Ada County ID

Ada County ID, established in December 1864, is located in southwestern Idaho and serves as the state’s most populous county, with Boise as its county seat and largest city. The county’s establishment came during a period of significant expansion and settlement in the Pacific Northwest, spurred by the discovery of gold and the subsequent mining booms in Idaho Territory. Its geographic features, including the Boise River and surrounding foothills, have played a pivotal role in its development, influencing settlement patterns, agriculture, and the establishment of transportation routes. Ada County’s early records, crucial for genealogical research, begin in the 1860s and encompass land transactions, mining claims, and vital records that detail the lives of early settlers, many of whom were miners, farmers, and entrepreneurs drawn to the region by economic opportunities. The area was traditionally inhabited by the Shoshone and Bannock tribes, who utilized the river valleys and foothills for hunting, fishing, and gathering. For genealogists, Ada County’s historical records, including census data, marriage, birth, and death records, provide invaluable insights into the socio-economic dynamics of the region and the ancestries of families who have called it home since its establishment.

Woods, G. Elaine Joslin Mrs. – Obituary

G. Elaine Woods, 80, of Baker City, a former longtime Richland resident, died Nov. 16, 2000, at Settler’s Park. Her memorial service was last Friday at the Richland Christian Church. Pastor Gordon Bond officiated. Interment of the ashes was later at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Mrs. Woods was born on Jan. 3, 1920, at Boise to John William and Maude Ellenor Boice Joslin. She was raised and educated at Billings, Mont. She met her future husband at a dance in Halfway. She married Orville C. Woods at Walla Walla, Wash., in 1938. The couple had a ranch at Richland … Read more

Jewell, Robert “Mike” – Obituary

Robert “Mike” Jewell, 65, of Boise and a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 16, 2005, at Capital Care Center. He died of Alzheimer’s disease which he battled for more than eight years. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Calvary First Assembly of God Church, 102 N. 18th St. in Boise. Burial will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Accent Funeral Home, 1303 N. Main St., Meridian, Idaho. Mike was born at Boise on Aug. 11, 1939. He attended grade school at Franklin Elementary … Read more

Judah, Carol Galbreath – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Carol Galbreath Judah, 57, formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 15 at a hospital in Meridian, Idaho. A memorial service will be held in Fox at a later date. Accent Funeral Home in Meridian is in charge of arrangements. Carol was born April 11, 1950, to Bruce and Colleen Reynolds Galbreath in Pendleton. She lived in the Long Creek area of Grant County. At 7, she moved with her family to Pendleton. She attended elementary school at West Hills in Pendleton and later La Grande High School. In 1966 the family moved to Springfield and she graduated … Read more

Biography of Thomas Davis

The founders of a state are not merely the men who handle the reins of government and control the public policy, but are also those who carry civilization into hitherto wild regions and develop the natural resources of the state: Such an one is Mr. Davis, who came to Idaho in pioneer days and was the first to establish the fact that this is an excellent fruit-producing region. Thus he introduced a new industry and thereby largely promoted the material welfare of the region. His business interests have ever been energetically and successfully managed and his reputation in commercial circles … Read more

Dinger, Theta H. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Theta H. Dinger, 90, of Baker City, Jan. 18, 2003, at a foster care home in Baker City. Her graveside services will be at 1 p.m. MST Wednesday at the Valley View Cemetery in Vale. Pastor Roy Obermeier of the Willowcreek Community Church at Willowcreek will officiate. Mrs. Dinger was born June 25, 1912, at Alphena Pass, Ark., a daughter of James Howard and Minnie Aleta Walker Rea. She was raised at Barber, Idaho, and was educated at Boise. She married Jiles D. Dinger at Vale on July 13, 1932. They moved from Boise to … Read more

Craven, Ella Marie Geils Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ella Marie Geils Craven, 94, of Baker City died February 17, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Ella was born on May 12, 1909, at Baker City, the second daughter of eight children born to Fred G. and Bertha Sophia Schiller Geils. She attended Baker City schools. She married Loren G. Craven of Baker City in 1927. They had two children, Carol and Arnold. The family moved to Boise, Idaho in 1941 where Ella worked … Read more

Hendriksen, Beverly Y. Haskin Mrs. – Obituary

Beverly Y. Hendriksen, 78, of Boise, a former Baker County resident, died Jan. 31, 2008, at her home after a courageous fight with a recent illness. Her funeral was Feb. 7 at Cloverdale Funeral Home. Burial was at Cloverdale Cemetery. There was a gathering afterward for family and friends. Beverly was born on Jan. 9, 1930, at Haines to Robert and Aletha Haskin. She spent most of her childhood in the Haines area. She met and then was happily married to George Hendriksen of Baker City for almost 60 years. They moved to Boise in 1959 where they spent the … Read more

Wright, Roland Howard “Rollie” – Obituary

Roland Howard “Rollie” Wright, 53, of Baker City, died March 31, 2006, at Boise. His funeral will be at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at Bend. Cremation was done by Nampa Funeral Home at Nampa, Idaho. Rollie served in the U.S. Army. He was a retired welder and enjoyed fishing in Eastern Oregon. Survivors include his companion of 10 years, Diana Kellum of Baker City; daughters, Ronni A. Herrold and Sally M. West, both of Bend; a sister, Cathe Anderson of LaPine; and grandchildren, Karley West, Megan West, Corbyn Herrold and Alyce Herrold of Bend. … Read more

