Pioneer Succumbs After Illness – Made Wagon Trek With Parents
William Reuben Breshears, 83-year-old retired farmer and railroad man, died at 5:15 a.m., today at a local hospital after a long illness.
He was born October 1, 1860, in Dallas County, Missouri, and had lived in Wallowa and Union counties for 67 years, having crossed the plains in an oxen-drawn covered wagon in 1878 with his parents, when he was 17.
He settled in the Elgin district and farmed there for about 35 years before he started working for the railroad. After 28 years he retired from railroading at the age of 75 and made his home in Wallowa. Later he returned to Elgin where he made his home with his son, Charles. He had spent the past year in a local hospital.
He is survived by the following sons and daughters, Jesse, of La Grande, Charles of Elgin, Herman of Yakima, Vernon of the U.S. army engineers in England, Mrs. Clyde Reed of La Grande and Mrs. Avan Babbs of Eugene and other relatives.
Funeral announcement will be made later.
La Grande Evening Observer
La Grande, Oregon
March 21, 1944, pg 5
Contributed by: Dixie Ricker