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.

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

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

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

Kehr, Ewald Albert – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Ewald Albert Kehr, 84, of La Grande, died April 11 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. A funeral will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Faith Lutheran Church, 12th Street and Gekeler Lane. The celebration of life for Ewald will also be a celebration of what would have been Ewald and Edna’s 63rd anniversary. Burial will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Ewald was born March 20, 1923, to Ernst and Hilda (Schroeder) Kehr in Wentworth, S.D., where he worked with his father farming. In October 1939 he moved to Minnesota, where he met Edna Gieseke. They … Read more

Emmons, Jeannie – Obituary

First Obituary Jeannie Marie Emmons of Wallowa died March 27, 2007, in Walla Walla, Wash. She was 47. Ms. Emmons was born Feb. 28, 1960. She lived most of her life in Wallowa. She graduated from Wallowa High School in 1978. She moved to Boise where she worked for a short time. She moved back and worked at the Eagle’s Nest, Baird’s Tavern, the Common Good for seven years and at Parks Bronze for eight years. Ms. Emmons enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She maintained a positive attitude even in difficult times and touched others with her … Read more

Coles, Curtis Alan – Obituary

Curtis Alan Coles, 47, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 17, 2000, at his home in Wenatchee, Wash. His memorial service was Saturday at the Grandview Cemetery in La Grande. Pastor Beuford Belcher officiated. Mr. Coles was born on Jan. 15, 1953, to William J. and Norma I. Snow Coles in Boise. He moved with his family to La Grande where he graduated from La Grande High School. He worked as a carpenter and later moved to Wenatchee, Wash. He enjoyed working and spending time with his friends. Survivors include his brothers, Steven Coles of Elgin, William J. Coles … Read more

Weaver, Elizabeth May VanSlyke Mrs. – Obituary

Elizabeth May Weaver, 96, passed away on March 9, 2007, at Boise, Idaho. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 27, at 11 a.m. at the University Christian Church, 1801 University Drive, Boise. Elizabeth was born May 25, 1910, in Stevenson, Calif., to Asa and Blanche Prescott VanSlyke. The family moved to Idaho in 1912. Elizabeth graduated from Nampa (Idaho) High School in 1927. She attended Lewiston Normal School, earning a “life certificate” to teach in Idaho. She taught for several years in the Nampa area, during which time she met Harry A. Weaver. The couple married on … Read more

Stenberg, Andy – Obituary

Andy Stenberg, 23, of Boise, a former Baker County resident, died Feb. 10, 2008, at Boise in a motor vehicle crash. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. MST Saturday at Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cloverdale Road in Boise. He was born on Aug. 21, 1984, at Boise to Keith and Vikki Stenberg, along with his twin sister, Kendall. He spent his earliest years at Eagle, Idaho. The family moved to Swan Falls, Idaho, then Hagerman, Idaho, and then to Oxbow in Hells Canyon. Andy attended Pine-Eagle schools from kindergarten through high school. He was a 2003 Pine-Eagle … Read more

Biography of George Gumbert

The proprietor of the city meat market and the pioneer butcher of Boise, where he has been in business since 1864, is George Gumbert, who is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having taken place in Pittsburg on June 11, 1835. Of German extraction, his ancestors were early settlers of Pennsylvania and his great grandfather, Gumbert, fought in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war. His paternal grandfather was a farmer in Westmoreland County. His father, George Gumbert, was born in Pittsburg, where he followed the meat business nearly all his life, having attained the advanced age of ninety years. … 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

Collier, Rulen Frank – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Rulen Frank Collier, 86, of Union, died March 24, 2005, at his home. His funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Union. Don Baxter will conduct the service. Interment will be at the Union Cemetery. Visitations will be Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande and on Wednesday at noon at the church prior to the service. All are invited to bring a dish and attend a potluck after the service at The Hut in Union. Rulen … Read more

