Canyon City Oregon

Biography of John Howard

JOHN HOWARD. – Certainly one of the earliest pioneers of this favored region and a man who has endured the deprivations and hardships incident to that life, meanwhile laboring for the opening up of the frontier and the establishment of good government, the subject of this sketch has earned for himself a place in the history of Union county that is enviable and prominent, while personally he has ever manifested a good spirit and uprightness coupled with stanch principles and practical judgment in both the efforts put forth to build up the county, and in the prosecution of his own … Read more

Cunnington & Horsley

The establishment of the above gentlemen, dealers in general merchandise, is a credit to Canyon City. Selling their goods at as close it margin its possible, believing in making small profits and having their customers well satisfied, they have an enviable reputation for fair and honest dealing. W. R. Cunnington, the senior member of the firm, has been in business here since 1803, and F. P. Horsley since September last, although both gentlemen were previously engaged in other pursuits In Grant County. At present they are operating two stores, the stone one 26×50, the frame, 22×30, both having fireproof cellars, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Geo. W. Hayes

Geo. W. Hayes stands high among the voting attorneys Eastern Oregon, and has established a foothold in Harney County from which it would be difficult to eradicate possessing as he does talent, energy, ambition and industry. He was born In Marion County, Iowa in 1859, coming across the plains with his parents in 1862, in an ox team. They located at Eugene, Lane County, where he stayed until 1874, having at intervals attended the log schoolhouse. Moving to Lake County, he kept up his studies, and at the age of 18 began teaching school, working also at the carpenter’s trade. … Read more

Hays-Radinovich, JoAnn Marie Mrs. – Obituary

JoAnn Marie Hays-Radinovich, 70, of Baker City and John Day, died Sept. 28, 2005. Recitation of the Rosary will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets in Baker City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at noon at St. Francis de Sales. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Sunday from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cathedral. JoAnn was born Aug. 19, 1935, at Enterprise to Mary Isabelle and Vernon Edward Hays. JoAnn was the oldest of five children. She had four brothers: Michael, … Read more

Bennett, Clara D. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Clara D. Bennett, 96, of Aurora, died April 12, 2004, at home. She was born Oct. 15, 1907, in Anatone, Wash. Mrs. Bennett married Edward W. Snodderly in 1926. After a divorce, she was married to Lawrence Bennett from 1955 until his death in 1992. During her life, she lived in Pomeroy, Wash., Canyon City, Enterprise, Goldendale, Wash., John Day, and finally Aurora for the past nine years. Survivors include daughters Lorna Greeley of Aurora and Diane J. Sweek of John Day; sons Laddie Snodderly of Hermiston, Timothy Snodderly of Aurora, David Snodderly of Lodi, Calif., and E. … Read more

Wester, Claire Woods Curtis Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Claire Curtis Wester, 77, of Baker City died July 24, 2002 at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Coles Funeral Home. Associate Pastor Bob Whiteman of the Baker City Christian Church officiated. Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery. Claire was born July 18, 1925, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Charles D. Woods and Theresa Kelly Woods. She married Robert L. Curtis on June 16, 1946, and they settled down in Canyon City, where they started their family. In addition to being a devoted mother, wife and homemaker, Claire worked with Bob in … Read more

Humboldt Mining Company

The Humboldt Mining Company, who control our of the largest and best hydraulic properties in this section, was organized in 1881 by Horose Sloan, Ira Sproul, Herbert Hunter, Fred Frey, Harry Heppner and Fred Yorgenson, to work 320 acres lying adjacent to Canyon City. The properly had been worked by the drifting process since 1862, with an average success yearly of nearly a million dollars. The nature of the property is that of an old river channel running with gold. A ditch has been built on it 8½ miles long, with a capacity of 1,000 inches of water. The present … Read more

Spain, Gladys Elaine “Gus” Cunningham Mrs. – Obituary

Gladys Elaine Spain, known as ‘Gus’ to those close to her, 75, passed away at her home in Canyon City, Ore., March 19, 2007. She was born on Oct. 28, 1931, in Kimberly, Idaho to Newton and Jean Cunningham. After her retirement from the phone company, Gus became an active member in her community as a volunteer and she created friends wherever she went. When not volunteering, Gus and her husband enjoyed fishing and camping together. At home she enjoyed tending to her garden and was an avid knitter and quilter. Gus was an open and loving person who will … Read more

Biography of Albert G. Cordelle

Among the wide-awake and enterprising merchants of Weiser is Albert G. Cordelle, proprietor of the leading furniture store of the town. His entire life has been passed in the northwest, and he possesses that spirit of progress and energy which has resulted in the rapid development and upbuilding of this section of the country. He was born in Canyon City, Oregon, on the 30th of January 1866, and is a son of W. J. and Jane Cordelle, of the same state. He acquired his education in the public schools of Idaho, and was then fitted for the practical and responsible … Read more

Brown, Gerald Wilber – Obituary

Gerald Wilbur Brown, 88, of Baker City, died Sept. 12, 2005, at Settlers Park. At his request, cremation was held with private interment in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Brown was born Nov. 23, 1916, in Vananda City, Mont. He was raised in Duluth, Minn., and received his education there. Mr. Brown married Ann Diebekis on Nov. 7, 1952, in Cloquet, Minn. The family came to Baker City in 1955 from Canyon City. He enjoyed playing the accordion, harmonica and guitar. He was a member of Kingdom Hall, Jehovah’s Witness. He is survived by daughters Grace Schramm of Duluth, Minn. and … Read more

