Biographical Sketch of Nathan Brown

The worthy pioneer and capable business man of whom we now have the privilege of speaking is one of the leaders in the business realm of Burns, being senior member of the firm of N. Brown & Sons, general merchants, who have one of the largest stocks in the county and do a mammoth business, being well established and highly esteemed by all. Mr. Brown was born in Germany, in January, 1835, and at the age of thirteen years came to America. In 1852 he came via Cape Horn to San Francisco, and thence to Oregon City, where he engaged … Read more

Racey, Nina L. Deen Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Nina L. Racey, 91, of Enterprise, died at home Saturday April 29, 2000. She was born in Boring, Oregon on August 6, 1908 to Melvil and Dora Deen. She married Laurence House and they had a daughter, Wanda June House. They were later divorced, and she and Wanda moved to Malheur where she met and married Alexander Racey. They lived in the Bridgeport area and ranched for over 30 years. Later they sold the ranch and moved to Baker City, where they lived for seven years, then moved to Estacada to live with her daughter. Upon … Read more

Stains, Inez J. Mrs. – Obituary

Inez J. Stains, 97, a former North Powder resident, died Nov. 12, 2000, at Oregon City. Her graveside funeral was Wednesday at the North Powder Cemetery. Mrs. Stains was born June 13, 1903, at North Powder. She had worked as a music teacher and in cosmetics sales. She moved from North Powder to Oregon City 20 years ago. Her husband, Howard Oscar, died Jan. 1, 1985. Survivors include three nieces, Joanne Thompson of Boise, Patricia Kerns of Casper, Wyo., and Lorraine Millar of Greer, S.C. The Hillside Chapel Inc. of Oregon City is in charge of arrangements. Used with permission … Read more

Biography of Ephraim W. Baughman

Few men are more widely known in the northwest than Captain E. W. Baughman, of Lewiston, who for forty-eight years has sailed on the rivers in this section of the country. His circle of friends is indeed extensive, and his genial manner and social disposition win him the regard of all. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, May 18, 1835, and is of German lineage, his ancestors having long been residents of Pennsylvania, however. His father, John Baughman, was born in that state and married Miss Jane Murphy, a lady of German descent. In an early day they removed … Read more

Biography of James Duval Holman

James Duval Holman was born in August 18, 1814, on his father’s farm in Woodford county, Kentucky. He was of the Holman family so well known in the Southern and Middle States. His mother was a Duval of Hugenot descent, a family of equal position with the Holmans in the south. Of Mr. Holman’s great-grand parents, three came from Virginia and one from North Carolina. His parents were John and Betsy L. Holman, who were married in October, 1810. In 1817 they moved to Tennessee, where they resided for nine years, when they moved to Clay county, Missouri. His mother … Read more

Biography of Hon. John M. Bacon

HON. JOHN M. BACON. – There are three places in the Northwest that have almost antique associations. These are Astoria, Vancouver and Oregon City. Of none of them is the flavor of old times more pronounced than amid the rocks and bluffs and by the falls and the old buildings of the latter place. Here one of the old pioneers may be found in the person of a gentleman whose portrait appears on the opposite page. It was as to the last place to go that Mr. Bacon came to Oregon. A native of Buffalo, New York, born in 1822, … Read more

Longuet, Retha Jeanetta Champ – Obituary

Retha J., 1969 SW Park Ave.; mother of Mrs. Louise Cope; sister of Jay D. Champ and Mrs. Florence Leland; 1 granddaughter; 3 great granddaughters; 1 great great granddaughter. Services Thursday, 1 p.m. in Finley’s Rose Chapel, SW Montgomery at 4th. Friends invited. Private commitment. Visiting hours until 9 p.m. The Oregonian, April 5, 1978 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Jochimsen, Edward Walter – Obituary

Edward, born August 22, 1883 at Hood River, Or., was married March 20, 1907 to Laura L. Rowe of Vancouver, Wash. In the fall, Nov., 1907 he located at his present place, 7 miles southeast of Estacada. He died March 25, 1922, aged 37 years, 7 months, and 3 days. He leaves to mourn his loss, a wife, three children, mother, two brothers, and two sisters. He was the youngest son of the pioneer family, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jochimsen, located at Hood River, Or., March 27, 1882, where his mother still resides. The funeral will take place at the … Read more

Baker, Leola Mary – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Leola Mary Baker, 83, of Central Point and formerly of Elgin, died March 27. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Memory Gardens Mortuary of Medford. Mrs. Baker was born June 15, 1923, in Elgin, where she was raised. She married Delmar Baker, and they owned and operated a real estate business in La Grande. She was a member of Eastern Star and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #259 in La Grande. She also was a Grey Lady volunteer at Grande Ronde Hospital many years ago. … Read more

Alexander, Susan – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Susan Alexander, 57, of Elgin, died Oct. 25 at her home. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – October 26, 2009 ________________________ Susan L. Alexander Elgin 1952-2009 Susan Lorraine Alexander, 57, of Elgin, and formerly of Wallowa, died Oct. 24 at her home. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Wallowa Cemetery. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande is in charge of arrangements. Susan was born Sept. 3, 1952, to Ardeth and Patricia Spruill in Oregon City. She was raised in … Read more

