Biography of Hon. Edward Hirsch

HON. EDWARD HIRSCH. – Someone has written, “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we may;” and the subject of this sketch is a living exemplification of it. When, away back in “the fifties,” he landed a poor boy in the city of New York, among strangers in a strange land, and looked about him for honest employment in any capacity, how little he dreamed that as years passed by he would hold the purse-strings for the then almost unknown territory of Oregon, when a few years later she should lay aside her swaddling clothes and … Read more

Bilyeu, Delmer Thomas – Obituary

Funeral for Delmer Thomas Bilyeu, Crabtree, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Jost Funeral Home. Don Tosch will officiate and burial will be in Franklin Butte Cemetery near Scio. Mr. Bilyeu, born Oct. 20, 1909, at Dallas, Ore., moved to Crabtree from Cutbank, Mont., in 1947. He was a member of the Crabtree Christian Church. He died today [July 16, 1962] at Lebanon Hospital. Survivors are his widow, the former Mildred Bedord, whom he married Oct. 10, 1932, at Great Falls, Mont.; his daughters, Mrs. Donna Kemmling, Crabtree, and Miss Bonnie R. Bilyeu, at home; twin sons, Kenneth … Read more

Slack, Bert – Obituary

Last Rites Thursday For Rodeo Performer Funeral services for Bert Slack, Dalles resident who died here Monday, will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. from the Zell funeral home. Rev. R. A. Hutchinson of the Congregational church will officiate and interment will be in the local I. O. O. F. cemetery. Surviving relatives include two daughters, Mrs. Feleta Barnhill, Mason City, Wash., and Mrs. W. H. Graham, Pendleton, and one brother James Slack, Elgin. Mr. Slack came to The Dalles from Summerville, Ore., more than 20 years ago. He was a cowboy all his life and participated in the Pendleton … Read more

Biography of Milton Canterbury, M. D.

Milton Canterbury, M. D., of Redlands, was born in Greenup County, Kentucky. His father, Reuben Canterbury, a farmer, was born in North Carolina. The name originated in Kent County, England, from the estate of a man by that name, and for whom the city of Canterbury was named. Reuben Canterbury married Miss Elizabeth Lycaas, a native of Kentucky. The union was blessed with thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eighth. He first attended the common schools of his native county and afterward attended a short time the college at Marietta, Ohio. From there he went … Read more

Wood, Francis S. – Obituary

The sudden demise of Mr. John Wells was sad and a gloom was cast over the community by it but Sat. morning we had another sad death in town. Mr. Francis S. Wood, one of the old citizens of La Grande, highly esteemed by all honest, and a valuable man for our town, was stricken down by death ‘ere he had attained his three score and ten years. Mr. Wood had been sick only a few days and the news of his death was a sad surprise. He was a native of Ohio, having been born in that state on … Read more

Molitor, Lawrence Henry, Jr. – Obituary

Lawrence Henry Molitor Jr., 72, of Dallas and formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 5. A memorial service begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Mr. Molitor, known as Hank, was born Jan. 5, 1934, in Chetopa, Kan., to Lawrence Henry Sr. and Nellie Juanita Caldwell Molitor. He was raised in Kansas and moved to Idaho during his teenage years. On Oct. 13, 1951, he married Irene Humphreys in Idaho. The couple and their children lived in Oakridge, where he worked in the plywood mill, and later moved to La Grande, where Mr. Molitor worked for … Read more

Biography of Hon. Joseph D. Lee

HON. JOSEPH D. LEE. – It is natural for the observing student of mankind to speculate upon the effect which radical changes and new environments have upon a coming generation; and consequently the inquiry has arisen in thinking minds as to what type of manhood and womanhood will spring from the hardy and bold pioneers who peopled these shores in the forties and early fifties. Surely with such heroic and sturdy parentage, growing up under the influence of our grand and magnificent scenery, and breathing in youth the pure air from the balsamic pines, we might expect a fine mental … Read more

Makinson, Ruth C. Parrish Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth C Makinson, 88, of Corvallis, a former Baker City resident, died March 3, 2003, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., in downtown Corvallis. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Private interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Ruth Makinson was born April 26, 1914, at Dallas, Ore., the daughter of Mabel Guy Parrish and Elbert L. Parrish. She received her education at Dallas, graduating from Dallas High School. She married Joe Martin in 1931 while still in high … Read more

Biography of Hon. William H. Kuykendall

Although the esteemed subject of this sketch has not been domiciled within the precincts of Wallowa county so long as some who have broken the sod here, still he has manifested during this time, as heretofore, also, characteristics that stamp him the upright, capable and stanch citizen, and loyal promoter of the free institutions of the land, while his personal qualities of worth have been displayed in a manner quite commensurate with the ability that has been in evidence, and he stands at the present time as one of the prominent, intelligent and leading men of the county. William H. Kuykendall … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Savage

HON. WILLIAM SAVAGE. – This pioneer of 1845, one of the most successful men of Polk county, was born at Mexico, New York, in 1826. He was left an orphan at the age of five, and when sixteen went to Ohio, and three years later joined Colonel Taylor’s party for Oregon. His first work was taking the Colonel’s stock by water – the Ohio and Missouri rivers – to St. Louis, and driving them thence to Independence. Perhaps this early training in the handling of livestock gave him a taste for the work. At least he has been in that … Read more