Biography of Andrew B. Anderson

Mr. Anderson, who is president of the Weiser Bank, at Weiser, and chairman of the board of commissioners of Washington County, dates his residence in Idaho from 1869. He is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Louisville, February 21, 1846. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the family having been founded in America by Thomas Anderson, the grandfather, who crossed the Atlantic in early manhood, taking up his residence in Kentucky. He aided his adopted country in the war of 1812, and also participated in the battles with the Indians during the early settlement of the “dark and … Read more

Perkins, Fred Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Fred Perkins Passes Away Last Eve Mrs. Fred Perkins of Halfway died at 10 o’clock last evening at the Underwood hotel, after an illness of many years with paralysis. Mrs. Perkins was 53 years of age and was born in Canyon City, moving to Halfway many years ago, where her husband engaged in ranching. Mrs. Perkins had been in Baker one month for medical treatment and was stopping with here sister-in-law, Mrs. L.N. Perkins, proprietress of the Underwood. She is survived by a husband and one son Arthur. Funeral arrangements are pending the arrival of her sister, Mrs. Johnson … Read more

Davis, Jim Boyd – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Jim Boyd Davis, 75, of Prairie City, a former longtime Ironside resident, died May 15, 2005, at his home. A memorial service will be planned later. Jim was born on May 21, 1929, at Forestville, Calif., to Sid and Louise Proshold Davis. He had one older sister, Helen. He grew up working in the orchards of Napa Valley in California. In 1946, the family bought a ranch and moved to Sisters. Jim joined the army in 1951 and completed boot camp at Fort Lewis, Wash. He served as a corporal in Hamburg, Germany. He met … Read more

Fry, John E. “Jack” – Obituary

John E. “Jack” Fry, 77, of Boise, whose family has owned a cabin at Trout Meadows for many years, died Sept. 11, 2004, at the Hospice Center of the Boise Veterans Hospital. No memorial service is scheduled at this time. His family and friends will celebrate his life in the summer of 2005 at Trout Meadows in the Granite area. The date will be announced later. Mr. Fry was born on June 1, 1927, at Canyon City to Everett and Ora Fry. He grew up at Mount Vernon. He married Ada Newcome in 1950 at Oakland, Calif. They lived at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. F. C. Sels

Mr. Sels was born in 1837, in Merschede, Westphalia, Germany, which place he left while yet a youth and came to America. December 31, 1854, he arrived in California, and July 1, 1862, reached Canyon City, where he still lives and enjoys the fruits of a life of honorable business activity. In the summer of 1802 he mined at Prairie diggings, about four miles northeast of Canyon City, and in the spring of 1803 opened a general merchandise store in Canyon City in partnership with Mr. E. J. Stemme, under the name of Sels & Stemme. In the fall of … Read more

Biography of Benjamin and Hosea Eastman

Tales of heroism have been the theme of song and story throughout all ages. He who has gone forth to battle for his country, his home or his principles, has figured in history, in literature and in music, and his bravery has stirred the souls of men through all times. All honor to such an one, and yet his heroism is no greater or his daring more pronounced than that of the honored pioneers of the west. Men reared in comfortable homes, accustomed to all the conveniences and privileges of life in the east, have come into the wild western … Read more

Biography of Robert E. Lockwood

The editor and proprietor of the Weiser Signal was born in Kirbyville, Josephine county, Oregon, February 15, 1858, and is of English descent. His grandparents were William and Lucy (Lord) Lockwood, and his father was Robert Lockwood, Sr., a native of Australia, in which country he married Miss Clara Sophia Belknap. They became residents of Oregon in 1853, the father engaged in mining on Rogue River. In 1871 he removed to Albany and later located in Canyon City, in the John Day valley of Oregon, where he continued his mining operations and also acted as deputy sheriff of the county, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry L. Valade

Henry L. Valade, proprietor of the City Hotel of Canyon City, has had a number of years of experience in his chosen calling, namely, with the Norton House, of Ellensburg, Washington, and the Rainier Grand and Arlington hotels of Seattle, since taking charge of his present property he has made a number of desirable improvements, having added a first-class bar, over which is dispensed high grade wines and liquors, making a specialty of case goods. His wife, formerly Mrs, Ella Rau, of this county, has personal charge of the culinary department which is sufficient guarantee of the service rendered their … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert Hinsch

In journeying through life we occasionally run across some young man who in business circles has fairly distanced competition, endowed with greater advantages perhaps, but still lacking some qualification possessed by himself. This qualification may be embraced in a single word ambition. The young man whose name heads this sketch is endowed with ambition, coupled with industry, integrity, and holiness sagacity. Locating at Canyon City in 1889, for a period of two years he followed watch making, which he had leaned in the old country. He then began merchandising in a small way, and by studying the wants of the … Read more

Maxwell, Marvin L. – Obituary

Lostine, Oregon Marvin L. Maxwell Marvin L. Maxwell, 78, of Lostine died Saturday at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A graveside service will be begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Wallowa Cemetery. Bollman Funeral home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Maxwell was born Jan. 29, 1928, to Bailey and Carmen Maxwell in Clarkston, Wash. He graduated from Enterprise High School, and served in the Army and during World War II. On March 13, 1949, he married Blanche Lermeny. He worked for First National Bank of Oregon, First Interstate Bank and Wells Fargo before retiring as branch manager in Enterprise after … Read more