Grant County OR

Bleakman, Owen Neal – Obituary

Owen Neal Bleakman, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 3, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be no burial service. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel. Owen was born Aug. 9, 1916, at Hardman to Bertrum Percy Bleakman and Hatty May Emery. He attended schools in Hardman and Heppner. When Owen was 18, he moved to Bates, where he worked at the Bates mill as a carpenter helper for one year. While in Bates, he met his wife-to-be, Katherine Taylor. They were married … Read more

Biography of Thomas Jefferson Wood

Thomas Jefferson Wood is one of the earliest pioneers of Riverside and has been identified with Riverside city and colony since, and even before, the first soil was turned, or the first nail was driven in the building improvements. In 1870 Mr. Wood was living near San Bernardino, engaged in farming, and also at his trade as a carpenter and builder. In September of that year at the solicitation of Judge North and Dr. Greves he came to the lands now occupied by Riverside and erected the first building ever built upon the Riverside colony lands. This building was the … Read more

Wester, Claire Woods Curtis Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Claire Curtis Wester, 77, of Baker City died July 24, 2002 at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Coles Funeral Home. Associate Pastor Bob Whiteman of the Baker City Christian Church officiated. Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery. Claire was born July 18, 1925, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Charles D. Woods and Theresa Kelly Woods. She married Robert L. Curtis on June 16, 1946, and they settled down in Canyon City, where they started their family. In addition to being a devoted mother, wife and homemaker, Claire worked with Bob in … Read more

Biography of Benjamin and Hosea Eastman

Tales of heroism have been the theme of song and story throughout all ages. He who has gone forth to battle for his country, his home or his principles, has figured in history, in literature and in music, and his bravery has stirred the souls of men through all times. All honor to such an one, and yet his heroism is no greater or his daring more pronounced than that of the honored pioneers of the west. Men reared in comfortable homes, accustomed to all the conveniences and privileges of life in the east, have come into the wild western … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Guker

People are always interested in men, especially in successful men. This is the case with “Ike” Guker, the discoverer of the celebrated “Great Northern” mine in Grant County. He is a miner of considerable experience, having gained it in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon. March 28th, 1800, he began in this county, and just six months later he discovered his present property, which bids fair to make him famous. It is a placer property, although he has since located three permanent quartz ledges. His daily returns amount to $220,000 on an average.

Widman, C. Wayne – Obituary

C. Wayne Widman, 69, of Parkdale, and a former Baker City resident, died March 31, 2002, at the Hood River Memorial Hospital. His funeral was at 11 a.m. today at the Hood River Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial was at the Upper Valley Cemetery. Wayne was born April 7, 1932, at Baker City to Carl Henry and Dorothy Ellen Williams Widman. He was raised and educated in Baker City and was a 1950 Baker High School graduate. After high school, Wayne left Baker City to work in a sawmill at Joseph. About a year later he returned … Read more

Saul, Gene, L. – Obituary

Gene L. Saul, 75, of Seneca, a former Baker County resident, died April 10, 2007, at his home surrounded by family. There was a celebration of his life on April 14 at Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day. Pastor Daniel Wiese of the John Day Nazarene Church officiated. Gene was born on Jan. 8, 1932, at Homedale, Idaho, to William and Katie Sweep Saul. One of eight children, Gene had two brothers and five sisters. He was raised in Baker County where he broke wild horses and did ranch work. Gene married Betty Jean Zemmer on April 28, 1951, at … Read more

Knudsen, Clarice B. Coffman Stiff Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Clarice B. Knudsen, 95, a longtime Baker City resident, died Nov. 12, 2000, at Settler’s Park. At her request, there will be no funeral. A family celebration of her life is planned. Mrs. Knudsen was born Oct. 12, 1905, at Boulder, Colo., to Mitchell and Maude Coffman. She was raised and received her education in Scott City, Kan., and also attended business school at Boise. She married Robert Earl Stiff on June 14, 1925, in Boise, and they came to Baker City in 1944. They divorced in 1947. In May 1953 she married Leonard Knudsen in Baker … Read more

Green, M. L. – Obituary

Mount Vernon Messrs. Henry, Bert and Arthur Green and Mrs. Shaw, of Long Creek, were called by message last Saturday to be at the bedside of their father, M. L. Green, who died at noon Sunday. The remains were taken to Long Creek for burial. The aged gentleman has been a sufferer for several years, having received two strokes of paralysis in the last three years. (Report of March 11, 1903) Blue Mountain Eagle, March 13, 1903, p. 3, col. 3 Contributed by: T. D. Williams

Biographical Sketch of George W. Dart

George W. Dart is one of John Day’s most honored citizens. He is operating a large general merchandise establishment there, and through courteous and fair treatment has gained the esteem of the entire community. Born in Maryland in 1858, he came to Canyon City, Oregon. In 1879, and was engaged in mining and stock rising until 1883. Moving then to John Day he became engaged in merchandising first under the firm name of Haptonstall & Dart, and later with Phil. Metschan, F. C. Sels and J. H. Blake as Haptonstall, Dart & Co. In 1890, in connection with C. E. … Read more

