William Lindsey Darrah (April 7, 1876 - after 1920) was a sheep rancher and stonemason in Shoshone, Idaho known for his construction of lava rock water tanks from the 1910s to 1920s. He built water tanks ranging from approximately eight to 30 feet high and from 12 to 25 feet in diameter. His tanks were typically built with a stone foundation several feet into the ground. The walls were approximately three feet wide and built out of lava stones and lime mortar. Darrah's tanks were typically accompanied by one-story pump houses
A number of Darrah's works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, some as part of a Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group submission for Lava Rock Structures in South Central Idaho. (incomplete, omits building-specific passages)
Darrah was born in April 1876 in California.Draft registration card dated September 9, 1918, for William Lindsey Darrah, born April 7, 1876, resident of Shoshone, Idaho. Occupation listed as self-employed contractor. Closest relative listed as Ida Darrah (wife). Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 atabase on-line Registration State: Idaho; Registration County: Lincoln; Roll: 1452218. He was the son of Simon Darrah and Arzilla (Shipton) Darrah. At the time of the
1880 United States Census
The United States census of 1880 conducted by the Census Bureau during June 1880 was the tenth United States census.Shasta, California with his parents and six siblings. His father was employed as a lumberman at the time.Census entry for Simon Darrah and family. William listed as age 3. Ancestry.com. 1880 United States Federal Census atabase on-line Year: 1880; Census Place: Shasta, California; Roll: 82; Family History Film: 1254082; Page: 83D; Enumeration District: 092. By 1900, Darrah had relocated to Shoshone, Idaho where he was living with his parents and four siblings. As of 1918, Darrah was living in Shoshone with his wife, Ida A. Darrah and listed his occupation as a self-employed contractor. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, he remained in Shoshone living with his wife Ida and his sister-in-law Effie Parry. His occupation was listed as a mason, and his wife as a stenographer in an abstract office.Census entry for Will and Ida Darrah. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census atabase on-line Year: 1920; Census Place: Shoshone, Lincoln, Idaho; Roll: T625_293; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 192; Image: 657.
Darrah's works include:
* Darrah House and Water Tank House, located northeast of Shoshone, Idaho, NRHP-listed
* Ben Darrah Water Tank and Well House, located north of Shoshone, Idaho, NRHP-listed
* Thomas Gooding Water Tank House, located northwest of Shoshone, Idaho, NRHP-listed
* Louis Johnson Water Tank House, located west of Richfield, Idaho, NRHP-listed
* Myers School, located west of Shoshone, Idaho, NRHP-listed
* J. W. and Rachel Newman House and Bunkhouse, located east of Jerome, Idaho, NRHP-listed
* Arthur D. Silva Water Tank, located northwest of Shoshone, Idaho, NRHP-listed
See also
*
Jack Oughton John "Jack" Oughton (September 18, 1876 – after 1940) was a skilled stonemason in Lincoln County, Idaho. (incomplete, omits building-specific passages) A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Ought ...
, a contemporary stonemason, also in Lincoln County
*
Ignacio Berriochoa
Ignacio Ygnatil Berriochoa (July 31, 1865 - May 17, 1949) was a skilled stonemason in Lincoln County, Idaho. (incomplete, omits building-specific passages) He was born in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque region of Spain and moved to I ...
, a contemporary stonemason, also in Lincoln County
* H. T. Pugh, a contemporary stonemason in
Jerome County
Jerome County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 22,374. The county seat and largest city is Jerome. The county was created by the Idaho Legislature on February 8, 1919, by a partition o ...