Biography of Solomon Hirsch

There is something inspiring in the record of a busy and useful life; something stimulating in the details of a career that is marked by a generous and beneficent purpose; something worthy of emulation in the success that has been wrought by unselfish means. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name is the title of this biography, and so thoroughly have the varied lines of his efforts been blended with the agencies which have been conducive to the material progress of the Pacific Northwest during many years that no history of this portion of the Union, and … Read more

Moulton, Phyllis H. Winters Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Phyllis H. Moulton, 89, of Baker City, died Sept. 10, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Elkhorn Baptist Church, 3520 Birch St. Mrs. Moulton was born on June 28, 1915, at Dallas, Ore., to Philip and Ella Hausr Winters. She was educated at Walla Walla, Wash. She worked in the family bakery until 1946. She also worked in a grocery store and for Pacific Fruit Co. in La Grande and also at May’s Music. She married Elmer Moulton on Aug. 9, 1950. Mrs. Moulton was a … Read more

Lee, Nicholas, Rev. – Obituary

On last Friday evening [July 11, 1879] Nicholas Lee, a gentleman known to every old-time resident of Polk County, departed this life at his home near Dallas. Mr. Lee was born in Pike County, Ohio, February 11, 1818, and in 1847 crossed the plains to Oregon. In 1848 he came to Polk County and in the year following settled on the place near Dallas, at which place he died. In 1862 he removed with his family to Dallas, where he engaged in merchandising until 1876, when he was succeeded in business by his son J. D. and returned to his … Read more

Horn, Stanley Bruce – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Stanley Bruce Horn, 74, of Elgin died Nov. 19. An inurnment begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elgin Cemetery with a celebration of life following at 1:45 p.m. at the Elgin Community Center. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Stanley was born May 16, 1933, to Clarence and Lillie Southard Horn in Kimball, Neb. When he was 4, his family moved to High Valley near Union, and when he was 5 or 6, they moved to Cricket Flat near the breaks of the Minam River. He spent the remainder of his childhood years … Read more

Biography of John Wesley Kieff

John Wesley Kieff, widely known throughout Oklahoma as a journalist, is now serving as justice of the peace of Miami and is generally conceded to be the most capable incumbent in that office in the history of Ottawa County. A native of Indiana, he was born in Tippecanoe County on the 9th of March, 1857, his parents being John and Mary (Ryan) Kieff, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in the Hoosier state. The father followed the occupation of farming and both parents passed away during the childhood of the subject of this review. John … Read more

Cook, George Bartholomew McClellen – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon “Mack” Cook Answers Call George B. McClellen Cook passed away at the Enterprise hospital Feb. 1 after a short illness. “Mack” Cook was born Feb. 27, 1862, near Dallas, Polk County, Oregon to Thomas l. and Harriet Cook who crossed the plains by ox team in 1854. He was one of ten children born to this union. The family resided in Polk County until 1878 when the father and his sons, Jerile, William, Tom (Dick) and N.J. came to Wallowa County and all located homesteads on the South fork of the Wallowa river except N.J. who … Read more

Kisaberth, Althea Eleanor Lee – Obituary

Funeral for Althea Kisaberth who died Tuesday [January 23, 1979] in a Portland nursing home, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Pleasant Valley Community Baptist Church. She was 95. Mrs. Kisaberth was born in Dallas, Ore. She was a founder and past president of the Creston PTA. She was associated with the Centenary Wilbur Methodist Church and the Portland YWCA. She is survived by her sons, Vernon of Santa Rosa, Calif. and Lee of Portland. The family suggests remembrances be contributions to the building fund at Pleasant Valley Community Baptist Church. [Interment Lincoln Memorial Park] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

McClellen, George B. Cook – Obituary

“Mack” Cook Answers Call George B. McClellen Cook passed away at the Enterprise hospital Feb. 1 after a short illness. “Mack” Cook was born Feb. 27, 1862, near Dallas, Polk County, Oregon to Thomas l. and Harriet Cook who crossed the plains by ox team in 1854. He was one of ten children born to this union. The family resided in Polk County until 1878 when the father and his sons, Jerile, William, Tom (Dick) and N.J. came to Wallowa County and all located homesteads on the South fork of the Wallowa River except N.J. who was too young. He … Read more

Adams-Capps, Ivia Joan Rucker – Obituary

Ivia Joan Rucker Adams-Capps died May 22, 2007. She was 74. Mrs. Adams-Capps was born Jan. 24, 1933, near Wallowa at the home of her parents, Elmer L. and Itol E. Rucker. The family moved to Irrigon in 1934. In 1951, she graduated from high school, married Donald L. Adams and began her career with Umatilla Electric Company. She had three sons. She was a charter member of Altrusa International of Hermiston, a 4H leader, a Cub Scout den mother and active in Home Extension and PTA. She continued her career at Umatilla Electric, starting as a cashier and spending … Read more

McFetridge, Elmer – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Elmer McFetridge Dies In Dallas Elmer Clarence McFetridge, a native of Enterprise and a retired rancher, who had been in ill health for the past four years, passed away Monday morning, February 8, 1965 in a nursing home in Dallas, Ore., where he had been a patient for one month. He was the son of John and Martha McFetridge, early pioneers of Wallowa County, and was born near Enterprise on July 11, 1887. He had lived in Wallowa County all his life until 1960 when he and his wife moved to Salem, Ore., and in 1964 … Read more