Clark County WA

Biography of Rev. John McCarty, D. D.

REV. JOHN McCARTY, D.D. – The Reverend John McCarty, D.D., reached the Pacific coast first in January, 1853, as chaplain of Fort Vancouver. For a time he also had charge of Trinity church, Portland. It was with great difficulty, oftentimes, that he met his appointments at Trinity. There were no easy and frequent communications between the two places then; and he generally walked from Vancouver to Portland. This was no easy matter when the Columbia river was swollen and had overflown the lowlands. It is related of him that he did more than once, when he found the water too … Read more

Biography of Dr. W. C. McKay

DR. W.C. McKAY. – One by one the pioneers who braved the wilderness and its dangers, in order that their posterity might enjoy the fruits of their hazardous conquests of the domain of the savage are passing away. As the poet sang of the valorous knights of the days of chivalry, “Their souls are with the saints, we trust,” so, at no distant day, will the same be sung o’er the graves of the last of the pioneers. So, while yet alive, let us honor them as they deserve to be honored; and when dead let their deeds be recorded … Read more

Humphreys, Sarah Lulu Odell – Obituary

Humphreys, Sarah L.-Age 80, November 5, 1962 of Vancouver, Wash. Born November 5, 1882 at Dayton, Ore. Lived in Vancouver since 1948. Resided at 1012 West Twenty-first St. Formerly of California and member of a pioneer family of Willamette Valley in Oregon. Son Norman Humphreys, Vancouver, Wash.; Daughter, Lois M. Humphreys, Vancouver, Wash. There are two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Brother, Albert L. Odell, Portland, Ore. Funeral services at 3 p.m., Thursday, November 8 at the Vancouver Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Edward Hastings officiating. Vault interment in Brush Prairie Cemetery. Vancouver Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. … Read more

Knoblauch, William “Bill” – Obituary

Richland, Oregon William “Bill” Knoblauch, 89, a longtime Richland resident, died Dec. 21, 2004, at Baker City. His funeral was Dec. 27 at Richland. Interment was at Eagle Valley Cemetery. Bill was born March 11, 1915, at Portland to Paul and Mary Elizabeth Knoblauch. He grew up in Richland on the family ranch. He attended school in Richland and after graduation he attended the Gem State Academy in Caldwell, Idaho. Bill married his high school sweetheart, Veda Ewing, on June 5, 1935, in Caldwell. They made their home on the family ranch in Richland. During World War II Bill worked … Read more

Heller, F. – Obituary

Frank Heller, who has been visiting relatives in Enterprise, received the sad news of the death of his son, Frank Heller at Vancouver, Wash., Saturday. He was an electrician and fell from a pole. Enterprise relatives are Mrs. Sarah Todd, Charles Heller and George Cannon. Wallowa County Reporter, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday October 10, 1918

Graves, Vina Lynn Mrs. – Obituary

Vina Lynn Cronk Graves of Vancouver, Wash., died on July 21, 2001, four days short of her 99th birthday. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a memorial service for her on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, 2130 Fourth St. Mrs. Graves was born on July 25, 1902, at Ord, Neb. Her family settled at Emmett, Idaho, in 1906 and she grew up there. She was a school teacher at Lookingglass for two years and homemaker, teacher and school volunteer for 40 years in Idaho. She was married to Kent W. Graves … Read more

Ahma, LaWanda Estelle Lambeth Mrs. – Obituary

LaWanda Estelle Lambeth (Ahma), 87, was born on Nov. 14, 1918, and passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving grandchildren on March 3, 2006. She lived in Michigan, Calif., and Oregon until the passing of her second husband, Lt. Col. William F. Lambeth on April 12, 2003. She then moved to Vancouver, Wash., to live with her grandchildren, Pamela and Roger Spence. She is survived by 20 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. Special thanks to Dana Parker, her caregiver, for the loving treatment she provided to our grandmother. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Chaf; mother, Addie Becker; … Read more

Biography of James H. Raley

JAMES H. RALEY. – Prominent among the pioneers of Eastern Oregon may be mentioned this gentleman whose name and portrait appear here with, and who now sits as joint senator in the Oregon legislature from Umatilla and Morrow counties. He was born in Nebraska City in 1855, and as a boy, in 1862, crossed the plains with his parents, arriving at Portland at a time so early in the history of that metropolis as to find an excellent spot for camping near the present site of the St. Charles Hotel. A year later the family found a location at Vancouver, … Read more

Biography of Hon. Dean Blanchard

HON. DEAN BLANCHARD. – Among those who have manifested great interest in the welfare of the Pacific Northwest as a whole, and Columbia county, Oregon, in particular, the gentleman above named figures conspicuously. He was born in Madison county, Maine, on December 20, 1832, where he resided on his father’s farm until 1853, when he left for California, reaching that state in December of that year. In April 1854, he came to Oregon, and located at St. Helens, having secured a situation as salesman and book-keeper in a store there. In 1855, he went with the command of Major Haller, … Read more

Woodcock, Ruth F. Metsker Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ruth F. Woodcock, 86, of Baker City died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. A memorial service was held 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 26, at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel. Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Pathway Hospice officiated. A reception was held at the home of Woody and LaVelle Woodcock. Ruth was born Aug. 31, 1917, at Weatherby to Charles and Martha (Meyers) Metsker. She lived her entire life in Baker County except for a period during World War II when the family lived in Vancouver, Wash. She married Sam Woodcock in … Read more

