“Centralia: The First Fifty Years, 1845-1900,” authored by Herndon Smith and published by the Daily Chronicle in 1949, is an accounting of Centralia, Washington history during its formative years. This work captures the essence of the community’s early development, providing a narrative enriched by diverse anecdotes and some pictorial representations.
A longtime resident of Centralia, Mrs. Lena M. McEwen, 82, died Wednesday at a Centralia hospital. She was born March 28, 1884 at Lawrence, Kan. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Alta Rasmussen, Battle Ground and Mrs. Laura Timberman, Vancouver; four sons, Dan, Centralia, Wilbur and Melvin, both of Kelso and Elmer, Oakland, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Mooney, Portland; 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Funeral services are Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Fissell-Brown Mortuary Chapel, Chehalis, with the Rev. James F. Scott officiating. Interment will follow at the Toledo Cemetery [Fir Lawn Cemetery]. Pallbearers will be Leslie Palmer, … Read more
Ruthella Chaplin Lee, 95, died Wednesday, May 10 [1989], in Providence Hospital in Centralia. She was born Oct. 3, 1893, in Brownsville, Ore., and was the daughter of Ralph and Sarah [Coshow] Chaplin. Lee attended Bellingham Normal School and was a teacher in the Chehalis School District until her marriage in 1917 to Virgin R. Lee. He died in 1986. She was a life member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a long-time member of the St. Helen’s Club and the Pioneers of Washington. Surviving are a son, William R. “Bill” Lee of Chehalis; three granddaughters; and three … Read more
HON. CLANRICK CROSBY. – This gentleman, of whom an excellent portrait appears in our work, was born in East Brewster, Massachusetts, January 6 1838. He is a son of Captain Clanrick and Phoebe H. (Fessenden) Crosby. In 1849 he came with his parents via Cape Horn on board the brig Grecian, of which his father was captain and part owner. The father was a sea-faring man until his arrival in San Francisco in the above year. After a short stay there, he brought his vessel to Portland, and there selling her quit the sea. The family remained in Portland, Oregon, … Read more
Baker, Oregon William Duby, former chairman of the Oregon State Highway commission died at his home in Baker last Tuesday night and funeral services were held at the Christian Church, Baker, Friday afternoon, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Duby was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. In August 1861, said the Baker Democrat Herald. He went to Nebraska with his mother in 1865 and lived in the eastern part of that state until he was 22 years old. Mr. Duby was married to Mary E. Bissell in Wahoo, Saunders County, Nebraska, October 5, 1895. The young couple … Read more
Gilbert Balaam Burnside, 87, died Thursday,Jan. 2, 2003, at Centralia Providence Hospital, Centralia, Wash. Mr Burnside was born Aug. 11, 1916, in Haines, to James A. and Aplharette Shanklin Burnside. James had accompanied his parents John and Ann Elizabeth Naylor Burnside to Baker Valley over the Oregon Trail. His survivors are son, Donald and wife, Audrey of Chehallis, son Jack and wife, Georgia of Tacoma, and sister Myrtle Burnside Music Johnson of Tacoma; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A great grandson Allen Phillips of Baker City and many cousins in Baker Valley. No services were held by his … Read more
A resident of Lewis County from 1923 to 1977, Gerhardt Adolph Penner, 88, died in a Kirkland nursing home, Tuesday, January 2. He was born March 26, 1890 in Port Orchard and has been a resident of Bellevue since 1977. Mr. Penner worked as a salesman for Darigold and as a custodian for the Centralia and Chehalis Schools. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Chehalis and was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey Dorene in August, 1978. Survivors include a son, Clark C., Walnut Creek, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. H. C. (Carman) Hardebeck, Bellevue; a … Read more
Death came to Mrs. Champ, 87, Wednesday [November 22, 1944] at her home, 802 South Gold Street, in Centralia. She was born on Layton Prairie, March 18, 1857, and had resided here the past 16 years. Surviving are five children, 12 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. The children are James Champ and Mrs. Louisa Gowen, Centralia; Mrs. Catherine Snodgrass and Mrs. Viola Lampitt, in California, and Mrs. Dora Baker, in Arizona. Funeral services have been set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Pontious-Cattermole chapel. The Rev. Erle Howell will officiate, and burial will be in the Winlock Cemetery. Contributed by: … Read more
Funeral services for Mrs. Estelle Elizabeth (Betty) Indermuhle, 77, of 700 S. Chestnut St., will be held in the Evenson Chapel at 2 p.m. Monday with the Rev. Silas Erickson officiating. Mrs. Indermuhle died Wednesday night [April 14, 1965] at the Community Hospital. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Betty Montgomery was born May 18, 1887 in Centralia and was married to Sam Indermuhle in 1936 in Ritzville. They farmed in the Badger Pocket District until moving to town last year. Survivors include her husband at the family home, three sons, Perry Thompson, Portland, Boyce Thompson, Castle Rock, and … Read more