Rogers, Helen Margaret Galley Mrs. – Obituary

Helen Margaret Rogers, 85, of Baker City, died March 29, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. There will be a gathering of friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sunridge Inn, 1 Sunridge Lane. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Helen was born on Oct. 25, 1922, at Nucla, Colo., to John A. and Margaret Biglin Galley. She lived at Nucla and attended Colorado A&M University where she was the first woman to receive a degree in forestry. Helen married John L. Rogers … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Walling

GEORGE W. WALLING. – George W. Walling was born in Ohio on December 18, 1818. He moved with his parents to Iowa in 1828, and remained there ten years. He came thence to Oregon in 1847, crossing the plains by ox-team with his parents. He was married in Iowa to Miss Frances Nye. His first son was born at a place called Mud Springs, on the summit of the Rocky Mountains. He arrived in Oregon City on the 10th of September, 1847, and remained there one year, when he moved to the place he now occupies about two miles from … Read more

Johnson, Frederick William, Jr. – Obituary

Federick William Johnson Jr., 68, of Boring, a former longtime Baker City resident, died June 29, 2003. His graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland with U.S. Army honors. Mr. Johnson was born on June 11, 1935, at Tillamook to Frederick Sr. and Myrtle Johnson. He was raised and educated in the Gresham/Boring area, attending Orient Grade School and Gresham High School. He then attended Oregon State University at Corvallis. He served in the U.S. Army from January of 1955 to December of 1956. He then lived in the Portland Metro area … Read more

Michels, Mabel Anita Yocom – Obituary

Oregon Funeral Notice -Michels–At Milwaukie, Or., Feb. 23, Mabel Anita Michels, aged 26 years, beloved wife of Martin L. Michels, mother of Beatrice Louise Michels. The remains will be forwarded this Tuesday morning by the F. S. Dunning, Inc., 414 East Alder, to Ellensburg, Wash., for services and interment. [IOOF Cemetery] Mrs. Martin Mitchell [Michels] died at her home in Portland [Clackamas Co. not Multnomah Co.] Monday morning. The remains were shipped to Ellensburg and funeral services were held at the home of her uncle, B. A. Gault, yesterday afternoon, Rev. Lux officiating. Mrs. Mitchell was born and raised in … Read more

Biography of Heman J. Gerr

The name of Geer is so well known in our state that the following account of the father of T.T. Geer of the Waldo hills will be of interest to all. This now venerable pioneer was born in Ohio in 1828, removing with his parents to Illinois in 1840. In 1847 he crossed the plains to Oregon with General Palmer’s train. The large company forestalled trouble with the Indians. Peter Hall, who stopped with Whitman at Walla Walla was the only one who experienced any disaster. The crossing of the Cascade Mountains by the Barlow Road proved the worst of … Read more

French-Laird, Hester M. Holden Mrs. – Obituary

Hester M. French-Laird, 87, of Oregon City, a former Baker City resident, died March 5, 2006. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke’s Catholic Church at Woodburn. Interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Portland. Visitations will be until 5 o’clock tonight at Cornwell Colonial Chapel in Woodburn. Hester was born on Jan. 22, 1919, at Baker City to Ward and Gwendolyn Holden. She was raised at Baker City and married John “Jack” French in 1938. He died in 1979. In 1995, she married Richard Laird. She lived at Woodburn from 1981 … Read more

Biography of William Elliott

WILLIAM ELLIOTT. – This now venerable citizen of our state, whose form and character are familiar to many in Western Oregon, was born in Knox county, Indiana, September 14, 1815. Losing his mother by death when but a child of five years, he was received by an uncle, and remained in his family, removing with him to Missouri in 1820, and not leaving his kind relatives until he had attained his majority. In 1836 he became a volunteer soldier under A.J. Morgan, of Fort Leavenworth, to prosecute the war in Florida, and in this service experienced many sharp encounters. After … Read more

Becker, Mary Ann Theresa – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Mary Ann Theresa Hoffart Becker died Feb. 20, 2006, in Oregon City of natural causes. She was 91. Mrs. Becker was born Jan. 6, 1915 in Ipswich, S.D. In 1920 her family moved to the Portland area where she attended school at Jefferson High School. She married Ted Whitesell in 1931 and had 3 children. They divorced. She met and married Vernon L. Becker in 1946 and they settled in Redland and raised their family. They lived there for over 15 years, enjoying the farm life. She was an accomplished gardener and her yard was always a showplace. … Read more

Fluty, Charles Edward, “Eddy” – Obituary

Charles Edward “Eddy” Fluty, 80, Canby, Ore.,died Nov. 26, 2006. Eddy lived the last six years at Vintage Suites located in Canby, Ore. He was born in Dallas County, Mo., on Aug. 13, 1926. Eddy was a World War II Veteran with service in the Japan Occupation Forces and in Germany. He spent part of his childhood in the Granite, Ore., area where his family worked in the gold mines. In his later years he migrated back to the Sumpter and Granite area and also lived in Fossil, Ore. He cooked in mining camps in Alaska, ran a hotel in … Read more

Hochbrueckner, Thomas Peter “Tom” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Thomas Peter “Tom” Hochbrueckner, 79, of Baker City died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. James R. Watt of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Tom was born on Jan. 5, 1925, at Estacada. His father died when he was 5 and the family moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. During the Depression years, he gained experience by working jobs out of the city during the summer. He worked in a crab canning factory in Maryland, on a small … Read more