Benton County OR

Courtney, Pinkney L. – Obituary

Mrs. B.T. Long received word Thursday evening of the death of her father, P. L. Courtney at Payette, Idaho and left for that place Friday. M. O. Courtney of Lostine accompanied her. P. L. Courtney was one of the earliest settlers of the valley and lived here until recent years when he was compelled to try a different climate to relieve asthma from which he was a sufferer. He spent the past year in California from there going to Payette only two weeks ago and on the trip contracted the influenza to which he succumbed. Pinkney L. Courtney was born … Read more

Biography of Thomas H. Crawford

THOMAS H. CRAWFORD. – While Union county enjoys especial favor in possesing a large, well informed, and enterprising class of citizens who fill the walks of the industrial and professional callings she is to be congratulated in having such substantial, broad minded and capable devotees of the legal profession. Prominent in this number, and deserving of a large share of honor for his faithful and successful labors in the courts and in the manipulation of the affairs of the county, and also in a measure of the state politics wherein he has bestowed much care and thought for the welfare … Read more

Biography of Haman C. Lewis

HAMAN C. LEWIS. – This dauntless pioneer of the earliest times in our state was born in New York City January 31, 1803, and was the son of a ship carpenter. He early was apprenticed to learn the trade of a cooper, but while only a boy of fourteen went to sea, serving six months as cabin boy, and later was apprenticed to the ship carpenter. At eighteen he went as sailor – or perhaps more strictly speaking as “fillibusterer” – to the Gulf coast, taking service on a Mexican privateer. For a number of years he followed a most … Read more

Biography of Major James Bruce

MAJOR JAMES BRUCE. – Major Bruce is one of our citizens who needs no introduction to the people of the Northwest; since he is known personally, not only to all the old pioneers, but to most of the second generation of the toilers of Oregon. He was born November 3, 1827, in Harrison county, Indiana, and at the age of ten moved with his parents to Quincy, Illinois. At twenty he began a border career, going to Texas, making many excursions in that then unsettled region, and at Cross Timbers joined Major Johnson’s rangers. He accompanied these troopers upon their … Read more

Talich, Sylvia Nelson Mrs. – Obituary

Sylvia Talich, 95, of Phoenix, Ariz., a former longtime Baker City resident died May 23, 2005, at her home. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Agape Christian Center at 650 Highway 7. Pastor Aaron Oglesbee of the Agape Christian Center will officiate. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Agape Christian Center. She was born Sylvia Nelson on March 15, 1910, at Bristow, Neb. She lived on a farm on the Niabrera River and attended school at Bristow. When she was about 10, she was … Read more

Olp, Cleo “Barbara” Valentine Mrs. – Obituary

Cleo “Barbara” Olp, 70, a former Baker City resident, died July 7, 2001, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. Burial was Thursday at Jefferson Cemetery at Jefferson. Mrs. Olp was born on July 27, 1930, at Baker City to Leonard W. and Lola Morin Valentine. She lived all her life in Oregon, moving from Baker City to La Grande, to The Dalles and then to Salem and finally to Albany. She married Fred B. Olp on March 2, 1949, in Baker City. She was a homemaker and loved cooking and gardening. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved … Read more

Biography of George C. Gray

GEORGE C. GRAY. – Mr. Gray was born in East Tennessee in 1840. His father was a farmer, and also an active worker as preacher in the Baptist church, and upon arriving in Oregon in 1853 laid a Donation claim near Corvallis, conducting his farm six days in the week and carrying on religious work on Sundays. It was in these surroundings that young George grew to man’s estate; and his first independent exertions were as a laborer in Corvallis from 1854 to 1860. In 1861 he went to the Oro Fino mines, and in 1862 brought cattle to Walla … Read more

Slater, Olive – Obituary

Final Rites to Be Tomorrow for Olive Slater, Early-Day Teacher Olive Agnes Slater, for whom funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Sunday at the Snodgrass Funeral home, daughter of the late James H. and Edna Elizabeth Slater was born at Corvallis March 29, 1860. She with her parents went to Auburn, Ore., in 1864, coming to La Grande two years later. Miss Slater attended the public schools of Union county and later graduated from St. Paul’s Episcopal school in Walla Walla, Wash., majoring in art and music. She taught for a number of years in public schools then … Read more

Hale, Gladys Sarah

Corvallis, Oregon Gladys Sarah Hale, 93, of Corvallis, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1993, at Corvallis Manor. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday in the chapel, Burns Mortuary of Hermiston with burial at the Echo, Oregon Cemetery. Mrs. Hale was born May 28, 1900 at Lostine to Jacob Clairborne and Emily E. Hammack Womack. She grew up in Lostine and attended school there. On Nov. 17, 1920, she married Roy Charles Hale at Pendleton. The couple lived at Echo where Mr. Hale was postmaster for many years. In 1929 they moved to Hermiston where Mr. Hale owned and operated … Read more

Aldrich, Lewis Eugene “Bud”, Jr. – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Lewis Eugene “Bud” Aldrich Jr., 82, of Haines, died Sept. 19, 2004, at his home. Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets in Baker City. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the St. Francis Parish Hall. Disposition was by cremation at Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. Inurnment will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the Haines Cemetery. Bud was born May 22, 1922, at the old St. Elizabeth Hospital in Baker City, to Lewis and Edna Burnside Aldrich. In … Read more

