Bovill, Idaho — Saloon Keeper Became the Namesake

Hugh Bovill came from England, settled in the forest east of Moscow and built a life difficult to summarize on a modern résumé.

He and his wife Charlotte operated a ranch and stopping place.

He also became a saloon keeper, merchant, postmaster and eventually the namesake of the town.

The timing helped.

Potlatch Lumber Company logging operations were pushing into the surrounding white-pine country, and rail lines followed workers and timber into the forest.

Camps and temporary spurs moved as cutting advanced.

Bovill became one of the more permanent places in an industry designed to chase trees.

Logging later required fewer workers, and the town shrank.

Public forests, hunting and recreation supplied new reasons to pass through.

Hugh Bovill arrived for his health.

Northern Idaho gave him several additional occupations.