Darr, Catharine E. – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon The death of Catharine E., wife of J.S. Darr, occurred at the family home north of this city, Sunday March 25, 1905. Mrs. Darr had been suffering ill health for several months. Deceased was born in Virginia March 5, 1836, being a few days over 69 years of age. She moved from Missouri to this section with her husband in 1881. Besides her husband, she leaves nine children and a host of friends to mourn her loss. Services were conducted in the M.E. Church Monday afternoon by Rev. D.S. Smith and interment took place in the … Read more

Scoubes, Ronald Dave – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Ronald Dave Scoubes, 91, of Elgin, died June 2 at his home. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m., Wednesday June 7 at the Elgin Christian Church. Burial was at the Island City Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Scoubes was born July 18, 1914, to David and Della Weston Scoubes in Cambridge, Idaho. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1933 and married Jessie Genevieve Jones in La Grande in 1936. He worked in the lumber industry and was shipping foreman at the Boise Cascade mill in La Grande. In 1966, he … Read more

Masterson, Eliza Mrs. – Obituary

Death of Mrs. Eliza Masterson The death of Mrs. Eliza Jane Masterson occurred at her home in this city Wednesday, November 23, 1905. Deceased had been ill for over a year and during that time had withstood untold suffering, but always with great fortitude and patience. Eliza Jane Violet was born in Logan county, Kentucky, December 27, 1820 and was therefore 84 years, 10 months and 25 days old at the time of her death. During her girlhood days she moved to Missouri, in which state she was united in marriage in 1840 to William Masterson. She crossed the plains … Read more

Smith, Harry E. – Obituary

A retired railroad employee, Harry E. Smith, 66, 1810 Adams Avenue, died at a local hospital early this morning, February 29. He is survived by his wife Mildred E. Smith and other relatives. Arrangements are pending at Crippin-Daniels Funeral Chapel. La Grande Observer, La Grande, Union County, Oregon, Thursday, February 29, 1968 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Smith, Harry Edward Union County, Oregon Harry Edward Smith, 66, 1810 Adams Avenue, died at a local hospital February 29. He had retired in December, 1967, as a Union Pacific Storekeeper. Services will be Saturday, Mar. 2, at 3:30 p.m. at Crippin-Daniels Funeral Chapel with Rev. Boone … Read more

Haefer, Laura – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Laura Haefer, 92, of La Grande died Thursday at a local care center. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday Aug. 28 at the Island City Cemetery. Laura was born Aug. 3, 1914 the daughter of Ralph B. and Alice (Ayars) Smith on Pumpkin Ridge near Elgin. She attended school in a one-room school house on Pumpkin Ridge before later graduating from Elgin High School. After high school she married Fritz Ott but the marriage ended in divorce. In January 1953 Laura married August Haefer and the couple remained married until August’s death. Laura worked … Read more

Calder, Viola M. Lucas Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Viola M. Calder, 90, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 17, 2002, at Troutdale from complication of breast cancer. A celebration of Viola’s life will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hugest Lane. Ernie Collard of the 1st Ward will conduct the services. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from today until 7 p.m. at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Viola was born April 5, 1911, in Sumpter to Andrew and Libby Lucas. She was the third daughter in a family … Read more

Huffman, Priscilla – Obituary

Another Pioneer Gone Death of Priscilla Huffman Occurs November 6. The death of Mrs. Priscilla Huffman, occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jacob Long, a few miles north of this city Monday, November 6, 1905, and marks the passing of another of Union county’s pioneers to that unknown country. Priscilla Huffman, whose maiden name was Harris, was born in North Carolina, March 19, 1819, and was therefore 86 years, 7 months and 17 days old at the time of her death. When four years old she moved from her native state with her parents to Virginia, in which … Read more

Kennedy, Rex Allen – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Rex Allen Kennedy, 47, of Elgin, died, July 30 in an ATV accident at Jubilee Lake. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Elgin Community Center. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Rex was born Jan. 7, 1961, to William Howard and Mildred Elizabeth (Phillips) Kennedy in La Grande. Rex was raised in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1979. Rex served in the Air Force from 1979 to 1983. He worked as an electrician for a trailer manufacturer; for cable companies, trimming trees all over the … Read more

Milne, Frank – Obituary

Frank Milne Drowned The people of Elgin received another shock last Friday evening by the intelligence that Frank Milne, of this city, had been drowned in Clarks creek, a short distance above Elliott’s. Mr. Milne had been out on his ranch on that stream, looking after his cattle and had gone over on the creek to look for a horse at the time the accident occurred. Just how he happened to be drowned will never be known, as he was alone at the time, but the supposition is that he endeavored to cross the stream on a foot log and … Read more

Homan, Steven Warren – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Steven Warren Homan, 52, of Echo and formerly of Elgin, Enterprise and La Grande, died April 13 at his home in Echo. Services will begin at 2 p.m. April 26 at the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Island City. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Steven was born June 26, 1955, to Arthur Warren and Janet (Moys) Homan in Enterprise. He was raised and educated in Enterprise. After high school, he was a police officer in Enterprise, Elgin, La Grande, Hillsboro and Boulder, Colo., county sheriff’s departments. He moved from La Grande to Blackfoot, Idaho, … Read more

