Prairie Creek, Wallowa County, Oregon
February 5, 1931
County Loses a Loved Pioneer In Passing of Mrs. Adams
In the passing of Mrs. Mary Adams at her home on Prairie Creek last Wednesday evening, Wallowa County lost one of its oldest and most loved pioneers.
Mrs. Adams, with her husband and little girl, came to Wallowa county more than 50 years ago. The family settled on Prairie Creek on the ranch upon which they lived for many years and where both Mr. And Mrs. Adams died. In 1882 they moved to Imnaha, which was at that time an almost inaccessible frontier. On their way to their new home a distance of eight miles above Imnaha bridge it was necessary to ford the river 18 times. There were but five families on Imnaha at that time and horseback riding was the chief mode of travel.
During their 18 years of residence on Imnaha Mrs. Adams endured all the hardships incident to pioneering. She also assumed the task of welcoming into the world the little newcomers of the neighborhood for which a doctor was seldom called.
No task was too great for her, no neighborliness too much trouble. Into her later life came other hardships and sorrows, for about twenty years ago her younger daughter died, leaving two little girls for Mrs. Adams to rear.
Again in 1927 a granddaughter passed away and left three babies. Mrs. Adams assumed the task of giving them a mother’s loving car and her daily prayer was to live until they no longer needed her.
The Adams family spent two or three years in Corning Calif., but finally returned to Joseph and their Prairie Creek ranch. Mrs. Adams health has been failing for some time but she carried on bravely. About two weeks ago she suffered an attack of flu. Resolutely refusing to give up she was about the house until shortly before her death. Everything possible was done for Mrs. Adams that loving friends could do, but her life was spent and death came to her at 8 o’clock, Wednesday evening Jan. 28.
Mary Margaret Bickel was born at Lake Mills, Portage county Wisconsin, April 12, 1855. Died at her home on Prairie Creek Jan. 28, 1931, at the age of 75 years 9 months and 16 days. She was united in marriage to Arba N. Adams in Wisconsin November 7, 1869. They came to Oregon in 1876 and the greater part of her life since then has been spent in Wallowa county.
Mrs. Adams is survived by one daughter. Mrs. Minnie Vaughan of Corning, Calif., four grandchildren, Norma Hope of Joseph, Nellie Gowing of Lorane, Ore., Ione Dodson of Ellensburg, Wash., and Floyd Vaughan of Willows, Calif., and 15 great grandchildren, one brother, John W. Bickel of Chicago, Ill., and one sister, Mrs. Carrie Howard of Gilroy, Calif. There are several nieces one of whom is Mrs. Rhoena Morgan of Imnaha.
She was for many years a member of the Rebekah lodge at Joseph.
Funeral services were conducted at the residence by Rev. S. E. Smutz of Joseph M. E. church. Interment was in Prairie Creek cemetery. The casket was covered with beautiful flowers, the tribute of family and friends.