Douglas County OR

Biography of James W. F. Owens

JAMES W.F. OWENS. – This gentleman was the eldest son of the pioneer Thomas Owens, and came as an infant in arms with his parents to Oregon in 1843, his birthplace having been Platte county, Missouri. In 1853 he removed with his parents to the Umpqua valley, and, amid the beautiful scenes of that almost unearthly region, grew to a vigorous manhood. His only education was received during a six months’ term of school at Dallas; but, having a phenomenal memory, this laid the basis for his large information of later years. He was one of those men who devour … Read more

Biography of General Joseph Lane

GENERAL JOSEPH LANE. – Joseph Lane first saw the light of day in North Carolina, December 14, 1801. He was reared in Henderson county, Kentucky. At the early age of twenty he was married to Miss Polly Hart, soon afterwards settling in Vanderburg county, Indiana, where he followed the humble life of a farmer for twenty-five years. While in the pursuit of this occupation, he was prominent as a leader in all matter of enterprise in the county. He soon drifted into politics, and was chosen to represent the county in the state legislature. He was continued in the same … Read more

Biography of John J. Peebler

JOHN J. PEEBLER. – Among the very first settlers of the Grande Ronde valley, if not the first actual one to begin residence here, we mention the esteemed gentleman and worthy pioneer whose name appears above, and who has been identified with the interests of Union county since its organization and with this section before Union county was in existence, laboring ever for the promulgation of sound principles and the inauguration of good government and the material progress and substantial improvement of both his state and county. John J. Peebler was born to Samuel C. and Dorothy Peebler in Jefferson … Read more

Renfrow, Mary A. Wright Mrs. – Obituary

Services Held For Mary Renfrow Memorial services for Mary A. Renfrow sho passed away Thursday, December 4, 1958 in Forest Grove, where conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. by the Bollman Funeral Home from the Enterprise Church. The Rev. Al Boschee officiated, and Mrs. Don Kooch was organist. Mrs. Al Boschee and Mrs. Delbert Pratt sang “In The Garden” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” Casket bearers were: A.J. Oliver, Oscar Maxwell, James Fleet, Therval Gray, Hubert Johnson, Roy Carper, and vault entombment was in the Enterprise Cemetery. Mrs. Renfrow was the daughter of Jackson and Malinda Wright and was born January … Read more

Biography of Thomas Johnson

THOMAS JOHNSON. – The gentleman whose name appears above belongs to three towns on the east slope of the Cascades, – Goldendale, Ellensburgh and Cle-Elum; and it may almost be said that in the course of their development these three towns belong to him. At least, he has been a leading and constructive spirit in them. He is a native of Canada, where he was born in 1839, and came to this coast in search of the golden fleece at Caribou in 1862. The Province, however, detained him but a year; and he came down to Rockland opposite The Dalles, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John F. Adams

JOHN F. ADAMS. – We have here the founder of the promising city of Adams, Oregon, which is located on the line of the railroad in Umatilla county. Mr. Adams was born in Franklin county, Maine, in 1835. When twenty-two years of age, he came to Douglas county, Oregon, and for five years engaged in school-teaching. Exchanging the master’s rod for the shepherd’s crook, he went extensively into the sheep business in the Umpqua valley, and in 1865 transferred his flocks to Umatilla county. Here he has lived twenty-three years. Besides the culture of sheep, he has devoted much time … Read more

Erskine, Dorothy F. Rydall Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dorothy F. Erskine, 85, a La Grande resident, died Sept. 23, 2002, at Wildflower Lodge in La Grande. A family gathering to honor her will be scheduled later. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Erskine was born at Elkton on Sept. 6, 1917, to Walter and Ellene Rydall. She graduated high school in Salem. She married Reginald Erskine in 1936 and over the years they moved to several Oregon towns. Mrs. Erskine was a CPA and a municipal auditor in Springfield for several years. She and her husband worked for Southern Pacific Railroad until retirement. She liked to … Read more

Oesterling, Robert Alan – Obituary

Robert Alan Oesterling, 57, of Glide, died July 2, 2006, at his mother’s home in Baker City. His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Grandview Cemetery in La Grande. Robert Alan was born on Dec. 26, 1948, at La Grande to Robert Grandy and Winnifred Eloise Moore Oesterling. Rob was a champion swimmer in his teens and an avid hunter, the only one in the family. His passion for the outdoors was instilled in him at an early age and carried throughout his entire life. Rob loved exploring and learning. He could never pass a historic … Read more

Biography of Col. La Fayette Mosher

COL. LA FAYETTE MOSHER. – There is perhaps no resident of Oregon more widely known and generally respected than L.F. Mosher. He has held so many prominent positions, and is so well qualified to fill them, that it only seems a natural thing to see him in the senate, and as a justice of the supreme court. He was born in Benton County, Kentucky, September 1, 1824. So entirely did he bend his energies tot he gaining of an education, that at the age of nineteen years we find him a graduate of Woodward College, Cincinnati, where he carried off … Read more

Biography of Winslow P. Powers

Deceased. – While it is the province of our volume to give mention of the leading citizens of Wallowa county, it also comes within the purview of the work to grant to such as the noble and esteemed citizen, whose name appears above, a memoir, and it is with especial delight that we are privileged to do so at this time, since he was one of the builders of the county, and one who held in becoming manner the position of leader for many years, being eminently fitted for that capacity, both by marked capabilities, great energy and force of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank Mitchell

