Astoria Oregon

Biography of Dr. W. C. McKay

DR. W.C. McKAY. – One by one the pioneers who braved the wilderness and its dangers, in order that their posterity might enjoy the fruits of their hazardous conquests of the domain of the savage are passing away. As the poet sang of the valorous knights of the days of chivalry, “Their souls are with the saints, we trust,” so, at no distant day, will the same be sung o’er the graves of the last of the pioneers. So, while yet alive, let us honor them as they deserve to be honored; and when dead let their deeds be recorded … Read more

Miller, Wayne Dale “Lucky” – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Wayne Dale “Lucky” Miller, 76, of Richland, died April 15, 2003, at his home. A Celebration of Life in his honor will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Richland Christian Church. Gordon Bond will officiate. Lucky was born Sept. 22, 1926, at Martin County, Minn., to Jay Desmond and Minnie Garrison Miller. He came to Oregon as a young man, where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Dorothy Maxine Jones. They were married at Astoria on Nov. 3, 1945. Lucky served his country during World War II in the Navy Air Corps. After the war, he and Maxine … Read more

Biography of William H. Gray

WILLIAM H. GRAY. – This pioneer of pioneers, and historian of events in which he took so conspicuous a part, was born in 1810 at Fairfield, New York, of Scotch descent. While but a lad of fourteen, he lost his father and was apprenticed to learn the cabinetmaker’s trade, and even before finishing his time became foreman of the shop. Upon attaining his majority he studied medicine, and being a member of the Presbyterian church, and known as a promising young man, he was sought and intrusted by the American board with the work of going as missionary in company … Read more

Biography of James Birnie

JAMES BIRNIE. – Mr. Birnie was a Scotchman by birth. He was born at Paisley, county Renfrew, Scotland, in the year 1800. In 1816 the ambitious lad left his native health and emigrated to Montreal, Canada. Here, under the tutelage of a Catholic priest, he studied the French language for about two years, at the end of which time he entered the employ of the Northwest Fur Company as one of its clerks, and was sent across the Rocky Mountains to Fort Spokane, where he arrived towards the close of 1818. The fort at this time was in charge of … Read more

Rush, George H. – Obituary

Auto Accident Well Known Man Killed at Railroad Crossing G.H. Rush, building contractor, was instantly killed when his auto was struck by train No. 21 a mile this side of Wingville Thursday evening. Wm. Hernsen of the Shockley Lumber Co. who was in the car with Mr. Rush is recovering at a Baker hospital. There seems to have been no witnesses to what transpired immediately before the accident. It is not known whether the car stalled on the track or an attempt was made to cross ahead of the train by too narrow a margin of time. The body of … Read more

Biography of Alanson Hinman

ALANSON HINMAN. – The career of this well-known pioneer, whose portrait appears herein, has been unique and interesting; and in one respect, at least, he occupies at the present time a peculiar place among the early settlers of our country. That is, he is almost the only man yet living, of the earliest pioneers, who still remains in the full vigor of mind and body. There are, indeed, a few yet living whose immigration dates further back than Mr. Hinman’s; but they are almost all now in extreme old age. He, on the other hand, though he has now been … Read more

Allen, Alford B. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Alford B. Allen was born in Washington, Indiana, on July 23, 1929. However at the age of 17, he spent two weeks convincing the county clerk to change his birth records to indicate he was born in 1928 so that he could enlist during WWII. While in the Navy, in addition to performing duties as an electrician’s mate, he was a member of a Navy boxing team and was known for his fierce left hook, winning all of his bouts by knockout. Towards the end of his service, he was stationed in Astoria where he met Dora … Read more

Biography of Col. James Taylor

COL. JAMES TAYLOR. – The immigration of 1845 was large, and furnished many of the leading men of the Northwest, among that number being Colonel James Taylor of Astoria, Oregon. Although now past eighty years of age, he is still one of the active citizens of a city which boasts of many men of energy. He is one of the fathers of the place, not only in point of time, but as owner of considerable property in the city and adjacent country, embracing the heights west of the city, which will one day be occupied with handsome residences, as they … Read more

Biography of Garrison G. Gray

To the prominent and esteemed citizen of Malheur County whose name appears above we grant a representation in the history of the County, since he is today one of the leading men domiciled here, has always labored for the up building of the County, is a man of integrity and uprightness, and receives the commendation of his fellows. Mr. Gray’s grandfather, John Gray, was said to be the last living soldier from the Revolution. He was a drummer boy at Bunker Hill and saw his father fall, then seized his sire’s musket and fought until the struggle closed. He worked … Read more

Biography of Solomon Howard Smith

SOLOMON HOWARD SMITH. – Mr. Smith, a most generous and public-spirited citizen, and a pioneer of so early a day as 1832, was born at Lebanon, New Hampshire, December 26, 1809. He came of Revolutionary stock, his maternal grandfather having been a soldier in the war for Independence, and a relative of the Greeley family. His father was an assistant surgeon in the war of 1812, and died at Plattsburgh, New York, in 1813. The boy Solomon was afforded good advantages, receiving his academic education at Norwich, Vermont; and he studied medicine with his uncle, Doctor Haven Foster, not, however, … Read more

