Imnaha, Wallowa County, Oregon
Imnaha Pioneer Passes In Idaho
Mrs. Eliza Jane Stubblefield Newell, next to oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Stubblefield, pioneer settlers in Wallowa county, passed away in a hospital at Boise, Idaho, January 3. Funeral services were held at Montour, Idaho, and burial was beside her husband, who died 18 years ago.
Eliza Jane Stubblefield was born in Carroll county, Arkansas, January 23, 1870, and was married to Charles Newell and they came west in 1886. they lived with her parents on Horse Creek, lower Imnaha, for a time and their daughter, Laura was born there, being the first white child born on the lower Imnaha. Then they took a homestead on Sheep creek, near the old Rumble place. Mr. Newell followed his profession of school teacher, and they moved to the new town of Enterprise where he taught in the first school house on Bennett Flat site of the present town. This house was moved later to Main street where it still stands and is occupied by the Homan-McRae hardware store.
After the death of her mother, November 24, 1888, Mrs. Newell and her husband and family moved to Burns where he taught school, and he served as Harney county superintendent several terms and afterward was appointed receiver of the local land office, according to M. Stubblefield, brother to Mrs. Newell.
Later the Newell family moved to Dog Mountain, on Harney lake where they took up land and built up a good stock ranch. Their next move was to Montour, Idaho, where Mr. Newell died. They had nine children, Laura, Manney, Todd, Dollie, Rack, Verna, Buck, Mollie, and C.H. She had three brothers and sisters, Ira, Lucinda, Mickel, Stonhawon, Lydia, Fancho, Newell, and Brennan. The last named was born on Horse Creek.
W.K. Stubblefield lived in Texas in his early days, and was a pioneer in many counties. Rest of article missing.
Source: Enterprise Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, January 18, 1940
Contributed by: Sue Wells
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor