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.

Halliday, Grace Bertha Viergutz Mrs. – Obituary

Grace Bertha Halliday, 75, of La Grande, died Sept. 25, 2007, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. A celebration of life will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Committal and interment will follow at the Hillcrest East Cemetery. Viewing will be held Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Halliday was born Oct. 26, 1931, the daughter of Raymond and Anna (Gritzmacher) Viergutz in Wausau, Wis. When she was young she played semi-pro softball on an all-women’s team and loved … Read more

Wright, Velma “Juanita” Deining Mrs. – Obituary

Velma “Juanita” Wright, 86, formerly of Baker City, died Aug. 19, 2007, at Valley View Retirement Facility in Boise, Idaho. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, at 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., in Baker City. Pastor Mel Harris of the First Lutheran Church will officiate. A reception will follow at the First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St. Juanita was born March 7, 1921 in Portland to Alfred & Hilja (Taskinen) Deining. She attended school in Helix, Portland and Gresham. She married Earl Wright Dec. 8, 1949 in Baker City. … Read more

Noland, William “Bill” Harold – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon William (Bill) Harold Noland, 83, of Enterprise, died Nov. 2 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. A 2 p.m. memorial service will be conducted Saturday at the VFW Post 4307 Hall in Enterprise, with private burial in the Enterprise Cemetery. Mr. Noland was born Feb. 2, 1923, in Boise. At 16 he left school to join the Civilian Conservation Corps for a year. He returned to high school in Idaho but left again during his senior year to join the Air Force in December 1941. He received his high school diploma while in the military. As … Read more

Biography of Alonzo L. Richardson

Thirty-eight years have passed since Alonzo L. Richardson came to Idaho, then a sparsely populated territory of the extreme northwest, its splendid resources undeveloped, its advancement a development of the future. For many years he has been closely identified with the work of progress, and is now filling the position of clerk of the United States court in Boise. A native of Missouri, Mr. Richardson was born in Franklin County that state, on The 19th of December 1841, and is a representative of one of the old families of Virginia. His ancestors located there in 1750, and there occurred the … Read more

Huffman, Donald Wayne – Obituary

Union, Oregon Donald Wayne Huffman, 73, of Union died Aug. 10 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Boise. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14 at the Union United Methodist Church. Burial at the Union Cemetery will be followed by a reception at the United Methodist Church. Mr. Huffman was born March 25, 1933, in Pyles Canyon. He attended school in Tolecaset until the eight grade. Don later graduated with the Union High School class of 1951. After high school, Don enlisted in the United States Army and after his honorable discharge he returned to the family ranch. … Read more

Biography of Barrett Williams

This venerable citizen of Boise City is believed to be the oldest man in the state of Idaho, as on the 7th of March 1899, he celebrated the ninety-sixth anniversary of his birth. He was sixty years of age when he came to this place for the first time, in 1862, and during the years which have intervened he has maintained his earnest interest in the development of the town and the resources of the surrounding country. He has always been strictly temperate in his habits, has led an active, industrious life, and is reaping his reward in the evening … Read more

Biography of Matthew H. Williams

Matthew H. Williams is an Idaho pioneer whose residence dates back to 1863, and he is a prominent citizen of Bellevue, Blaine County. He was born in Vermont, September 20, 1840. His father, John Williams, a native of New Jersey, did soldier’s duty in the war of 1812-14. He married Magdalene Shuffelt, a native of New York and a descendant of an old Dutch family of that state. They had twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are living. John Williams and his wife were Episcopalians and were people of social prominence. He died at … Read more

Perkins, Eugene Edmond – Obituary

Eugene Edmond Perkins, 83, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 13, 2006, at his home in Boise. His memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 W. Overland Road in Boise. The Rev. Edward Dunn will officiate. Private inurnment will be at Morris Hill Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel in Boise. Eugene was born on June 28, 1922, at Baker City to Edmond P. and Nell E. Hansen Perkins. He was a Boise High School graduate and attended Boise State College. Gene worked in radio and television broadcasting … Read more

Biography of John W. Daniels

The public-school system of Boise is a monument to the character and labors of Professor John W. Daniels. There is no nobler profession to which man may devote his energies than that of the teacher. What man prominent in public life does not attribute his success in a considerable measure to the influence of some teacher whose instruction he enjoyed in youth? The thoughts implanted in the young minds grow and develop, and largely shape the destinies of those by whom they have been received. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the training of the young shall be … Read more

