Died at San Bernardino, California, February 9, 1922 Vella McClellan. Deceased was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. McClellan of Union. She had been an invalid for a number of years and was staying with an aunt in California. Her remains were shipped to Union, arriving Tuesday morning. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, February 14, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the Latter Day Saints church. Interment in the Union cemetery. Contributed by: Larry Rader
D. C. Jackson, a prominent citizen of Summitville, Tennessee, was born November 16, 1821, in Monticello, Kentucky, and is the son of J. B. and Dorcas (Cox) Jackson. The father was born in Lewisburg, N. C., in 1798, and when quite young came to Tennessee. For eight years, before he went into the mercantile business, he was clerk of McMinn County. The mother was born about 1797 in Tennessee. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a democrat. In 1839 our subject began an extensive tour through Virginia, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Indian Territory and Mexico. He … Read more
The following clipping is from a California paper, relating particulars of the recent death of a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Messenger, formerly of Union, and will interest some of the older residents of this place: Instant death overtook 8-year-old Katherine Messenger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Messenger of Burbank, when an automobile in which she and her father were driving up the Mt. Wilson road backed of the grade at 11;30 a.m. yesterday and fell 350 feet into the gorge below. Mr. Messenger was thrown clear of the car. He suffered severely from nerve shock after the … Read more
Union, Union County, Oregon Martha Ann Morgan of 873 S. College in Union died Friday, Aug. 25 at the local hospital at the age of 51. Mrs. Morgan was born on Dec. 11, 1920 at Bakersfield, Calif., the daughter of Thomas and Bessie Davis She was a graduate of Woodbury Art College in Los Angeles, Calif. On March 2, 1946, she was married to Jefferson Lee Morgan at Las Vegas, Nev. They lived in Bakersfield, Calif. until September of 1968 when they moved to Union. She was a member of the Union Rebekah Lodge and President of the Union Home … Read more
Former Imbler resident Bessie G. Ruckman died May 3 in Oakland, Calif. She was 81. Mrs. Ruckman was born Nov 4, 1903, in Jackson, Mo., to Thomas and Sophronia Kasinger. She and her family moved to Imbler in 1912. She married Virgil Audmer Ruckman of Alicel on June 10, 1922. In 1924, the couple moved to Oakland. Mrs. Ruckman was an employee of the Pacific Telephone Co., until she retired in 1957. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Betty Gene Graybeal of Oakland, and Mrs. Audrea C. Carero of Castro Valley, … Read more
Imbler, Union County, Oregon Virgil Ruckman, age 74, former resident of Imbler, died Tuesday, Feb 25, at Oakland, Calif.. Ruckman was born on April 27, 1900, at Alicel, the son of Samuel and Lillian Ruckman. On June 10, 1922, he was married to Bessie Kasinger of Imbler. After farming in the Imbler area for a year they moved to Oakland,Calif. Survivors include his daughters, Mrs. William [Betty Gene] Graybeal and Mrs.. George [Audrea] Seitz, both of Oakland; sister, Mrs. Dale [Lucretia] Brookshire, Imbler, brother, Clark Ruckman, La Grande; stepbrother, Walter Phillips, Salem: two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and other relatives and … Read more
North Powder, Union County, Oregon Pioneer Passes John H. Powers one of the first settlers on land in the North Powder river section, died a few days ago at Stockton, California, where he has been residing for some time. Mr. Powers is survived by four sisters. Mrs. J.L. Dodson of Baker, Mrs. Mary Hutchinson of Union, Mrs. Ellen E. Mann of Baker, and Mrs. Ida E. Turner of Colfax, California. Mr. Powers left an estate valued at $30,000, mostly in land in Baker and Union counties. North Powder News Saturday, May 15, 1920
Gerald Elroy Spencer, 97, of Los Osos, died Monday July 27, 1998, at his home. A memorial service will be held in the middle of August at Trinity Methodist Church in Los Osos. Mr. Spencer was born in his grandmother’s log house in La Grande, Ore., on Dec. 31, 1901. His mother died when he was 3 years old and his mother’s sister cared for him until his father remarried. During high school he played the trumpet and saxophone in the high school band. He kept up with his music while he was attending Oregon State University, not only in … Read more
Union, Union County, Oregon Mary Holladay Richins, wife of Osburn Richins, died of uremic poisoning at her home in Union Oregon, Saturday, March 12, 1910, at 9:15 p.m. The funeral took place Monday at 2 p.m., from the L.D.S. church which was crowded to the doors, not only with people of the Mormon faith but also with business men and the people generally of the city. The service was opened with music by the L.D.S. choir, led by J.W. Baxter,Jr., the meeting being presided over by Bishop W.D. Hanks. The speakers were: Patriarch James England, of Union, A.S. Geddes, Stake … Read more
Leatha A. Rountree, Salinas resident Leatha A. Rountree of Salinas died Wednesday at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz following a brief illness. She was 80. A native of Oregon, Mrs. Rountree lived in Salinas since 1964. Mrs. Rountree is survived by her husband, George T. Rountree of Salinas; her son, Richard Parr of Henderson, Nev.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. At her request, no services will be held. A private burial will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 76 Stephanie Drive, Salinas, Calif. 93901. Arrangements are under the direction of Norman’s … Read more
