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 Peter J. Pefley

An Idaho pioneer of 1864, Peter J. Pefley, is now engaged in the harness and saddlery business in Lewiston, and has long been accounted one of the representative men of the state, for the active interest he has taken in promoting her welfare renders him one of her valued citizens. His childhood days were spent on the Atlantic coast. He was born in Roanoke County, Virginia, June 6, 1830, and traces his ancestry back to the Fatherland, whence John Pefley, his great-grandfather, came to America, sailing from Baden-Baden in 1730. He took up his residence in Virginia, and there occurred … Read more

Harkey, Helen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Local Funerals and Visitations Oct. 16 – Helen Harkey, celebration of life, 2 p.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center La Grande Observer – October 14, 2009 Helen E. Harkey La Grande 1940-2009 Helen Elaine Harkey, 69, of La Grande, died Oct. 10 in Boise. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Helen was born April 22, 1940, to Henry B. and Donna (Paulfurman) Mortensen in Salt Lake City. She was the youngest of 14 children. The family later … Read more

The Growth Of Quartz Mining Discoveries

Prospecting early indicated that the future mineral wealth of Idaho would depend upon quartz mining, and accordingly efforts were early made to develop that feature of Idaho’s principal industry. In the autumn of 1863 it was found that thirty-three claims of gold and silver quartz-mines had been made on the south Boise alone, ail of which promised well. The Ida Elmore, near the head of Bear creek, the first and most famous of the south Boise quartz mines in that year, was discovered in June. In an arastra it yielded two hundred and seventy dollars to the ton of rock; … Read more

Hendriksen, Beverly Y. Haskin Mrs. – Obituary

Beverly Y. Hendriksen, 78, of Boise, a former Baker County resident, died Jan. 31, 2008, at her home after a courageous fight with a recent illness. Her funeral was Feb. 7 at Cloverdale Funeral Home. Burial was at Cloverdale Cemetery. There was a gathering afterward for family and friends. Beverly was born on Jan. 9, 1930, at Haines to Robert and Aletha Haskin. She spent most of her childhood in the Haines area. She met and then was happily married to George Hendriksen of Baker City for almost 60 years. They moved to Boise in 1959 where they spent the … Read more

Glenn, Guy – Obituary

Summerville, Union County, Oregon Guy J. Glenn, 67, former La Grande resident and member of a well known local family, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, at his home in Knights Landing, Cal., where he has lived for the past five years. Services will be held at Summerville, Ore., his birthplace Monday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m., in the Summerville chapel, and interment will be in Summerville cemetery. Snodgrass funeral home will be in charge of arrangements. Mr. Glenn was born March 20, 1881, on the Glenn homestead at Summerville. He attended grade and high school there and later farmed the home … Read more

Fagenstrom, Ottilie Brummer Mrs. – Obituary

Ottilie Fagenstrom, 85, a former Baker City resident, died March 31, 2006, at Life Care Center of the Treasure Valley in Boise. Her memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 17th Street and Pocahontas Road. Ottilie Fagenstrom was born on Sept. 21, 1920, at Oslo, Norway, to Walter and Catherine Pattenhausen-Brummer. Ottilie moved with her parents to the United States in 1924. Her father, Walter, continued his import-export business. When Ottilie was 14, her mother, Catherine, died. Ottilie moved with her father to California. She was a 1939 graduate of Santa Ana High School. … Read more

Biography of Matthew H. Williams

Matthew H. Williams is an Idaho pioneer whose residence dates back to 1863, and he is a prominent citizen of Bellevue, Blaine County. He was born in Vermont, September 20, 1840. His father, John Williams, a native of New Jersey, did soldier’s duty in the war of 1812-14. He married Magdalene Shuffelt, a native of New York and a descendant of an old Dutch family of that state. They had twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are living. John Williams and his wife were Episcopalians and were people of social prominence. He died at … Read more

Biography of Moses Alexander

The sturdy German element in our national commonwealth has been one of the most important in furthering the substantial and normal advancement of the country, for this is. an element signally appreciative of practical values and also of the higher intellectuality which transcends all provincial confines. Well may any person take pride in tracing his lineage to such a source Moses Alexander is one of the worthy sons that the Fatherland has furnished to America, and Boise now numbers him among her leading merchants, while in the office of mayor he is capably handling the reins of city government. He … 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

Grove, Patricia Anne Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Patricia Anne Grove, 71, of Baker City, died Aug. 8, 2002, at her home. Her funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City First Christian Church will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception following at the Christian Church. Visitations will be today until 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Pat was born Feb. 23, 1931, at The Dalles to Lloyd W. Davis and Ruth G. (Hazen) Davis. Her family moved to … Read more

