California

Biography of Nelson Sleppy

Nelson Sleppy, successor to the firm of Sleppy & Bullis, is one of the representative business men of Colton. He is at the head of one of the largest hardware establishments in that city and the pioneer in the business in Colton, having established his store in 1882. He conducted the establishment alone until 1888, when he formed a partnership with William S. Bullis, now the mayor of Colton, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Sleppy & Bullis, with Mr. Sleppy as the chief and managing partner, until February 5, 1890. The subject of this sketch … Read more

Biography of William B. Sawyer, M. D.

William B. Sawyer, M. D., occupies a prominent position in the medical circles of Riverside, and has for many years been well known in the business and social circles of the city. Dr. Sawyer is a native of New England, born in Hampshire County, Massachusetts in 1854. His father, Edmund H. Sawyer, was a descendant of an old colonial family whose first advent in the New world was in the days of the Puritans; he was a manufacturer and prominent citizen of Hampshire County, a member of the Assembly and Senate of his State, at the head of banking institutions, … Read more

Biography of Judge William W. Noland

Judge William W. Noland, Riverside’s well-known City Recorder and the impartial Judge of her municipal court, was born in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, June 25, 1825. He is a descendant of representative Southern families. His father, Brazelton Noland, was a native of Kentucky. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Madison County, Indiana, locating there in 1821. Judge Noland’s mother was a native of North Carolina. Her name before marriage was Nancy Russell. The subject of this sketch was reared in the pioneer days of his native place, schooled in the log cabin schoolhouse by the itinerant teacher of … Read more

Biography of G. A. Sprecher, M. D.

G. A. Sprecher, M. D., formerly a practicing physician of Cincinnati, Ohio, and now the proprietor of the well-known “Colton Pharmacy,” which is located in the center of the city, has been a resident of Colton since 1884. The Doctor has found time to identify himself with and aid in the business and public enterprises which wrought the wonderful change in the city of Colton during the five years antedating 1889. His drug store, the Colton Pharmacy, is one of the most complete in the city, and a credit to any community, for Dr. Sprecher is a thorough master of … Read more

Robbins, James Wade “Jim” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon James Wade “Jim” Robbins, 66, of Baker City, died at his home on July 31, 2004. The family will be host for a gathering at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Baker United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St. Friends are invited to join family members for cake and punch while they honor Jim’s life. Jim was born on Nov. 2, 1937, at Banner Elk, N.C., to Robert Pell and Margaret Estelle Pritchard Robbins. He grew up and attended school in Avery County, N.C. James was one of 13 children. In 1958, James left North Carolina and moved to … Read more

Biography of Marshall F. Price, M. D.

Among the prominent physicians of Colton, and of San Bernardino County, mention should be made of the subject of this sketch. Dr. Price was born in Portage County, Ohio, in 1834. His father, Dr. George Price, was a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared and educated in Ohio. Dr. Price remained in his native State until fourteen years old; his parents then moved to Illinois and settled in Knox County. He was given a good education, and in his young manhood he entered upon the study of medicine. In 1861, when the war of the Rebellion broke out, he was … Read more

Biography of Seneca LaRue

Seneca LaRue, one of the horticulturists of the Riverside colony, came to Riverside in 1876 and located on Arlington avenue, where he purchased a claim of forty acres of Government land for which he eventually secured a patent. Immediately upon his purchase he commenced his horticultural pursuits, first planting a vineyard and some deciduous fruits as well as oranges, but later his experience led him to uproot the deciduous trees and replace them with citrus fruits. His orange grove is about twenty-two acres in extent; fifteen acres, being above the canal, is not irrigable. The older trees are seedlings, but … Read more

Biography of George H. Dole

Among the noticeably fine residences in the Arlington district of Riverside, is that owned by George H. Dole. It is located upon his twenty-acre tract on the north side of Arlington Avenue, three miles south of Riverside. His two-story residence is of modern design and finish and is complete in its appointments. It is surrounded by well-ordered grounds abounding in ornamental trees, rich floral productions and beautiful lawns. Mr. Dole has sought Riverside as a desirable place of residence in which to rear his children and afford them the advantages of schools, churches, etc., while he devotes him-self to horticultural … Read more

Biography of Miles Shoemaker

Miles Shoemaker is the owner of a twenty-acre tract on the east side of Riverside Avenue, about two and a half miles south of Riverside. He purchased land in 1882 from Mrs. Hattie S. Travers, and in the same year commenced making improvements upon the place by planting citrus and deciduous fruits and vines. About live acres of his laud lies east of the upper canal, and is not susceptible of irrigation from the Riverside water system. Upon this elevated portion he has erected his cottage residence and outbuildings. The balance of his land fifteen acres is all under cultivation. … Read more

Biography of Frank T. Nelson

Among the enterprising and progressive citizens, and successful horticulturists that are doing so much toward building up and placing before the world the horticultural interests and industries of Riverside and San Bernardino County, mention should be made of the above named gentleman. Mr. Nelson came to San Bernardino County in 1863, and located at Redlands. There he purchased a twenty-acre tract of uncultivated land and commenced its improvement. He planted the tract with orange trees, and made one of the representative groves of that section. He sold the tract at a good price in 1887, and in the same year … Read more