La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Mary A. Reynolds Died This Morning Another of La Grande’s Pioneer Ladies Answers Call of Death With Her Passing On Mrs. Mary A. Reynolds aged 81, passed away this morning at 10:45 o’clock at the Grande Ronde hospital at the conclusion of a two months’ illness. Her demise came as a sad shock to a host of friends in Eastern Oregon who sincerely mourn the death of one of La Grande’s most respected and admired pioneer ladies. Funeral services will be held from the Christian church tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock under the auspices … Read more
Nov. 2, 1904 – Oct. 6, 1988 L. Irl Robinson, 83, of Salem died Thursday in Salem. He was born in Gordon, Texas. He lived in Cove from 1905 to 1919. He served in the Army from 1923 to 1924 and was middleweight boxing champion in the armed services. He married Iola Childers, June 8, 1928, in La Grande. He lived in Montana, Washington and California before coming to Salem in 1950. He moved to Union in 1976 and returned to Salem in 1978. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Salem, and was on the original board … Read more
Former Resident Dies In California The following is from a Rosemead, Calif., paper last week. Archie Charles Rollins, 63 years of age, passed away Sunday afternoon at his home on Brookline avenue, Rosemead, California. He had been in poor health for more than a year, so that the end was not unexpected. The deceased was born at Jefferson, Green County, Iowa, September 27, 1864, coming to California with his family in 1905. They have also lived in Oregon a portion of the time since then but moved to Rosemead in 1923 taking up their residence on Earl street. A year … Read more
Thomas Stephenson Buried At La Grande Mrs. Robert Shaw, of Lytton, Calif., accompanied the remains of her father, Thomas Stephenson from the California city to La Grande, where the deceased was laid to rest at the side of his wife, who passed away about six years ago. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Shaw, with whom he made his home. Mr. Stephenson was very aged, being nearly 94 years old. He had been ill only about a week when death came. He was well known in this district having resided here several years. A large number … Read more
North Powder, Union County, Oregon Word has been received by Mrs. Emil R. Miller, of the death of her father, S.G. Sanders, of Vallejo, Cal. Samuel Guy Sanders was born in Portland and was a son of the late I.N. Sanders. He was about 56 years old. He grew up at North Powder on the old Sanders ranch. Besides the daughter, he leaves to mourn his loss, a wife, an aged mother, Mrs. Ascenith F. Sanders of Salem, two sisters, Mrs. Paul Swafford of Salem. Mrs. Orie Holmes, Ostrander, Wash., three brothers, Joe of Scio, Or. Ed, of Los Angeles, … Read more
Alvin Shaw returned from California Tuesday with the remains of Thos. Shaw, and the funeral took place Friday, under Pythian auspices, sermon by Rev. J. C. Walker. News item April 12, 1906 Contributed by: Larry Rader
Killed By a Cable Car Death of a Well-known Railroad Locating Engineer Mr. G.W. Hunt, who has been in the city for several days, left for his home in Walla Walla last evening. Mr. M.C. Shaw, who was killed by a Geary street cable car in San Franscisco a few days since, was in the employ of Mr. Hunt for four years as locating engineer, and located all the lines of the Hunt system of railroads, except about 40 miles. He was one of the best locating engineers in the country, and a very bright, genial fellows, highly esteemed by … Read more
J. A. White, for nine years a resident of Union, died at his home in South Union, Sunday, November 27, 1927, age a little over 65 years. The funeral took place from Cock Bros., undertaking parlors, Tuesday afternoon, November 29. Jas. Alexander White was born October 1st, 1862, in Arkansas and died at his home in Union, Ore., November 27th. He came west to California about 1890, then returned to Missouri, where he was married, his wife dying 22 years ago. He came to Union some nine years ago, where he has since made his home. He leaves behind him … Read more
Mary Virginia Wilkinson, age 52 years, wife of Andrew Wilkinson, died at her home in North Union at 11 p.m. Thursday, March 27, after a short illness. Mrs. Wilkinson was the mother of Mrs. Jas. Webb, of Union, Mrs. Clara Lee of Baker, and E. E. Wilkinson of Nicola, B.C., and has been a resident of this section for many years. The funeral will be held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. from the residence. The funeral of Mary Virginia Wilkinson, took place Sunday last at 1:30 p. m., as announced in the Republican, and was largely attended. Mary Virginia Lamere was … Read more
The sudden demise of Mr. John Wells was sad and a gloom was cast over the community by it but Sat. morning we had another sad death in town. Mr. Francis S. Wood, one of the old citizens of La Grande, highly esteemed by all honest, and a valuable man for our town, was stricken down by death ‘ere he had attained his three score and ten years. Mr. Wood had been sick only a few days and the news of his death was a sad surprise. He was a native of Ohio, having been born in that state on … Read more