Hammack, Amber M. – Obituary

Boise, Ada County, Idaho Funeral services for Mrs. Amber M. Hammack will be held this afternoon at 4 o’clock at the McBratney Funeral Home. The Rev. E. N. Murphy will officiate and internment will be in Morris Hill Cemetery. Idaho Statesman, Sunday, November 5, 1933. Contributed By: Sue Wells

Driskall, Thelma Doris – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Thelma Doris Driskell, 91, of La Grande, died Jan. 11 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. A celebration of life begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande. Visitation will be allowed for family and friends for one hour prior to the services. Graveside services will follow at Grandview Cemetery. A reception will he held in the hall of the United Methodist Church, 1612 Fourth St., after the graveside service. Doris was born March 15, 1916, to Leslie Duncan and Christine Weatley in Parma, Idaho. She was the oldest … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles D. Davis

This worthy pioneer and capable citizen of Malheur County is one of the well known farmers of the vicinity of Ontario, having a farm of eighty acres two and one-half miles northwest from Ontario which is well improved with comfortable buildings, orchards, etc., having also a good supply of water for irrigating. Mr. Davis is a native of Douglas County, Nebraska, being born on November 23, 1855, and the son of Charles B. and Jane (Platt) Davis. The father was a veteran of the Mexican war, participating in many battles and skirmishes and, being honorably discharged at its close. He … Read more

Woods, G. Elaine Joslin Mrs. – Obituary

G. Elaine Woods, 80, of Baker City, a former longtime Richland resident, died Nov. 16, 2000, at Settler’s Park. Her memorial service was last Friday at the Richland Christian Church. Pastor Gordon Bond officiated. Interment of the ashes was later at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Mrs. Woods was born on Jan. 3, 1920, at Boise to John William and Maude Ellenor Boice Joslin. She was raised and educated at Billings, Mont. She met her future husband at a dance in Halfway. She married Orville C. Woods at Walla Walla, Wash., in 1938. The couple had a ranch at Richland … Read more

Northcutt, Paul W. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Paul W. Northcutt, 84, of La Grande, died June 15 in Boise. A full obituary will be available later. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center. La Grande Observer – June 17, 2008 _________________________________ Paul W. Northcutt, 84, of La Grande, died June 15 at a hospital in Boise with his family by his side. No services are planned. A celebration of life will be held in Arizona at a later date. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. Paul was born March 28, 1924. He was a veteran of World War … Read more

Flanagan, Larry – Obituary

Larry Flanagan, 71, of La Grande died Oct. 11 in Boise. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Larry was born in Wilbur, Wash., on July 24, 1936. He grew up on a farm at the foot of Mount Emily in the Grande Ronde Valley and lived in the area most of his life. He worked at Boise Cascade for 46 years, retiring in 2002. He loved fishing, hunting and traveling. His last hunting trip was about two weeks ago. His last big trip was a cruise to Alaska. … Read more

Russell, Gerald Dee “Jerry” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gerald Dee “Jerry” Russell, 67, died June 22, 2003, at his home in Baker City. At his request, there will be no formal funeral. His family will have a private gathering in celebration of being a part of Jerry’s life. He was born on Nov. 8, 1935, at Farmington, Iowa, to Craige and Annabelle Lucille Dee Russell. About the age of 8, he moved with his family to Fruitland, Idaho. It was there that Jerry graduated high school and a short time later married Barbara Reimers. The couple had two daughters: Lori and Sandra. During his life … Read more

Barnhart, Vera Willett Glenn Mrs. – Obituary

Vera W. Glenn Barnhart, 86, of Boise, died Dec. 9, 2001, in a Boise hospital. Her memorial service was Dec. 12, 2001, at the Alden Waggoner Funeral Chapel in Boise. Inurnment is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Vera was born Oct. 31, 1915, at Baker City to Glen Willett and Florence James Willett. She attended elementary school at Baker City and high school at Meridian, Idaho. She married James R. Glenn on May 11, 1935, at Boise. They had two children: Jacqueline and Gary. She enjoyed fishing, was an avid dancer, a world traveler and she … Read more

Biography of Joseph W. Huston

The history of a state as well as that of a nation is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens, and yields its tributes of admiration and respect for the genius or learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state’s prosperity and pride. Among the distinguished citizens of Idaho is Judge Joseph Waldo Huston, of Boise, who holds distinctive precedence as an eminent lawyer and jurist, as a … Read more