Biography of William R. Anderson

WM. R. ANDERSON. – This well-known pioneer of Clarke county was born in West Virginia in 1822, and there received his education and was apprenticed to learn the working of leather and the manufacture of boots and shoes. Being possessed of a roving disposition, he went out to Missouri in 1848, and the year following took the final step to reach the Pacific. His trip across the mountains was brought about by his hiring to drive a government wagon to Fort Hall. Reaching this point too late to return that season, the commander proposed to the squad of thirty-six men … Read more

Anderson, Alan Endre – Obituary

Alan Endre Anderson of Eugene died March 29, 2009 of age related causes. He was 83. A private family celebration will be later. He was born Nov. 21, 1925, in Alpine, Wash., to Endre and Beulah Thompson Anderson. He married Judith Mann on June 21, 1957, in Olympia. Anderson graduated from Enumclaw High School in Washington in 1944. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946, including service in World War II in the Phillipines and Japan. He attained the rank of sergeant and received the Bronze Star. He worked as an insurance secretary for Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance … Read more

Shreffler, Clem – Obituary

Clem Shreffler, 96, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 6, 2006, at Prairie City. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Darrell Johnson of Grace Chapel at Prairie City and Ed Niswender of Calvary Baptist Church at Baker City will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Clem E. Shreffler was born to Ferd and Mary Shreffler in Culdesac, Idaho, on Feb. 22, 1909. Clem was the fourth of six children in the family. At … Read more

Bowman, Laura Evalena Stickler – Obituary

Mrs. O. P. Bowman, long time resident of Umatilla county, died on Sunday morning [August 31, 1930] at 7:00 at St. Anthony’s hospital after an illness of three weeks. Mrs. Bowman was 62 years of age, being born in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa, on January 20, 1868. She crossed the plains at the age of 15 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Stickler. The family settled in Vancouver, Washington, later moving to Pendleton. She was married to Mr. Bowman on April 26, 1891 in Vancouver, WA. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Roy, Oscar, Hugh, … Read more

Biography of John Krall

Few lives have been more active or more thoroughly filled with incidents of interest and of unusual nature than has that of John Krall, one of the pioneers of Idaho, and for about thirty-five years a resident in the vicinity of Boise City. Now a wealthy man, he is indebted to himself alone for his fortune, for he started out in youth to fight the battle of life, a poor boy, and by the exercise of industry and perseverance, in the face of great difficulties, he came off victor over all. Mr. Krall is a native of Germany, born December … Read more

Polk, Opal Laverne – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Opal Laverne Polk, 80, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of North Powder died June 8. Evergreen Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Polk was born July 15, 1925, to Mary and Jacob Simonis in North Powder. She married Perry Polk who died earlier. Survivors include children and their spouses, Betty and John Sneddon of Vancouver, Linda Sill and her fiance Bob Turkington of Anchorage, Alaska, and David and Margaret Polk of Longview, Wash.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending June 24, 2006, Published, June 26, 2006

Cook, Etta Lorene Hilbert Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Etta Lorene Cook, 89, a long-time Baker City resident, died Feb. 22, 2003, at her home. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. There will be a reception at the Baker City Eagles Aerie, No. 3456, 2935 H St., after the memorial service. Etta was born Jan. 20, 1914, at Pine Town to Roy E. and Hazel L. Schultz Hilbert. Her grandmother, Mary Marr, came to Pine Valley in a wagon in 1812. Etta was one of five daughters. Her sisters were … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Mary J. Hayden

MR. AND MRS. GAY HAYDEN. – Prominent among the many pioneers of the Pacific Northwest who deserve an enduring place in its history are Mr. and Mrs. Hayden of Vancouver, Washington, whose heroism under the many difficulties that beset the emigrants who broke the way for advancing civilization on this far frontier will seem to generations yet unborn, who are destined to read these pages, more like the dream of the novelist than a recital of fact. Mrs. Mary J. Hayden, who at this writing is a handsome, well-preserved and charmingly vivacious woman, as ready-witted, graceful and gentle as though … Read more

Biography of John Marshall McCall

JOHN MARSHALL McCALL. – Among the substantial and favorably known residents of Southern Oregon, none have occupied a more useful place in the upbuilding of the state since the days of its infancy than the gentleman whose name is the heading of this brief memoir. His is one of those aggressive, go ahead dispositions that is an example of that time-honored adage, that “God helps those who help themselves;” and his whole life has bristled with instances of this belief. A man of strong convictions and honest prejudices, scorning hypocrisy in all things and in his dealings with friend, foe … Read more

Dixon, Melinda Banister – Obituary

Mrs. Melinda B. Dixon, pioneer of Kittitas Valley, died at Bernath’s Nursing Home early today at the age of 91 years January 13, 1964. Melinda Banister, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Banister, was born Feb. 6, 1872 in Clark County, Washington and came to Ellensburg with her parents in 1870. Because of the Indian disturbance in the valley they moved to Walla Walla, returning here in 1884, making the trip in a covered wagon. She was married to Elwood J. Dixon, Dec. 18, 1890 in Ellensburg. He died here in 1937. She was also preceded in … Read more