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.

Newell, Eliza Jane Stubblefield Mrs. – Obituary

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 … Read more

Crooke, Bill Jack – Obituary

Union, Oregon Bill Jack Crooke, 81, of Pendleton and formerly of Union, died Feb. 27 at his home after a long illness. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Berean Baptist Church (formerly Calvary Baptist), 8 NW Ninth St., Pendleton, with Pastor Carl LeTourka officiating. Arrange-ments are under the direction of Burns Mortuary of Pendleton. Mr. Crooke was born April 4, 1925, to Ruth Ester and Jack Crooke in Meridian, Idaho. He was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. White, in the Meridian area and attended school there until he went to live with his father and stepmother … Read more

Biography of W. H. Puckett

The junior member of the well known law firm of Hawley & Puckett is the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch. He is still a young man, but has attained a position of distinction at the bar that many an older practitioner might well envy. He was born at Herndon Place, Ballard County, Kentucky, on the 8th of August 1869. His father, W. J. Puckett, was a native of Jackson, Mississippi, and became one of the prominent lawyers of Kentucky, where he practiced successfully for a number of years. He is now living retired in Denver, Colorado. … Read more

Biography of Richard S. Rutherford

As a man among men, possessed of integrity, ability and perseverance; as a soldier, whose steady and constant service in the struggle for the punishment of treason and the wiping out of the insult to the stars and stripes was valiant and brave; as a business operator, whose wisdom and enterprise have been well manifested: the subject of this sketch stands, and it is fitting that a representation of him be granted space in this volume of Malheur’s history. Richard S. was born in Armagh county, near Bellfast, Ireland, on February 22, 1840, being the son of Thomas and Amelia … Read more

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

Knudsen, Clarice B. Coffman Stiff Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Clarice B. Knudsen, 95, a longtime Baker City resident, died Nov. 12, 2000, at Settler’s Park. At her request, there will be no funeral. A family celebration of her life is planned. Mrs. Knudsen was born Oct. 12, 1905, at Boulder, Colo., to Mitchell and Maude Coffman. She was raised and received her education in Scott City, Kan., and also attended business school at Boise. She married Robert Earl Stiff on June 14, 1925, in Boise, and they came to Baker City in 1944. They divorced in 1947. In May 1953 she married Leonard Knudsen in Baker … Read more

Holt, Thomas Martin – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Thomas Martin Holt Thomas Martin Holt, 72, died at his home Feb. 21. He was born Sept. 2, 1934, in Marquette, Kan., to John Charles Lucas and Eunice Louise (Johnson) Holt. The family intends to hold a memorial service for family and friends in the La Grande area sometime this summer. Details for this will be forthcoming. Memorials in Tom Holt’s name can be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 902 Fourth St., La Grande 97850. Mr Holt was raised and educated in Marquette. He graduated from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., with a BA in business administration … 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

Barton, Melvin – Obituary

Melvin Barton, 92, of Boise, and a former longtime Baker City resident, died March 31, 2004. His graveside funeral will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. MST at Morris Hill Cemetery under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel of Boise. Mel was born Feb. 27, 1912, at Surprise, Okla., the third of 12 children. He spent his youth in Filer, Idaho, graduating from Filer High School in 1930. He attended Albion Normal College in 1930 and the University of Southern California in 1931, impressing coaches with his football skills at both schools. Mel proudly served our country in World War … Read more

Biography of Hon. Zenas Ferry Moody

HON. Z.F. MOODY. – Zenas Ferry Moody, ex-Governor of the State of Oregon, was born on the 27th of May, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts. His father was Major Thomas H. Moody. His mother was Hannah M. Ferry, an aunt of ex-Senator T.W. Ferry, of Michigan, formerly vice-president of the United States. Governor Moody comes of good old New England Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Gideon Moody, having borne arms as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. He has proved himself worthy of his lineage; and the principles which he imbibed on New England soil have been the guide of his whole … Read more

Lay, Louise Irene – Obituary

Union, Oregon Lois Irene Lay, 92, of Boise and formerly of Union, died Sunday in Boise. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Ginger Creek LDS ward 11918 W. Ustick Road in Boise. Viewing will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. before the service. A graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Union Cemetery. Mrs. Lay was born June 14, 1914, to Charlie Lewis Deardorff and Minnie Meyer in Baker City. She graduated from Baker High School, and married Guild Duel Lay April 1, 1938. They lived on a ranch near Medical Springs until … Read more