Biography of S. M. Goddard

S. M. Goddard, one of the leading business men of the city of Colton, is at the head, and is the general manager, of the well-known house of James Lee & Company, wholesale dealers in flour, provisions, grain, etc. It is one of the largest business enterprises of Colton, occupying a large brick store and warehouse west of the railroad depot in that city. The building is 160 x 50 feet in dimensions and is the largest warehouse in the county. The firm of James Lee & Company was established in 1885, composed of James Lee and the subject of … Read more

Biography of David D. Banta

David D. Banta is the business manager and principal owner of the Riverside Mills. This mill was built by the Riverside Mill Company, Walker & Banta, in May, 1887, and conducted by that firm until the death of Mr. Walker in 1888, since which time Mr. Banta has had the sole management of the enterprise. The Riverside Mills ranks as one of the leading industries of the city, being 106 x 40 feet, and is fitted with the most improved machinery for the manufacture of doors, sash, moldings and all class of work required in building and interior finishing. Mr. … Read more

Laird, William Edward “Bill” – Obituary

William Edward “Bill” Laird, 66, of Baker City, died April 16, 2005, at his home after a long bout with brain cancer. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bill was born on Nov. 15, 1938, at Ketchikan, Alaska, to Ruth and Edward Laird, who was an engineer with the Lighthouse Service, now the Coast Guard. Bill’s mother died when he was a baby and he was mostly raised by his stepmother, Anna Laura Laird. The family moved to California when Bill was 5, followed by several other moves around the country. … Read more

McClain, Walter James “Jim” – Obituary

Walter James “Jim” McClain, 70, of Baker City, died April 24, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the American Legion Hall, 2129 Second St. Visitations will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Jim was born on Sept. 14, 1934, at Los Angeles to Walter Logan and Rosalyn Myers McClain. He served in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. He moved to Baker City in 1982. Jim was married … Read more

Whiteley, Daryl Earl – Obituary

Daryl Earl Whiteley, 82, of Baker City, died May 14, 2005. A celebration of Daryl’s life and graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Halfway. Daryl was born on July 26, 1922, to Earl Arthur and Ruby L. Mehlhorn Whiteley near Pine Town. He was raised in Halfway and graduated from Halfway High School in 1940. Daryl joined the National Guard when he was 17 and in September he was a … Read more

McNair, John David

John David McNair, 66, died May 19, 2005, after a lengthy illness. He was born March 20, 1939, at Baker City, to John and Edith M. McNair. He joined the U.S. Navy during his senior year at St. Francis Academy. He was commissioned from the ranks, served on three ships and with the 1st Marine Division, but spent most of his time in California, where he retired at age 37. While finishing college, he met and married Farrar A. Bresee. They moved to the wilderness in southern Illinois, designed and built an earth-sheltered house, and enjoyed a life full of … Read more

Talich, Sylvia Nelson Mrs. – Obituary

Sylvia Talich, 95, of Phoenix, Ariz., a former longtime Baker City resident died May 23, 2005, at her home. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Agape Christian Center at 650 Highway 7. Pastor Aaron Oglesbee of the Agape Christian Center will officiate. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Agape Christian Center. She was born Sylvia Nelson on March 15, 1910, at Bristow, Neb. She lived on a farm on the Niabrera River and attended school at Bristow. When she was about 10, she was … Read more

Swint, E. Faye Allen Mrs. – Obituary

E. Faye Allen Swint passed away on May 24, 2005, in Banning, Calif. Faye was born on June 28, 1936, in Baker and was a graduate of Baker High School. She retired from Riverside Community Hospital after 31 years of employment. Faye was the wife of Lee Swint who preceded her in death. Faye is survived by her mother, Edna Allen of Brookings, Ore.; her brother, Dale Allen of Los Gatos, Calif.; her nieces, Cecilia Allen Martin of Santa Clara, Calif., and Carole Allen of Bakersfield, Calif.; and her nephew Bruce Allen of Sausalito, Calif. A private memorial service was … Read more

McGregor, John Vernon – Obituary

John Vernon McGregor, 87, a longtime Livermore, Calif., resident, formerly of Baker City, died suddenly on May 13, 2005, after a brief decline in health. John was born to John and Frances McGregor in Ontario. He spent his first years on the family farm. He later moved to Baker City where he married Sadie Darlene Tripp in 1941. They lived briefly in Wonderland, Calif., where he worked as a welder helping in the construction of Shasta Dam. In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps. He served as a tail gunner in a B-24 during World War II. He flew … Read more

Lansdon, Richard Thomas – Obituary

Richard Thomas Lansdon, 19, of Payette, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City, died May 28, 2005, as the result of a vehicle accident on Anthony Lakes Highway. A traditional funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Following the service, friends and family will gather near the Baker County Library, 2400 Resort St., where Richard will be taken in a horse-drawn hearse around Geiser Pollman Park with family and friends walking behind in tribute of all the fond memories he leaves behind. At the conclusion of the … Read more