Biography of William W. Randall

WILLIAM W. RANDALL is one of the early pioneers of the country now embraced in Union county, and he has spent much of his life here, having gained a good distinction in two different lines. He is now one of the substantial agriculturists of the county, and in earlier days he spent many years in the calling of the educator with marked success. William W. was born in Indiana, on October 28, 1852, being the son of Abraham and Lucinda (Olophant) Randall. The family removed to Iowa in 1853, settling in Marshall county, where they were called to mourn the … Read more

Cosens, Phoebe Ellen Day Mrs. – Obituary

Phoebe Ellen Cosens, 89, of Halfway, died Aug. 13, 2005, at Settlers Park Assisted Living center. Her graveside funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. The Bollman Funeral Home of Dallas is handling the arrangements. Phoebe was born on Nov. 6, 1916, at Wilder, Idaho, to Bertrum and Mable Waldron Day. She moved to Halfway as a child and lived there for most of the rest of her life. She married Royal Robert Cosens on May 29, 1935, at Halfway. They herded sheep and then raised cattle in Pine Valley. Phoebe and Roy … Read more

Biography of Andrew Roberts

ANDREW ROBERTS. – Andrew Roberts was born in Dundee, Scotland, August 12, 1822. When one year old he had lost both of his parents. He was then removed to Forfar. As soon as he was of proper age he learned the trade of a tailor, and when he had earned and saved sufficient money he left his native land for the United States. He thus states that venture: “I left my home in 1842, and on foot started to Dundee, distant fourteen miles. I took the steamer from there to Edinburgh, and traveled thence by rail to Glasgow. I then … Read more

Donnelly, Roderick – Obituary

Formerly of La Grande 1921-2009 Roderick W. ‘Doc’ Donnelly, 88, formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 12 at his home in Richmond. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Sweeney Mortuary of Condon is in charge of arrangements. Roderick was born May 23, 1921, the first son of Virginia Odessa Wechter and Hamilton Keyes Donnelly at his grandmother’s house at the top of the Donnelly Grade in Wheeler County. He was the grandson of a founding father of Wheeler County. He attended grade school in a one-room school at Service Creek. He attended high school in … Read more

Biography of Louis F. Horning

Louis F. Horning, who follows farming on Camas prairie, is a native of the Sunset state, his birth having there occurred August 20, 1851. His father, Frederick Horning, was born in Prussia, August 9, 1822, and was educated in Germany, after which he came with his father, George Godfrey Horning, to America. The last named was likewise a Prussian by birth, and on crossing the Atlantic he took up his residence in St. Louis, being one of the pioneers of that now populous city. For fifteen hundred dollars he sold ten acres of land which is now in the heart … Read more

Craig, Paul Dennis “Denny” – Obituary

Paul Dennis “Denny” Craig, 66, of Las Vegas, Nev., a former North Powder resident, died Aug. 20, 2002, at Las Vegas. Mr. Craig’s body was cremated. There was a private funeral at Las Vegas. There will be a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Haines United Methodist Church. Pastor Sally Wiens will officiate. Denny was born on March 11, 1936, at Baker City. He was raised on his parents’ ranch at North Powder and was a 1954 graduate of Powder Valley High School. He attended the University of Oregon at Eugene for one year and Eastern … Read more

Bell, Letha Alma McCullough Mrs. – Obituary

March 4, 1917 – Dec. 19, 2006 Letha Alma (McCullough) Bell died Tuesday at Corvallis Manor. She was born in Haines. She attended school nearby at Rock Creek Elementary and graduated from high school in Haines. She married Howard Bell in Baker City on December 24, 1936. They lived and worked in the local mining and timber industry until moving to Hoskins in 1949. Letha was involved in local women’s clubs and some church-related groups until moving to Corvallis in 1995. Letha was a mother of three children, Ivan, Carol and Ronald, and grandmother to seven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. … Read more

Roy, Doris Mary Scott Mrs. – Obituary

Dorris Mary Scott Roy, 88, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 10, 2001, in Oregon City. Mrs. Roy was born on Sept. 30, 1912, at Corvallis to Frank and Malinda Scott. She was proud of her roots and the fact that she was a native Oregonian. Her paternal grandfather came West in a wagon train from Dubuque County, Iowa, and settled at Tangent in 1853. After graduating from Corvallis High School, she completed a degree in home economics from Oregon State University and earned a master’s degree in Extension Education from the University of Wisconsin. She lived in Baker … Read more

Biography of J. C. Avery

J.C. AVERY. – Mr. Avery, the first owner, and, in almost every respect, the founder of Corvallis, was born in Punckhannock, Pennsylvania, in 1817. He received his education at Wilksbarre, and thereafter studied medicine, but, preferring a less confined life than that necessitated by this profession, went as a pioneer to Illinois in 1837. Engaging in the land business, he at length undertook the life of a farmer, and was married in 1841 to Miss Martha Marsh. Farming upon the prairies at that early day did not prove remunerative; and in 1845 he came alone to Oregon, bringing an ox-team … Read more

Jasper, George M. – Obituary

George M. Jasper Dies In Idaho Funeral services for George M. Jasper, who died Wednesday at his home in Meridian, Ida., will be held at 2:30 Sunday afternoon at the Snodgrass chapel. Mr. Jasper was 75 years old and a native of Corvallis, but he spent most of his early life in Cove. He was an uncle of Mrs. Frank Conley, Cove. Other survivors include his widow, Ella Boswell Jasper; three daughters and one son: Ora and Gladys, San Jose, Cal.; and Vina and Terrell, Meridian. La Grande Evening Observer Friday, April 5, 1940 Front Page