Cummings, Albert – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Albert Cummings, age 68 years, 6 months and 22 days, passed on April 24 at Central Point, Oregon. He came to Eastern Oregon and settled at Elgin in 1891. Two years later he moved to Union where he made his home for 20 years before going to Southern Oregon. He is survived by four sons and one daughter-John r. and Albert L. of Huntington, Oregon; Gaston G. of Central Point, Oregon; Austin, the Dalles, Lottie, Sacramento, California. The body was at the Bohnenkamp Chapel in La Grande Thursday. Interment in the Summerville cemetery where graveside services … Read more

Rhodes, Harry – Obituary

Union County, Oregon Suicide By Morphine “One More Unfortunate, Rashly Importunate.” Harry Rhodes, a man of middle age, who some time since registerd at the City Hotel as from Seattle, died on Friday evening of last week from the effects of a heavy dose of morphine, self-administered with suicidal intent. The unfortunate man had been engaged in selling a device for mending harness, and also in vending eye-glasses. His finances had run low, and to this, probably is attributable his deed of self destruction. The only explanation left was contained in this note for the hotel proprietor. “Mr. Hammock – … Read more

Carter, Tiffany L. – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Tiffany L. Carter, 50, of Elgin, died Sept. 23 at her home. No funeral services are planned at this time. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – October 07, 2009

Obituary of Charles F. Brown

Conductor Killed At Kamela Chas. F. Brown, who has been a conductor on the O.R.& N. line between Pendleton and Huntington for several years, was killed at Kamela Tuesday morning. Mr. Brown was in charge of passenger train No. 6 which had stopped at Kamela to pick up a dining car. The train had stopped on a side track and Mr. Brown had just finished testing an air brake and stepped backward onto the main track just in time to be struck by a helper engine, which was backing down the main track to get out of the way of … Read more

Hallgarth, Archibald – Obituary

Shocking Tragedy! Deadly Encounter Between A.M. Hallgarth And Woodson Gray and Young Son. Hallgarth Dies From Wounds 36 Hours Later. His Slayers Held In Bonds of $30,000  The people of Elgin were thrown into a state of great excitement last Friday morning by the statement that A.M. Hallgarth, a prominent rancher living about 4 1/2 miles east of town had been shot by N.W. Gray, a neighbor. The news was brought to town by the young son of the wounded man and the details of the tragedy were not learned until people arrived on the scene. Dr. McNaughton and Whiting … Read more

Eckley, John C. – Obituary

In this city, Tuesday, May 8, 1906, John C. Eckley, aged 78 years. The deceased was born in Richland County, Ohio, and crossed the plains, coming to California in 1850. His wife died about five years ago. He has been a life long member of the Methodist Church, and to the time of his recent illness was an active worker. Four children survive his loss. The are, Wm. E. Eckley, of Geneva, Nebraska; Mrs. Lucy H. Bailey of Moore, Mont; Mrs. Madge Breshears, of Elgin and E. L. Eckley of this city. The funeral arrangements have not yet been made, … Read more

McCully, John William – Obituary

A pioneer of ’52, John William McCully dies at the home of his daughter at Lowden, Wash. (1911-Newspaper source unknown, family scrapbook) John William Mccully born 22 Feb 1847, New London, Henry Co., IA; came to Union Co., OR, 1872, resided there and in Wallowa County ever since; he was a freighter in early life, later living on his farm at Lostine, OR. He returned to Elgin, OR, “last fall” (1910), when he was afflicted with Bright’s Disease; he rallied somewhat, but then died while on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Hetta Compau at Lowden, WA 23 May 1911; … Read more

O’Neil, Annie Beddes – Obituary

Annie Beddes O’Neil, 91, of Junction City and formerly of La Grande, died March 13 of age-related causes. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene. Burial will follow. A visitation will precede from 10 a.m. to noon at Lane Memorial Funeral Home. She was born in Elgin on July 25, 1916, to Joseph and Eliza Eleanor (Ricks) Beddes and raised in the area before moving away in the early 1950s. Annie was married to Glade Hards O’Neil on June 2, 1934, in La Grande and in a temple marriage in Salt Lake … Read more

Wickham, Willis James – Obituary

Death Comes To Wickham Willis James Wickham, 73, long time resident of Elgin, Union County, died late yesterday evening in La Grande after a long illness. He was born July 25, 1878, in Carlton Center, Mich. He came with his parents by wagon train to the Grand Ronde Valley when he was about 12 years old. He operated butcher shops in Elgin, Boise and Star, Ida. He was also active in logging operations in Union County for several years. He was a past member of the Eagles Lodge, and a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include two sons, Fred … Read more

Duncan, W.R. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. W.R. Duncan, who with her husband lived north of Enterprise, passed away suddenly in La Grande Friday, December 5, 1958. Mrs. Duncan was the former Myrtle Cummins and was born May 19, 1895 in Elgin, daughter of John and Amelia Cummins. She had lived in Wallowa County for the past 26 years. Her survivors include her husband, Welford R. Duncan; a son, Welford R. (Bob) Duncan Jr., who also lives north of Enterprise; four grandchildren; and two brothers: Dee Cummins, Roseburg; and Orvan Cummins, Pendleton and five sisters: Mrs. Eva Spikes, Mrs. Auda Williams and Mrs. Thelma Sherwood, all … Read more