Biography of Robert E. McFarland

Robert E. McFarland, late incumbent of the responsible position of attorney general of Idaho, by his faithful and capable discharge of duty won the highest commendation. Thoroughly versed in the principles of jurisprudence, he was well fitted to handle the intricate problems which presented themselves for solution, and his success affords the best evidence of his capabilities. He is a native of Missouri, born in Independence, November 21, 1857. The family is of Scotch lineage, the first American ancestors having crossed the Atlantic in colonial days and actively participated in the events which form the history of that epoch. They … Read more

Lee, Eileen Cochrane Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Eileen Lee, 91, a longtime Baker City resident, died at her home on Jan. 27, 2003. Her memorial service will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes will officiate. At Mrs. Lee’s request, a private interment of her cremated remains will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Eileen was born June 24, 1911, in Baker City, the only child of Edgar and Susan Browning Cochrane of Haines. Eileen attended school in Haines until 1924, when her parents moved to Baker City. She was a 1929 Baker … Read more

Yates, Ellen Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Ellen Yates Dead At Boise Ellen V. Yates, resident of Baker for the passed four years, died at the home of her son, William Riggs, in Boise Tuesday morning. Mrs. Yates went to Boise to visit her son about six weeks ago. Mrs. Yates was born in Illinois, October 17, 1840. She crossed the plains in 1854 and located in Washougal, Washington. She then moved to North Powder, where she resided for a number of years, then located in Weiser and four years ago took up her residence in Baker. Besides her son in Boise, Mrs. Yates is survived … Read more

Perkins, Eugene Edmond – Obituary

Eugene Edmond Perkins, 83, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 13, 2006, at his home in Boise. His memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 W. Overland Road in Boise. The Rev. Edward Dunn will officiate. Private inurnment will be at Morris Hill Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel in Boise. Eugene was born on June 28, 1922, at Baker City to Edmond P. and Nell E. Hansen Perkins. He was a Boise High School graduate and attended Boise State College. Gene worked in radio and television broadcasting … Read more

Carlson, John E. – Obituary

John E. Carlson, 87, of Baker City, died April 12, 2006, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Private vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Pathway Hospice will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at The Sunridge, 1 Sunridge Lane. John was born June 16, 1918, at Buhl, Idaho, to Edward and Amanda Lindstrom Carlson. After graduation from Baker High School, he attended Oregon State College. His Rose Bowl … Read more

Pfeil, Charles Fred “Chuck” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Charles Fred “Chuck” Pfeil, 73, of Baker City, died Aug. 18, 2002, with his family by his side on his ranch at Sutton Creek after a courageous 10-month battle with cancer. His funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane in Baker City. Mr. Darold Parry, 3rd Ward, will conduct the service. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. A dinner at the church will follow the graveside service. Visitations will be today until 7:00 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mr. Pfeil … Read more

Baird, Thos. Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Thos. Baird’s Death The sad news of the death of Mrs. Lyda B. Baird, wife of Thos. Baird and mother of George Baird, the Union Merchant, was received here yesterday. She passed away at Boise City, Monday night at 10:30 o’clock. She was nearly 71 years old and raised a family of five sons and three daughters. She came to Union with her family in 1863 and resided here until about six years ago, when she removed to Woodriver, Idaho. She had been in Union for some time, visiting, until about two weeks ago, when … Read more

Biography of Alfred Eoff

Alfred Eoff, the able and widely known cashier of the Boise City National Bank, possesses the undaunted spirit and business enterprise which have developed and are developing the marvelous resources and wealth of the western states and territories. All credit is due the brave and fearless frontiersman who paves the way for the on-coming tide of civilization, and, by his industry and zeal opens a thousand avenues for commerce and progress. In such a work Mr. Eoff has largely aided and in the history of Idaho he well deserves representation. Of Dutch ancestry, the forefathers of Alfred Eoff settled at … Read more

Hays, Clarence Edward – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Clarence Edward Hays, 84, of Elgin died Sept. 22 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Elgin Cemetery. A dinner will follow at the Elgin Community Center. Mr. Hays was born Oct. 7, 1921, to Luther and Ellen Bennett Hays in Baker City. The family lived in Missouri, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. He served in the Navy during World War II, and on Sept. 2, 1951, he married Beverly Case … Read more

Biography of George Ainslie

Hon. George Ainslie is a western man by birth, training and choice, and possesses the true western spirit of progress and enterprise. He belongs to the little group of distinctively representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the chief industries of this section of the country. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing country, and, acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered, in the fullness of time, the generous harvest which is … Read more

Biography of Richard Z. Johnson

Perhaps there is no part of this history of more general interest than the record of the bar. It is well known that the peace, prosperity and well-being of every community depend upon the wise interpretation of the laws, as well as upon their judicious framing, and there-fore the records of the various persons who have at various times made up the bar will form an important part of this work. A well known jurist of Illinois said, “In the American state the great and good lawyer must always be prominent, for he is one of the forces that move … Read more

Biography of C. A. S. Prosser, M. D.

Dr. C. A. S. Prosser, born in 1864 in Lunenburg, Ontario, was a respected physician in Boise, Idaho. Descended from Loyalist ancestors who settled in Canada during the American Revolution, he pursued medical studies under his brother’s guidance before graduating from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1887. After practicing in New York and Iowa, he moved to Boise in 1893 due to health reasons, where he established a successful practice and served as a physician and surgeon at Wesleyan Hospital. He married Clara Raymond in 1889, with whom he had two daughters.

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

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

Purvis, Rusty Gene – Obituary

Rusty Gene Purvis, 39, of Portland, died Oct. 27, 2002. A graveside service will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at Ironside Cemetery. Floyd Cooper will officiate. Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is handling the arrangements. Mr. Purvis was born Nov. 17, 1962, at Baker City to Don and Carol (Hill) Purvis. He attended Harper and Unity schools, and graduated from Riddle High School in 1981. He also attended Boise State University. He was employed by Zilog in Boise and Fujitsu in Portland as a computer technician. He enjoyed fishing, football and NASCAR racing. Mr. Purvis is survived by … 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

Biography of W. B. Kurtz

It is given to few to attain prominence in politics, honor in military affairs or fame in literary life, but respect and esteem await every man who lives worthily, who performs the duties of public and private life faithfully and promptly, and in business has strict regard for commercial ethics. Such an one is W. B. Kurtz, proprietor of the Weiser flouring mill, which was built in 1890, and represents one of the leading industrial interests of the city in which it is located. Mr. Kurtz is a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, born November 1, 1846, and is of … Read more

Biography of Charles M. Hays

A well known lawyer and pioneer of Idaho is Charles Marshall Hays, of Boise. Almost his entire life has been passed on the Pacific coast and he has therefore been a witness of the marvelous development of this section of the country. He was born in Saline County, Missouri, on the 22d of April 1845, and is descended from Irish ancestry. Members of the family were early residents of Virginia and Kentucky and were participants in the struggle that brought to the nation her independence. The grandfather of our subject removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky during the pioneer epoch … Read more

Biography of James A. Pinney

The enterprise of our American citizens has given the nation a position among the powers of the world that it has taken other countries many centuries to gain. The progressive spirit of the times is manifest throughout the length and breadth of the land, yet even to our own people the growth and development of the west seems almost incredible. Less than half a century ago Idaho, California, Montana, Oregon and other western states were wild and almost unpeopled regions, without the railroad or other transportation facilities, without the telegraph or the varied commercial and industrial industries of the east. … Read more