Eugene Oregon

Biography of Louis B. Rinehart

LOUIS B. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart was born in Illinois in 1844, and ten years later accompanied his parents across the plains to Oregon. They followed the track s of 1853 from the mouth of the Malheur to Eugene City via Harney Lake. Ten miles west of Eugene the elder Rinehart located a half section of land, and provided a home for his family. Louis remained there until 1862, but that spring came with his brothers to the Grande Ronde valley. After living in a tent three months, he hauled the logs and assisted in the erection of the third … Read more

Fleet, Hazel Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Hazel Jane Fleet, 90, of La Grande and formerly of Wallowa County died March 6. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday March 12 at Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise. Burial will follow at the Enterprise Cemetery. Mrs. Fleet was born Oct. 26, 1914, to Ralph and Lenora Barton in Joseph. The family lived in Hells Canyon, on Johnson Bar, at Grouse Creek on the Imnaha River and at Summit Creek. She attended Park School and Enterprise High School, and graduated from high school in Eugene. She was an accomplished horsewoman, running and … Read more

Biography of Harrison Rittenhouse Kincaid

HARRISON RITTENHOUSE KINCAID. – This well-known journalist of Oregon, the emanations of whose pen have appeared either originally or as selections in almost every newspaper of the state, is the eldest son of Thomas and Nancy Kincaid, pioneers of 1853, and was born in Madison county, Indiana, January 3, 1836. At the age of seventeen he came with his parents to our state, and with them made his home in Lane county. Among his early labors was work on the mill-race at the present site of Springfield. In 1855 he made a trip to Southern Oregon to operate in the … Read more

Free, Joshua Lee Phillips – Obituary

Joshua Lee Phillips Free, 19, died Dec. 21, 2006, at his home in Eugene. There will be a memorial in Springfield. Josh was an avid skateboarder and songwriter. You may have seen him jumping the curbs and flipping his board in the air whenever he was visiting his family in Baker. Josh always had a smile and a friendly hello for all he met. He will be greatly missed by all. The family said, “In your words, Josh — ‘Live Free.’” Josh is survived by his parents, Jim and Aimie Free of Springfield and Karen Phillips of Eugene; brothers and … Read more

Bilyeu, Inez Withers – Obituary

The funeral will be held Oct. 21 for Inez B. Bilyeu of Eugene who died Oct. 17 [2004] of age-related causes. She was 87. Bilyeu was born Oct. 13, 1917 in Oilton, Okla., to Ora Claude and Edna Guinn Withers. She married Edward Bilyeu on Oct. 13, 1940 in Lebanon. He died Nov. 13, 1978. She moved to Lebanon in 1927, graduating from Lebanon High School in 1936. She and her husband opened an insurance agency in 1942 now known as Bilyeu-Mill Insurance. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and trips to the Oregon Coast and Clear Lake. … Read more

Lingafelter, Betty C. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Betty C. Lingafelter, 76, of La Grande, died April 22 at a local care center. No public services are planned at this time. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. Betty was born June 11, 1931, in Topeka, Kan., to Hulda and John I. Gustafson of McPherson, Kan. She married Dean Lingafelter of Galva, Kan., on March 12, 1948. Betty was active in McPherson High School and in church activities growing up. She loved to do anything with group and social activities. Betty had a variety of jobs and she enjoyed them … Read more

Zumwalt, Andrew Jackson – Obituary

A. J. Zumwalt, pioneer and member of the Oregon legislature in 1880, died today [January 2, 1915] at his farm near Irving, five miles north of Eugene. Death, occurring at the age of 82 years, followed an attack of pneumonia, which kept him in bed for several weeks. A. J. Zumwalt was one of eleven children of Solomon and Nancy Zumwalt, pioneers, from whom have sprung 150 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren now living in Lane County. They comprise one of the county’s largest pioneer families. A. J. Zumwalt was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, September 2, 1832. His … Read more

Biography of Eugene F. Skinner

EUGENE F. SKINNER. – Eugene F. Skinner, whose name is a household word throughout the length and breadth of Lane county, located in June, 1846, the Donation claim on which Eugene City, named for him, now stands. He was born at Essex, Essex county, New York, September 13, 1809, and is the youngest son of Major John Joseph Skinner of East Windsor, Connecticut, and a brother of St. John B.L. Skinner of New York, who was an influential officer in the Postoffice Department at Washington City, District of Columbia, under President Lincoln, and first assistant postmaster-general under President Johnson. Having … Read more

Biography of Asbury B. Crocheron

Asbury B. Crocheron has spent almost his entire life in Owyhee County and is now a leading resident of Silver City. His prominence in this locality is indicated by his long retention in public office, and at the present writing, 1899, he is filling the office of county sheriff. A native of Oregon, he was born in Eugene, that state, on the 25th of October, 1860. The family is of French origin and was founded in America at a very early period in the colonial history of the country. A settlement was made in New York, and when British oppression … Read more

Scott, Donald Duane – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Donald Duane Scott, 76, a longtime Halfway resident, died Dec. 20, 2003, at his home. There will be a graveside celebration of his life at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7847, will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the VFW Hall. In case of bad weather, the service will be at the VFW hall. Don was born at Medford on Aug. 4, 1927, to Leo and Mary Key Scott. He attended school at Walterville and Springfield before joining the U.S. Navy in 1944. He served in the … Read more

