Benton County OR

Bailey, Bart – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Bart Bailey, 20, of Baker City died June 24, 2002, at Grand Junction, Colo., of injuries sustained in a traffic accident while en route to the Hayman fire near Denver to work as a firefighter with Grayback Forestry Inc. His Celebration of Life service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastors Lenny Spooner and Mark Trancale of the Nazarene Church will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Nazarene Church after the service. Bart moved with his family … 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

Biography of Hon. John Stewart

HON. JOHN STEWART. – This gentleman was born February 12, 1800, in Virginia, that grand old state which has given birth to heroes and cradled the world’s best since the white man first took possession of this fair land of ours. There our subject was nurtured through all his infancy and until his fifteenth year, when his parents moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. He resided in that state until 1837, learning the blacksmith trade, which calling so nearly broke down his health that he abandoned it and engaged in trading cattle. He first earned his title of captain in the … Read more

Biography of A. N. King

A.N. KING. – King’s valley in Benton and Polk counties, and King’s Addition to Portland, which embraces the beautiful city park, will perpetuate the name of the father of our subject and of Mr. King himself. The latter gentleman was born in Ohio in 1822; but as early as 1840 he removed to Missouri, operating a ferry across the Missouri river. A great flood destroyed his property; and in 1845 he was on the plains bound for Oregon. His father, mother, three brothers and five sisters were also in the company. The immigration numbered a hundred wagons; and it was … Read more

Palmer, Katie Lee – Obituary

Katie Lee Palmer, 85, Corvallis, passed away Wednesday, November 13, 1968, at a local nursing home. Private services will be held on Friday at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Fred Knickrehm officiating at the DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Colfax Cemetery at Colfax, Washington. Those wishing may make memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Palmer to the Oregon 4-H Club Foundation for the 4-H center. These may be sent to the DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Johnson Mulkey

JOHNSON MULKEY. – This prominent pioneer of Oregon was born in Knox County, Kentucky, in January, 1808. His father, Philip Mulkey, and mother (whose maiden name was Margaret Miller), were natives of Germany. In the year 1818 they moved with their young family to Missouri, settling in Lafayette County, where the father soon after died, leaving his widow with nine children. Johnson was married in 1835 to Mrs. Susan Roberts, née Brown. In the summer of 1845 he crossed the plains to Oregon, and on arriving took up a land claim in Benton county three miles west of what is … Read more

Robbins, Darlene Emma Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Darlene Emma Robbins, 71 died Monday, January 26, 2004 in Baker City, Oregon after a lengthy illness. Memorial services will be held Monday, February 2, 2004 at 11 a.m. in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street with Rev. Ron Kratzer officiating. Inurnment will follow at Baker Cemetery at a later date. Mrs. Robbins was born September 13, 1932, in Bentonville Arkansas to Austin and Grace Robbins. In 1936, she moved from Nebraska to Ontario, Oregon at the age of four. She graduated from Ontario High School in 1950. She met her future husband while attending 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 Joseph Beezley

JOSEPH BEEZLEY. – This pioneer is of distinguished ancestry, tracing his lineage to the Pilgrims. In his own character he exemplifies the qualities of those old heroes. His grandfather was a general in the British army; and his father added new honors to the name by his marriage to Phoebie Reeves of Virginia. Fourteen children were born to this pair, Joseph, of whom we write, being the twelfth, and his birth occurring at Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, in 1819. In 1824 the elder Beezley moved his family to Indiana, where he resided for two years, and from thence, in 1826, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Pentland

WILLIAM PENTLAND. – This town-builder and founder of Lexington was born December 26, 1825, in Fleming county, Kentucky, and removed with his parents in 1831 to Platt county, Missouri, and three years later made a new location in Buchanan county. He was there engaged in agriculture. In 1847 he made the great journey with ox-teams across the plains to Oregon, and located near the present site of Corvallis. He remained with his people in that neighborhood until 1867, receiving a good, practical education during his early days at the common schools of Corvallis. he was married in 1860 to Miss … Read more