Biography of John J. Owen

The history of the first things is always interesting. In any town the first settler’s is the name most carefully preserved. The places where he established his home and first worked at his primitive vocation are carefully noted, and his deeds and words are recounted often and with increasing interest as generations succeed one another. There lives in Genesee, Idaho, a man, now the postmaster of the city, who was its pioneer in more ways than one and it is the purpose of the biographer to record now a brief statement of the facts of his life and of his … Read more

Lillard, Forrest J. – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Funeral services for Forrest Jenkins Lillard, Rt. 1, Haines, 50 yrs., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at West and Co. Memorial Chapel The Reverand Lawrence Roumpf of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate with the Blue Mountain Lodge No. 176 A.F. and A.M. also conducting services. Internment will follow at the family plot in North Powder Cemetery, North Powder, Oregon. Mr. Lillard was born May 10, 1917 at Baker, Oregon, the son of Willis W. and Ruth Jenkins Lillard. He had his early schooling at Mt. Carmel and then attended schools at North Powder where he … Read more

Culley, Catherine E. Starr Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Catherine E. Culley, 81, a longtime Baker City resident and former Sumpter resident, died July 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Ed Niswender of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co. Catherine was born on July 7, 1920, at Astoria to Clarence E. and Lucille Lockwood … Read more

Cooper, Ada Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Ada May Cooper, 62, of Portland died May 29 at the U. S. naval hospital at Astoria, following a long illness. The Cooper family moved to La Grande in 1924, and lived here until they moved to Portland in 1941. Mrs. Cooper will be remembered as the mother of Alice Jeanette and Maelizabeth Cooper, both of whom are dead. the girls were talented La Grande violinists. Surviving here are her sons, Lt. Leonard Cooper U. S. N. R., stationed at the Astoria naval air station, and Ellery “Bud” Cooper of Portland, recently discharged from … Read more

Hylton, Glen L. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Glen L. Hylton, 78, of Baker City died Saturday, January 24, 2004 at St. Elizabeth Care Center. His memorial service will be announced at a later date. Mr. Hylton was born on December 3, 1925 in Enterprise, Oregon to Alex and Susie (Wakefield) Hylton. He was raised in LaGrande attending school in the area until he enlisted in the Navy. He served during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific from 1943-1946. During his time in LaGrande, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Mae Fihn. They were united in marriage on December 15, 1946 at the … Read more

Planting, Clarence A. – Obituary

Clarence A. Planting, 76, of 3515 Pepperwood Dr., Boise, died Thursday, Feb. 6, 1986, in a Boise hospital of natural causes. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at the Central Assembly Christian Life Center. Revs. Roy Strayer and Haskell Yadon will officiate. Burial will follow in Cloverdale Cemetery, under direction of the Alden-Waggoner Chapel. Mr. Planting, retired Ada County Clerk, was born Sept. 13, 1909, at his grandparents’ home in Astoria, Ore., a son of John W. and Mary Ring Planting whose home was at Helix, Ore. He attended schools in Pendleton, Ore., and graduated … Read more

Biography of John Hobson

JOHN HOBSON. – Mr. Hobson, with his father and brother Richard and three sisters, came to Oregon as early as 1843, being members of the first large immigration. The story of their trip and the influences which directed their footsteps hither is one of the pleasantest and most romantic among our early annals; and there is no novel nor history more fascinating than to listen half a day as we did to the recital of his adventures. He is a native of England, having been born in Derbyshire in 1824. His father was a hatter, and, losing his wife by … Read more

Biography of Dr. John McLoughlin

DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN. – Doctor McLoughlin has been very well called the first real governor of Oregon. As chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company west of the Rocky Mountains, he was more than this; – he was autocrat. He was a great man, – large physically, of large views and ideas, and above all, very large-hearted. He was nearly forty years on this coast, and during that time was the chief man in it. The Indians called him the “white-headed eagle;” and the Whites went to him with their troubles. In a pathetic little manuscript found among his papers, … Read more

Biography of Col. John Colgate Bell

COL. JOHN COLGATE BELL. – Colonel Bell, enjoying a wide reputation from Southern Oregon to Idaho, and back again to the Pacific seashore throughout the state in which he has successively lived and made a multitude of personal acquaintances, merits a special recognition on account of his public services in official relations and in the early Indian wars of Southern Oregon. He was born at Sterling, Kentucky, February 24, 1814. His parents were from Virginia; and among his ancestors were those distinguished in the early history of the nation, his father having served with General Harrison in the war of … Read more

Monpas, Leona R. Lunderville Mrs. – Obituary

Leona R. Monpas, 83, of Baker City, died Feb. 10, 2005, at her home. Her graveside funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Visitations will be held today until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Leona Rica Monpas was born June 18, 1921, at Mondovi, Wis., to Alvin and Lucillia (Craker) Lunderville. She received her schooling in Chippewa Falls and had special training in secretarial work. On April 8, 1938, she married Leon John Monpas in Milwaukee, Wis. In 1941, the couple moved to Port Angeles, Wash., where … Read more