Bradford, Lewis Everett “Lew” – Obituary

Baker City Lewis Everett “Lew” Bradford, 77, of Baker City, died Feb. 17, 2005, at his home from a massive heart attack. His funeral was at 1 o’clock today at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Members of the Elks Lodge and Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church officiated. There was a reception afterward at the Elks Lodge. Lew was born on Nov. 28, 1928, at Salem to Elbert and Velma Bradford. He attended grade school at Salem and was a 1946 Eugene High School graduate. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1947, serving his country … Read more

Bean, Julia Anne Sharp – Obituary

Mrs. Julia A. Bean, an early Oregon pioneer, died at her home in Eugene this afternoon [February 19, 1908] at 1:00 after a long illness. She would have been 70 years old age on the 25th of this month had she lived until then. Mrs. Bean, whose maiden name was Sharp, was born near Newmarket, Harrison County, Ohio, February 25, 1838. In company with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sharp, she started across the plains for Oregon in 1849, but on reaching Missouri they purchased a farm and resided there three years. In May 1852, they started for Oregon … Read more

Wilder, Emily Ellen Osbon Mrs. – Obituary

Emily Ellen Wilder, 70, of Pendleton and a former Baker City resident, died May 13, 2003, at her home. A funeral service was held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in La Grande. Committal and interment followed at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande. Mrs. Wilder was born June 20, 1932, to John and Suzy Ellen (Tate) Osbon in Hayti, Mo. She was the youngest of four children. The family traveled throughout the states and settled in Eugene when she was still in school. In … Read more

Vollmer, Thomas Wesley – Obituary

Thomas Wesley Vollmer, 25, of Portland, died May 19, 2002. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. Mr. Vollmer was born on June 1, 1976, at Baker City to Andrea Nicholson Wiggins and Wesley Vollmer. He moved with his family to McMinnville in 1980 where he lived until 1985 when they moved to Corvallis. He lived there until 1989 and then moved to Eugene where he lived before moving to Portland in 2001. He worked at Starbucks and Renner’s Grill in the Multnomah Village of Portland. He also worked at the … Read more

LaBaun, George Bradford – Obituary

George Bradford LaBaun, 82, a Baker City resident from 1996 until moving recently with his wife to Roseburg, died Dec. 29, 2004, with his family at his bedside after several years of battling with a rare lung disease. His memorial service was Jan. 3 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later at Corvallis. He was born on Feb. 13, 1922, at Sheridan, Wyo., to George and Cora Burdick LaBaun. When he was 2 years old he moved with his parents to Eugene. He was a 1939 graduate of Eugene High … Read more

Kirkpatrick, Bruce – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Bruce Kirkpatrick, 84, a lifelong Baker City resident, died March 5, 2006, at his home. His memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. Bruce was born at Baker City on Feb. 19, 1922, to Elizabeth and Chauncey Kirkpatrick and lived in Baker City all of his life. He was a 1940 Baker High School graduate. His father had been the Chevrolet dealer in Baker City from 1926 until his death in 1940. Bruce worked in his dad’s Chevrolet dealership after school, … Read more

Jordan, Merwin “Rusty” – Obituary

Merwin “Rusty” Jordan, 88, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 7, 2002, at Eugene. No service is planned. Poole Larson is in charge of arrangements. Rusty was born Nov. 6, 1914, in Washtucna, Wash., and was the oldest of three sons born to Rosco and Kate Jordan. He grew up in La Grande, later moving to Baker City where he lived for over 40 years and worked as a welder. In 1941, he married Dorothy Walker of La Grande. He and his wife moved to Eugene in 1996. Rusty enjoyed spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, gardening and playing cards. … Read more

Biography of Isaac N. Cromwell, M.D.

ISAAC N. CROMWELL, M.D. – Perhaps there is no calling of men with which the issues of life and death are so intimately connected s with that of the physician: hence it is that popular sentiment demands a class of men to take up this profession who are in every sense of the word the leaders of their fellows, and especially endowed with keen perception, careful and discriminating judgment, alert faculties and sympathy, with perfect self-possession and steady nerve. The subject of this sketch is one of the votaries of the medical muse, and is today one of Union county’s … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas G. Matlock

This well-known citizen of Heppner, Morrow County, Oregon, who devotes himself to the improvement of our stock of horses, was born in Dade County, Missouri, March 4, 1849, and came with his parents across the plains to Oregon in 1853, locating with them near Eugene, where they engaged in stock-raising, and remaining until the death of the father at Bannack City, Idaho. He was buried on Buena Vista Bar, July 1, 1863. Thomas received a common-school education, and worked on the farm. His father having been a fancier and producer of fine horses, our subject went in 1871 to Umatilla … Read more

Dinger, Margaret Hack Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Margaret Hack Smith Dinger, 84, of Ontario, died Sept. 9, 2003, at her home after an illness. At her request, there will be no funeral. Burial is under the direction of Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. Margaret was born on Jan. 20, 1919, at Jasper. She was the fourth daughter of Loyal R. and Frona Hills Hack. She graduated from high school at Springfield and later attended the University of Oregon at Eugene. She married Goff M. Smith in 1938. She worked in accounting for the U.S. Forest Service for many years, retiring in 1981. Goff died in 1975. She married Lloyd … Read more