formidable candidate of the Democratic party for re-election. Mr. Budge was selected in the district convention as his opponent. The campaign was a hot and spirited one, not a "walk-over" by any means, but when the votes of the district had been duly cast, recorded and announced, the brilliant honor of victory came to the Republican candidate, who received the news of his election with the quiet philosophy and unruffled demeanor that have been from childhood among his leading characteristics.
To the high, onerous and responsible duties of this important judicial office Judge Budge is now devoting himself, his capability for their proper discharge being more and more manifest in each successive term of court while, as an index of the popular estimate of his success in this difficult field, the writer will .be allowed to quote an expression he heard made by one of the prominent county officials of Bannock county, who said. "I voted against Judge Budge, but when I see how he dispatches business, what a clear comprehension he shows of all legal matters and contested points coming before him, the quickness with which he can call a wandering lawyer back to the case in hand and the gentlemanly courtesy he manifests to every one in all cases, I can assure you of one thing, if he is a candidate to succeed himself, he is sure of my vote.
In business matters Judge Budge is not prominent. He is one of the poor men of Bear Lake County, owns a small farm and hay claim, has a good residence and a few lots in the little city of Paris, and is a stockholder and a director in the Paris Roller Mill, but his life has been devoted to law, not to the acquisition of wealth, and the law is a jealous and an absorbing mistress, allowing no one who would win her favors any opportunity to divert his attention to other matters, and this Judge Budge has never done. In local affairs he has been a member of the Paris city council, city attorney and a school trustee. He was born and reared in the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and says that he "has never been able to find any reason to sever his connection with that religious organization." He holds no official position in the church. The Judge has an attractive personality, being tall and well formed, and at first sight impresses one with his manliness, courtesy and strength of character. He stands well in his home community and has the confidence and esteem of those who know him intimately. Although he has attained high honors, he is yet young and it is to be hoped that he may live to give many years of usefulness to the service of his state and its people.
At Logan, Utah, on July 5, 1894, the Judge was united in wedlock with Miss Ella Hoge, a daughter of Hon. Walter Hoge, an old and highly respected citizen of Paris, Idaho. She was reared and educated in Paris, the place of her birth, and is seven years younger than her husband. Their home has been blessed with five children: Alfred Hoge Budge, born on April 17, 1895; Drew W. Standrod Budge, born on October 26. 1896; Ella Leona Budge, deceased, born on October 3, 1898; Ina Elizabeth Budge, born January 14, 1900; Ora Amelia Budge, born on September 14, 1902.