Death of Leading Citizen at Cove
by Nellie R. Grace
Mayor Trippeer, after a manful fight for life the past thirteen years, admitted defeat for the first time a few days before he passed on at Grande Ronde Hospital, Sept. 11, 1926. He was buried from Ascension Episcopal church, Rev. SW. M. Bradner officiating in Cove cemetery, Sept. 13, at 2 o’clock p.m. Honorary pallbearers, A. T. Hill, Frank Phy, Jas. Hutchison, Grover Duffey, F. F. Dean, L. R. Lay.
Joseph Erwin Trippeer was born in Peru, Ind., Dec 5, 1856. Married Miss Alice Alexander, Dec 16, 1878, at Linneus, Mo; wife, son, daughter and grandson and a grand daughter survive him. Dr. Herman Trippeer of the veterinary firm of Trippeer &Fuller and cattle firm of Robin & Trippeer, and daughter, Miss Denise Trippeer of Walla Walla; Mrs. Era French and son, Stuart French of Cove.
Deceased came to Oregon, June 1888, and four years later to Cove, where he spent he last 34 years of his life. An active business man and an enterprising, public spirited citizen for over twenty-one years, he was identified with every forward movement of Cove’s advancement. Six years ago Mr. Trippeer was elected mayor of Cove on his platform, To bring good roads into and out of Cove, and his was the master spirit that undertook and carried it through in so far as one good leader could.
The funeral ceremonials surpassed any seen in Cove in years. Church was decorated in a profusion of flowers, Miss Vina Conleu sang Perfect Day and The Rosary, Roy Lay, violin, Mrs. Lay, piano accompanists. The pall bearers, his fellow councilmen, T G. Wilson, J. B. Weimer, A. H. Orton, Thos. Towle, Karl J. Stackland, acting mayor. Among out of town friends attending were Hon. Dunham Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Pat Powers of Medical Springs, Lester Robison and wife, Judge Kelley and wife, Dr. J. R. Fuller of veterinary firm of Trippeer & Fuller of Walla Walla, A. H. and Henry Parson and families, Gay Dutton of Elgin, and Louis Hale and wife of Minam, Mrs. Hugh McCall and Mr. L. B. Carter of Haines. J. F. Trippeer kept his membership in the Maccabees and in the Perfected Home Circle paid up to date.
Contributed by: Larry Rader