Berto, Genevieve A. Metzker Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Genevieve A. (Metzker) Berto was born Sept. 29, 1917, in Baker, (now Baker City) and entered into eternal rest on Nov. 21, 2004, in Boise, Idaho. Genevieve was born to Jeff Metzker and Lora Mae McClurg Metzker. There were seven children in the Metzker family, four boys and three girls. All graduated from school, some from college. Genevieve graduated from Baker High School in 1935. Genevieve met and married Earl Cock in 1940 and had two children, Larry and Lynda, and resided in Union and Baker. In 1944 Genevieve and Earl were divorced. Genevieve then went to … 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

Biography of James H. Bush

James H. Bush, deceased, was one of the prominent and widely known businessmen of Boise, where he spent the greater part of his life. He was born in White Lake, Oakland County, Michigan, July 29, 1842, and was a son of Elias Oliver and Mary Jane (Fife) Bush, both of whom were well-to-do farmers and early settlers of Michigan and members of the Baptist church. James Bush was educated in Flint, Michigan, and in early manhood was a purser on a steamboat. In February, 1865, he sailed from New York for the Pacific coast by way of Panama, reaching Boise … Read more

Biography of Thomas T. Redsull

Great, indeed, have been the changes that time and man have wrought since Thomas T. Redsull landed on the Pacific coast. California yet belonged to Mexico, and much of the land, especially in the southern part of the state, was divided into large estates, owned and occupied by Spanish families. Mr. Redsull was then but eleven years of age, yet had started out to make his own way in the world. He was born in the County of Kent, England, on the 15th of November, 1827, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Goymer) Redsull, both of whom were natives of … Read more

Biography of Ervin W. Johnson

For many years actively connected with the development and progress of different sections of this state, Mr. Johnson is now the proprietor of the Overland Hotel, in Boise, and is regarded as one of the most popular and best known citizens of Idaho. A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, he was born March 17, 1857, a son of William W. and Eliza A. (Myers) Johnson. His father, a native of Indiana, born in 1829, died in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1867, and his wife, who was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, also departed this life in Iowa. By profession Mr. Johnson was … Read more

Biography of David T. Miller

In both the military and political service of his country David Truxton Miller has won distinction by his loyalty to the public good, his fidelity to the trust reposed in him. On southern battle-fields he has followed the stars and stripes to victory, and in the civic department of the nation’s service he has labored to promote the principles which underlie good government and form the foundation upon which all stable prosperity must rest. He has inscribed his name high on the roll of Boise’s distinguished citizens, and is now serving as deputy collector of internal revenue there. Born in … Read more

Biography of Joseph D. Daly

Among the officers of Ada County, Idaho, is Joseph DeWitt Daly, who is now acceptably filling the position of tax collector and assessor. He possesses that spirit of enterprise which has produced the rapid and wonderful development of the vast region west of the Mississippi, and in the discharge of his duties manifests a loyalty and faithfulness that has made his service most efficient, winning him the commendation of the best citizens of the community. A native of Missouri, he was born in Putnam County, on the 13th of January 1850, his parents being William and Permelia (Holland) Daly. His … Read more

Biography of Benjamin and Hosea Eastman

Tales of heroism have been the theme of song and story throughout all ages. He who has gone forth to battle for his country, his home or his principles, has figured in history, in literature and in music, and his bravery has stirred the souls of men through all times. All honor to such an one, and yet his heroism is no greater or his daring more pronounced than that of the honored pioneers of the west. Men reared in comfortable homes, accustomed to all the conveniences and privileges of life in the east, have come into the wild western … Read more

Biography of Charles May

When the roll of the pioneers of Boise, Idaho, is called the name which heads this sketch will be found well to the top. Charles May was born in Berkshire, England, May 17, 1833, and was reared in his native county, learning in his boyhood the business of brick manufacturing and brick-laying, his father, Charles May, having been engaged in that business. Indeed, the family for centuries, or as far back as their history can be traced, were brick-makers in England. The younger Charles May remained in England until 1856, when he came to America, locating first in New York, … Read more