The Purple Sage
Completed in 1902 by architect Joseph Phelps, the Purple Sage, as
known for years by locals, was originally built for John A Bagley, Attorney
General of Idaho. He commissioned the construction of the home for his family
which consisted of him, his wife and seven children. His wife, Nina Valva Furrow
was born 13 Nov 1863 in Welton Iowa, the daughter of John and Amanda Mariah
Furrow. They married 15 Aug 1888 in Logan Utah. Nina died 11 Nov 1905 after the
birth of her last child.
Children of John Allen Bagley and Nina Valva Furrow
Cloudsley Furrow Bagley b-19 Apr 1891 in
Montpelier; d-27 Nov 1891 in Montpelier; br-Montpelier City Cemetery
John Lafayette Bagley b-21 Jan 1893 in Montpelier; d-22 Jan 1893 in Montpelier;
br-Montpelier City Cemetery
George Brimhall Bagley b-23 Dec 1894 in Montpelier; d-10 Jan 1895 in Montpelier;
br-Montpelier City Cemetery
Moretta Virus Bagley b-22 May 1896 in Franklin Co Idaho; d-19 July 1936 in Long
Beach Calif. bar-Rose Hills Memorial Park
Almorean Bagley b-9 Mar 1898 in Montpelier; d-4 Sep 1969 in Val Verda Utah; br-Bountiful
Memorial Park
Mary Juanita Bagley b-2 Nov 1889 in Montpelier; d-1948 in Monmouth Beach, New
Jersey
Hawley Bagley b-2 Nov 1889 in Montpelier; d-1 Feb 1973 in Salt Lake City; br-Wasatch
Lawn Memorial Park
Nina Bagley b-8 Jan 1903 in Montpelier; d-6 July 1986 in Salt Lake City Utah; br-Lewisville
Cemetery
Lucille Bagley b-20 June 1901 in Montpelier; d-10 Dec 1953 in Whittier, Calif.
br-Rose Hills Memorial Park
Baby Bagley b&d 27 Oct 1905 in Montpelier; br-Montpelier City Cemetery
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John Allen Bagley was very influential in Bear Lake, as he was a director of and financial investor in several corporations including the Montpelier Lumber Company, Pacific Irrigation Canal Company, Fossil Oil Fields of Wyoming and the North Star Cattle Company. He became attorney general for the state in 1902. His popularity and respect as well as his upstanding social demeanor drew many people to his stately home. In his time, the house was a central meeting place for social gatherings because of its warm and inviting atmosphere and its technological advances at the turn of the century.
The house was considered to be the largest and most pretentious house in the entire Bear Lake county. Although the house is officially recognized by the National Registry of Historic Places as the John A Bagley Home, the name Purple Sage has been more readily adopted. From Shirlene Jensen, "I lived in Montpelier and during the seventies, this home was owned by Birdie Hilmo, my good friend. I visited her several times when she lived there. I love that home as much as the people of Bear Lake."
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Nina Valva Bagley 1905 obituary.