FRANK MITCHELL. – This gentleman is a brother of Mr. Matthew Mitchell, mentioned elsewhere. Born in Missouri in 1839, he was one of the ten children who crossed the plains with the parents and made their home in the lovely Looking Glass valley, Douglas county. Removing with his father in 1863 to The Cove, he assisted him in keeping the ferry, and later, the toll-bridge on the Ruckle road. The young man brought a few head of cattle of his own, and by good management soon had a fine herd. In1869 he drove three hundred animals to Nevada, and in … Read more

Bergman, Rachel D. – Obituary

Rachel D. Bergman, 8, of Glendale, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 15, 2000, from injuries sustained in a car accident near Canyonville. Her funeral was Wednesday at the Mountain View Memorial Chapel at Myrtle Creek. Pastor Dan Jocoy officiated. Burial was at the Canyonville Masonic Cemetery. Rachel was born on Dec. 28, 1991, at Roseburg to Tammy Bergman. She was a third-grader at Glendale Elementary School. She was a happy, pleasant-natured little girl. She loved playing dress up with her Barbie dolls and also loved to fashion clothes for them from paper. She was very creative and enjoyed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Matthew Neeves

MATTHEW NEEVES. – Mr. Neeves, a prominent citizen of Pendleton, Oregon, was born near Syracuse, New York, in 1830. He there received a common-school education and remained until he was twenty years old. Going west to Galesburg, Illinois, he made his way in that new section in the capacity of a Yankee school-master. After one year in that place he went to Platt county, and remained another year as teacher. In 1852 he was induced to join the company of the veteran pioneer Joab Powell, and arrived at Portland in October of the same year. He first turned his attention … Read more

Shoemaker, Huldah – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Shoemaker-At Cove, Union County, Oregon December 20, 1888, Mrs. Huldah Shoemaker, aged 27 years, 10 months and 5 days. She was born in Wasco county, Oregon, February 15, 1861. From there her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Williams, moved to Douglas county in 1884. She came with her uncle from Looking Glass, Douglas county to Cove, in the fall of 1885 on a visit and formed the acquaintance of William Shoemaker and they were united in marriage May 2, 1886. She was honored by all from her childhood up and loved most by those who knew … Read more

Schuchardt, Anna Dolores Davis Mrs. – Obituary

David T. Pattee Jr., 54, a former Baker City resident, died March 13, 2006, at Roseburg. Mr. Pattee was born July 16, 1951, in Portland, and he was raised and educated in the Portland area, graduating from Centennial High School. In recent years he lived in Bend, Baker City and most recently in Roseburg. The loves of his life were fishing and golfing. He is survived by his sister, Kathleen Pattee of Portland; a daughter, Ashley Bessey, and two grandchildren, Caiden and Choloe Bessey, all of Redmond; his mother, Donna Pattee, sister, Polly Pattee and niece, Summer, all of Gresham; … Read more

Biography of Hon. Matthew P. Deady

HON. MATTHEW P. DEADY. – The character of the man whose name heads this article is one to which justice cannot be done in a short sketch of the principal events of his life. However, it will serve to illustrate one pure, wise and energetic; one of those who, while he gained his education, toiled for his living; one of those whom no circumstances, poverty or hardship could deter or turn aside from his purposes and the pursuit of knowledge. Judge Deady was born in Easton, Talbot county, Maryland, on May 12, 1824. His parents were good and respectable people, … Read more

Biography of Jesse W. Randall

A leading representative of the agricultural interests of Latah County is Jesse W. Randall, who owns and operates a fine farm pleasantly situated nine miles southeast of Moscow. He is most practical and yet progressive, and his untiring industry and capable management have brought him a handsome competence. He was born in Wisconsin, October 3, 1855, and is of Scotch descent, his paternal great-grandfather having emigrated from Scotland when this country was still a British possession. He settled in New York colony, and when the attempt was made to throw off the yoke of British tyranny he joined the American … Read more

Biography of Adna C. Craig

ADNA C. CRAIG. – At the union depot on the line of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, at the south end of the Grande Ronde valley, is the Craigton Hotel, into which water is conducted through pipes from a spring half a mile away, and one hundred and sixty feet above. This water where it springs from the steep sidehill has a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit, while at the hotel where it enters the bathroom its temperature is about 90 degrees. It shows by analysis iron, borax, sulphur and magnesia. For twenty years this hotel has been a … Read more

Biography of Aaron Rose

AARON ROSE. – This gentleman, one of the earliest pioneers of the Umpqua valley, was born in Ulster county, in the State of New York, June 20, 1813, and was raised a farmer. He was married to Minerva Kelley in 1838. He crossed the plains with his family in 1851, arriving at Foster’s August 22d, and came directly to the valley of the South Umpqua, and settled at the mouth of Deer creek, upon the present site of the flourishing city of Roseburg, Oregon, September 23, 1851. He at once built a house and engaged in farming, in which he … Read more

Biography of Thomas Smith

THOMAS SMITH. – Mr. Smith, whose life labors have had as their result in one particular the upbuilding of the handsome village of Winchester, near the Umpqua River, was born in Oxfordshire, England, February 12, 1823; and he crossed the Atlantic with his parents in 1830. The first American home was at Rochester, and a year later at Euclid near Cleveland, Ohio; and in 1834 a removal was made to La Porte County, Indiana. Thirteen years were spent in Indiana with his parents; but in 1847 the desire to go forth and test his powers in competition with others induced … Read more