Hamilton, C. W. – Obituary

C. W. Hamilton, Of Lower Cove, Called by Death Charles W. Hamilton was born in Scioto, county, Ohio, May 2, 1845 where he lived until 1869. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the Union army. From May 2, to Sept. 3, 1864, he served as corporal in Company I of the 140th regiment. In this long and terrible struggle he offered his life daily for his country standing where only the bravest can stand. Sept. 13th, 1864 at Platsmouth [sic – Portsmouth], Ohio, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah F. Bridwell and to this union were … Read more

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 Werner A. Wrenn

Among the agriculturists and business men of Wallowa County, the subject of this sketch stands as a leader, having manifested capabilities that justly entitle him to that position, while also he possesses an adaptability and perseverance coupled with energy, that have enabled him to handle large interests and manipulate them in a manner that brings success, while also his characteristic integrity and stanch principles of truth and uprightness have given him a prestige enviable and commendable. Mr. Wrenn was born in Benton County, Oregon, on March 3, 1866, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Watt) Wrenn, natives respectively of … Read more

Makinson, Ruth C. Parrish Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth C Makinson, 88, of Corvallis, a former Baker City resident, died March 3, 2003, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., in downtown Corvallis. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Private interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Ruth Makinson was born April 26, 1914, at Dallas, Ore., the daughter of Mabel Guy Parrish and Elbert L. Parrish. She received her education at Dallas, graduating from Dallas High School. She married Joe Martin in 1931 while still in high … Read more

Beery, Donald Vernon – Obituary

Memorial services for Don V. Beery, 81, of 2944 NW 29th St., are planned at 11 a.m. Wednesday at DeMoss-Durdan Garden Chapel. Members of the Masonic Lodge A.F.&A.M., No. 14, will conduct Masonic rites. Mr. Beery died Sunday [February 7, 1982] at the Corvallis Manor. Private cremation will take place at the DeMoss-Durban Crematory. He was born March 9, 1900 to A. A. Beery and Minerva Douthitt Beery in Lebanon, Mo. From 1917 until 1919 he served with the military in England and France during World War I. In 1920 he and Emily Smith were married. She died in 1931. … Read more

Biography of Hon. James P. Stewart

HON. JAMES P. STEWART. – In a notice of the Honorable James P. Stewart by the local press, when his name was presented for the suffrages of his fellow-citizens for a seat in the legislature of Washington Territory, it was most truthfully said: “he is a man of affairs, – a big, bronzed, broad-shouldered man, who moves about among his fellow-men with that quiet consciousness of strength that carries conviction and wins. He has been a winner all his life; and people applaud his winning. He has been as honest as he has been progressive. Mr. Stewart is a native … Read more

Hansell, Delmar A. – Obituary

Delmar A. Hansell, 85, of La Grande, and a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 1, 2002, at his home. A celebration of his life took place Aug. 2 at Loveland Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Gary Hood of ioneer Park Church officiating. Mr. Hansell was born Feb. 3, 1917, in Corvallis to William Henry and Lydia L. Bullis Hansell. He attended Corvallis and Newport high schools. He married Ernestine (Teen) Gardener on Nov. 12, 1947, in Caldwell, Idaho. They lived in Corvallis, then moved to Baker in 1950 and to La Grande in 1956, where Mr. Hansell was a custodian … 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

Bertels, Christofer C. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Christofer C. Bertels, 36, of Salem and formerly of Union, Baker and La Grande, died Nov. 6 at Salem Hospital in Salem. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Assembly of God Harvest Church, 3720 Birch St., Baker City. Chris was born Sept. 3, 1971, in La Grande. He was raised in Union and later attended Baker Valley Christian Academy in Baker City. Chris received an associate’s degree from Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, and continued his education at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Chris worked for the State of Oregon Insurance … Read more

Gray, George Grant – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon George Gray Is Called Beyond Grim Death Angel Takes Another of County’s Respected Pioneers Death took another of Union county’s respected pioneers yesterday when George Grant Gray died at his residence in Lower Cove at 2:15 o’clock in the afternoon. Burial will be at the Summerville cemetery tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The body will be at the residence from Monday evening until 1:30 p. m. Tuesday at which time it will be taken to Summerville where funeral services will be held. Mr. Gray was born in Granger County, Tennessee, April 10, 1840 er’s family, in 1853, … Read more