Clark, Wayne – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Wayne Clark died of natural causes at a care facility in Star, Idaho, on May 31, 2006. He was 96. Mr. Clark was born on Sept. 23, 1909 on a homestead ranch in Hill City, Idaho, to Frank and Viola Clark. He was one of seven children. He went to high school in Carey, Idaho, after the Clark family moved to a ranch outside of Picabo, Idaho. He rode his horse to school nearly 10 miles, frequently taking his two sisters on his horse with him. He attended the University of Idaho for a brief time, and then … Read more

Han, Ronald L. “Ron” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ronald L. “Ron” Han, 68, of Baker City, died Nov. 23, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Disposition was by cremation at Grays West & Co. Pioneer Crematory. There will be a family gathering in his honor later. Mr. Han was born Oct. 11, 1933, at Boise. He spent most of his growing-up years on the Oregon Coast at Lincoln City. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Lincoln City and established himself as a chef. He later bought Captain John’s Restaurant where he served as owner and chef for many years. He met … Read more

Biography of Robert E. McFarland

Robert E. McFarland, late incumbent of the responsible position of attorney general of Idaho, by his faithful and capable discharge of duty won the highest commendation. Thoroughly versed in the principles of jurisprudence, he was well fitted to handle the intricate problems which presented themselves for solution, and his success affords the best evidence of his capabilities. He is a native of Missouri, born in Independence, November 21, 1857. The family is of Scotch lineage, the first American ancestors having crossed the Atlantic in colonial days and actively participated in the events which form the history of that epoch. They … Read more

Garner, B. Joyce Colter – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon B. Joyce Colter Garner, 59, of La Grande died Nov. 15 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. No public services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Joyce was born March 21, 1947, in Birmingham, Ala., to Hermit and Opal Garner. She was educated in Alabama and moved to Oregon in 1970. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and talking with her family living in the South. She also enjoyed crocheting and knitting. Survivors include her daughters, Erica Garner, Lillian Keeling and Kelly Thweatt, all of La … Read more

Biography of Joseph C. Straughan

When we think of the wonderful development of our country in the last half century we find that it is largely due to two agencies, railroad construction and civil engineering, and of both of these industries Joseph C. Straughan is a representative. The era of progress and development in the various sections of this great republic west of the Atlantic coast has been almost invariably ushered in by railroad construction, and the vast network of glistening rails that trace their parallel course over mountain and plain and through the fertile valleys, represent more than mere corporate enterprise and accomplishment, since … Read more

Taylor, Cleo Irene Bartlett Hall Mrs. – Obituary

Cleo Irene Bartlett Hall-Taylor, 77, of Boise, a former resident of Baker City and North Powder, died on July 24, 2007, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. There will be a memorial service to celebrate her life at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 2005 Valley Ave. Cleo was born on Jan. 31, 1930, at Baker City to Jack Bartlett and Emma Corn Bartlett. She was the third of four children. She attended Baker schools and married James Hall on Sept. 11, 1948. They had two daughters, Gloria and Deborah. Cleo began working at Pacific Northwest … Read more

Zdeb, Victor J. – Obituary

Victor J. Zdeb, 61, died July 22 at Evergreen Healthcare. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. Victor was born Dec. 30, 1946, in Germany. He immigrated to Chicago with his parents at the age of 5, earned his naturalization papers at 16, and attended four years of college at University of Illinois at Carbondale, where he discovered a passion for computers that would last all his life. He was fascinated by technology even as a child and took great pleasure in fixing things. His mother remembers when, as a young boy of only 7, he … Read more

Biography of Franz L. Koehler

The sturdy German element in our national commonwealth has been one of the most important factors in furthering the substantial and normal advancement of the country, for this is an element signally appreciative of practical values and also of the higher intellectuality which transcends all provincial confines. Well may any person take pride in tracing his lineage to such a source. As one of the able and enterprising citizens whom the German Fatherland has contributed to the United States, and as one of the prominent and progressive citizens of the flourishing town of Moscow, Latah County, Idaho, Franz Louis Koehler … Read more

Hopkins, Orange Allen – Obituary

Orange Hopkins, 88, a former Baker City resident, died April 2, 2005, at his home in Winnemucca, Nev. His funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the Baker Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St. Orange Allen Hopkins was born July 10, 1916, at Lamar, Colo., to Olive and Chester Hopkins. He had a family of five brothers and sisters: Calvin Hopkins, Evelyn Ames, Emma Ellis, Bill Hopkins and Ava Fullerton. The family moved to Idaho when Orange … Read more

Lewis, Merle M. – Obituary

Merle M. Lewis, 85, a former Baker City resident, died July 4, 2001, at a Boise care facility. Her funeral was today at 1 p.m. at the Relyea Funeral Chapel in Boise. Burial was at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise. Arrangements were under the direction of the Relyea Funeral Chapel. Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 13, 2001 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Biography of Jesse K. Dubois, M. D.

Dr. Dubois is one of the well and favorably known physicians not only of Boise but also of the entire state of Idaho. He is a native of Springfield, Illinois, where he was born November 16. 1848, and is of French descent. His grandfather, Dubois, came to America from France and was chief of the staff of General William Henry Harrison. Jesse Dubois, the father of our subject, was born in Illinois when that state was a territory. He married Miss Adelia Morris, of Kentucky ancestry. He was a prominent lawyer and a stanch Republican, having been a neighbor, friend … Read more

Biography of Jonas W. Brown

Jonas W. Brown, of Boise, is an honored pioneer both of California and of Idaho. He crossed the plains with ox teams to Shasta county, California, in 1853, and since that time his life record has been inseparably interwoven with the history of this section of the country. At all times he has been the advocate of those measures tending to-ward the advancement and development of the region, and his influence is that of an honorable, upright man, whose force of character stamps itself indelibly for good upon the public life. This work would be incomplete without mention of Jonas … Read more