Carlson, John E. – Obituary

John E. Carlson, 87, of Baker City, died April 12, 2006, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Private vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Pathway Hospice will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at The Sunridge, 1 Sunridge Lane. John was born June 16, 1918, at Buhl, Idaho, to Edward and Amanda Lindstrom Carlson. After graduation from Baker High School, he attended Oregon State College. His Rose Bowl … Read more

Biography of William C. Carlton

This worthy gentleman is one of the substantial citizens of Malheur County and one of the thrifty stock men and farmers of the vicinity of Rockville, his estate of two hundred and twenty acres of good land lying seven miles west from that place. Mr. Carlton was born in Maine in 1834, being the son of Amos and Mary Carlton. He received his education from the County in the schools of his native state and there remained – until 1854 when he came via Panama to San Francisco, and thence to Indian valley in Sierra County, where he at once … Read more

Biography of James I. Crutcher

One to whom has been entrusted important public service and over whose record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, is James I. Crutcher, of Boise. President Cleveland recognized his eminent qualifications for responsible duties when he appointed him United States marshal for Idaho, in which position he served for four years and two months, in a manner above suspicion. His unbending integrity of character, his fearlessness in the discharge of duty and his appreciation of the responsibilities that rested upon him were such as to make him a most acceptable incumbent of that office, and his … Read more

Bell, Ralph Edward – Obituary

Ralph Edward Bell, 81, of Boise, a former longtime Baker City resident, died March 13, 2003, at Valley View Retirement Center in Boise. His graveside funeral was at 2 p.m. today at Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens in Boise. Visitations were Monday at Summer Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel in Boise. Ralph was born April 15, 1921, at Marsing, Idaho, to Clifford and Flo Benson Bell. He was a Baker High School graduate. He married Blanche Hickerson on Oct. 14, 1939. She died on April 15, 1996. During his life, Ralph was employed as a truckdriver and dock foreman for Meadow Gold … Read more

Elver D. Needles – Obituary

Obituary for Elver D. Needles, age 94, of Baker City, Oregon, who died Nov. 25, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

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

Biography of Alice A. Thews

The lady whose name introduces this sketch needs no introduction to the residents of southeastern Idaho, for she is well known in this section of the state, and also in the capital city of Boise, where she has many friends. Her superior culture and ability have won public recognition through the honors that have been bestowed upon her by means of the public franchise, and she is now capably filling the office of county treasurer of Oneida County, making her home in Malad. Miss Thews is a native of Rock Island County, Illinois, and is a daughter of William and … Read more

Kerby, Mary Ann Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Kerby, 83, a longtime Baker County resident, died Jan. 20, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Visitations will be until 5 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. A vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at the cathedral. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will celebrate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mary Ann Davis Kerby was born to Edwin and Marcella Davis at the old St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise … Read more

Biography of R. W. Berry

A leading representative of the commercial interests of Hailey is R. W. Berry, the well known proprietor of a hardware store. He is an enterprising and progressive business man, whose well directed efforts, sound judgment and capable management insure him success, and today he is numbered among the substantial and valued citizens of Blaine county. A native of Maine, he was born in Augusta, on the 25th of March 1842 and is of Scotch lineage. His father, Arthur W. Berry, was born in Maine and married Miss Lucretia Jane Marble, also a native of the Pine Tree state. The father … Read more

Biography of James J. Rogers

The life of James J. Rogers has not been one of unvarying monotony, circumscribed by the habits, thoughts and customs of some narrow community, but contains many interesting incidents that come with travel and extensive intercourse with the world. Born on the Atlantic coast, he has visited foreign lands, has viewed many of the interesting scenes of our own country, and is now located in the beautiful city of Boise, which nestles in one of the loveliest valleys of the Pacific slope. There he is successfully engaged in the practice of law, and in the political affairs of the state … Read more

Biography of John McClellan

John McClellan, one of the earliest pioneers of Boise, Idaho, is a native of Ohio, born in Licking County, March 16, 1827, of Irish and English extraction, his paternal ancestors being Irish, his maternal, English. John McClellan, his father, was born in Ireland in 1777, and in the year 1820 came to America, landing at New York, where he remained for some time and where he was married to Miss Amanda Reed, a native of New York and a daughter of English parents. From New York they removed to Dresden, Ohio, where they resided until 1850 in which year he … Read more