Biography of Francis Marion Davis

The history of Idaho would be incomplete if the biographies of two of her pioneers, Francis M. and Thomas Davis, brothers, and old residents of Boise City, were omitted. They were always believers in the great future which was in store for the state, and were influential factors in the development of its resources. When death summoned Francis M. Davis to lay aside his many enterprises, to leave to other hands his uncompleted work, the whole community mourned and, though nine years have rolled away, the memory of his goodness, his many worthy deeds and fine traits of character, is … Read more

Stahl, Dean Lee – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dean Lee Stahl Dean Lee Stahl, 54, of Boise and formerly of La Grande and Cove, died in a Boise care center Oct. 14. A memorial service will be at the Cove Cemetery at 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Mr. Stahl was born April 19, 1952, in La Grande, the youngest of three sons of David and Lorna Dee Hallmark Stahl. He attended school in Cove and lived there most of his life. In 1974, he moved to the Salem/Woodburn area but soon returned home. In 1992, he moved with his mother and brother to Pendleton. He attended … Read more

Guyer, Erma Gladys Mrs. – Obituary

Erma Gladys Guyer, 93, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 4, 2004 at Boise after having lived a long life filled with simple pleasures. Her funeral will be Monday, Aug. 9, at 9 a.m. PDT at the Alden Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Ave. in Boise. Interment with graveside services will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery on Monday at 2:30 p.m. PDT. Erma was born Oct. 23, 1910, at Richland. She grew up on her parents’ sheep ranch on the Powder River and attended Sunnyside School in Eagle Valley. As a teenager, Erma worked as a cook at the … 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

Shoemake, Robert Goldman – Obituary

Robert Goldman Shoemake, 87, died March 26, 2008, at the Idaho State Veteran’s Home of causes incidental to age. A proud native of the Gem State, Bob was born July 26, 1920, to Albert and Nora Todd Shoemake in the rural community of Castleford, Idaho. As a child Bob and his family moved to Oregon and Bob grew up in Baker and La Grande, graduating from La Grande High School in 1941. Anxious for more education, Bob enrolled at Oregon State University that summer to study Soils Engineering. He was able to attend OSU for one year before World War … Read more

Thompson, Marty Jo – Obituary

Marty Jo Thompson of North Powder died at birth at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at North Powder Cemetery. Bishop Allen Bingham of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will officiate. She was born on Oct. 24, 2005, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. She was so loved and will be missed by all, her family said. Survivors include her father and mother, Colby and Erin Thompson of North Powder; her twin sister, Jacee Ann Thompson of North Powder; grandparents, Doug and Nanette Winkelman of Elgin and Brent and … Read more

Childers, LeRoy – Obituary

1924-1998 LeRoy Gray Childers, 73, of La Grande, died Tuesday, Jan. 13 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. A service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with the Rev. David Paulson of Zion Lutheran Church officiating. Mr. Childers was born March 22, 1924, to Lee and Bessie (Gray) Childers, at the family home on Lower Cove Road. He graduated from Cove High School and later from Eastern Oregon University. He later earned a master’s degree in education and continued working toward his Ph.D. In 1950 he married Clarice Gayle “Gay” Conklin in Cove. … Read more

Biography of William H. Redway

Business enterprise and success at Caldwell, Idaho, have an able representative in the subject of this sketch, William H. Redway, dealer in hardware and groceries. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1858, son of A. G. Redway, an honored pioneer of Idaho, whose history is referred to at length on another page of this work. William H. was very small at the time the family came west and settled on the Idaho frontier, and here he was reared, his education being received in St. Michael’s school at Boise and St. Mark’s school at Salt Lake City, both institutions … Read more

Internal Improvements

In 1892 twenty thousand dollars was voted by congress for the improvement of Snake river, and one hundred thousand dollars for the Boise public building. The river and harbor appropriation bill, passed by congress in April, 1896, carried twenty-five thousand dollars for the improvement of the Clearwater River, and five thousand dollars for the Kootenai between Bonner’s ferry and the British boundary. The appropriation for the Boise public building was increased from one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to two hundred thousand dollars and a building site was selected which cost seventeen thousand and five hundred dollars. Of the special … Read more