DeRoest, Barbara P. DeRoest – Obituary

Prairie City, Oregon Barbara P. DeRoest, 85, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died March 27, 2004, at her home on Pine Creek Road at Prairie City. Her graveside memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Tom Brock of the Baker City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mrs. Kim Eardley will officiate. There will be a reception afterward. Barbara was born on Aug. 6, 1918, to John W. and Magdaline P. Hass Williams at Baker City at the old Baker hospital. She was raised at Sparta where she attended … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. George Hazeltine

Among the many pioneers of this county none stand higher in the estimation of their fellow citizens than the subject of our sketch. Born in New York in 1838, he came to California at the age of 17 with his oldest brother and resided there for a period of nine years. On the 4th day of July 1862, he arrived in Grant County, and became engaged in mining. In 1804, in connection with A. R. Callum, he built the John Day flouring mills, being the first one built east of the Cascades in the State. He operated it until 1874, … Read more

Miles, Elizabeth E. “Betty” Mrs. – Obituary

Elizabeth E. “Betty” Miles, 70, of Salem, a former longtime Granite resident, died Dec. 29, 2004, after a long battle with lung disease. At her request, there will be no memorial service. She was born on Lopus Island, Wash., on Oct. 26, 1934, and spent her early years in the Puget Sound area. She married James L. Miles on Nov. 3, 1956. Jim was in the U.S. Air Force. As a military family, they lived in Japan for several years where they adopted two daughters, Tammie from Japan and Linda from South Korea. They returned to the United States and … Read more

Hammer, Loren D. “Butch” – Obituary

Granite, Oregon Loren D. “Butch” Hammer, 35, died in an aviation accident while serving his country in Afghanistan. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Butler Aircraft at the Redmond Airport. Chaplain Vern Arledge of the Redmond Fire and Police departments will officiate. He was born on Nov. 26, 1969, at Needles, Calif., to William “Mike” and Barbara Hammer. He was very active as a youth in Boy Scouts and attained the level of Eagle Scout. He was a 1988 graduate of Redmond High School and then served in the U.S. Coast Guard. While employed at Butler … Read more

Shaw, Ella Green – Obituary

Ella Green Shaw, 88, was born Feb. 23, 1877 at Molalla, and died at the Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day on October 12. She moved to Long Creek with her family when a young girl, and spent the remainder of her life there. On Jan. 1, 1895 she married Roscoe Shaw. The had one daughter and three sons. A daughter, Secil, a son, Sydney, and her husband preceeded her in death. She was a lone survivor of a large family-seven brothers and four sisters, also a number of half brothers and sisters. She was the last remaining charter member … Read more

Hankins, Robert D. “Bob” – Obituary

Granite, Oregon Robert D. “Bob” Hankins, 77, a longtime Granite resident died Nov. 23, 2002, in Tonopah, Nev., from injuries received in a single car accident when he swerved to miss a herd of wild horses. There will be a memorial service in Granite on Memorial Day and his ashes will be scattered in Granite. Cremation was in Hawthorne, Nev. Mr. Hankins was born Jan. 27, 1925 and served in World War II and the Korean War. He was wounded in World War II. Survivors include son and daughter in Houston, Texas; daughter in Umatilla; brother, James in Prineville; and … Read more

Doherty, Harold E. – Obituary

Harold E. “Sonny” Doherty, 54, Canyon City, a former Baker resident, died Monday, June 6, 1963, at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Cathedral in Baker. The Rev. Tony Ozmiek of St. Elizabeth Community Hospital will officiate. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Doherty was born on Dec. 17, 1928, in Baker to Harold and Elma Luster Doherty. He attended schools in Baker. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1950 and served in the Korean conflict. He retired from Boise Cascade Corp. as a weighmaster. He … Read more

Watkins, Patricia Joe Frey Mrs. – Obituary

Patricia Joe Watkins, 76, of St. Helens, a former Baker City resident, died March 18, 2003, at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland. At her request, there will be no funeral. Patricia was born on April 3, 1926, at Baker City to Frank and Neni Eddy Frey. She attended schools at Austin, Baker City and Prairie City and was a 1943 graduate of Prairie City High School. She married Donald Leslie Watkins in 1946. She had been a resident of St. Helens since 1960. She worked for many years at the Bank of St. Helens and Western Bank at St. Helens … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon M. D. Clifford

M. D. Clifford, Circuit Judge of the Sixth District, was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1859. He came to Oregon in 1870, with his mother, settling in Grant County, and is virtually a self-educated man. In 1880 he began reading law in the office of Hill & Mays, at The Dalles and was admitted to the bar in 1882. Returning to Grant County he began the general practice of his profession. In 1884 he was elected district attorney of the Sixth Judicial District, and again in 1886 at the expiration of the latter term he resumed general practice until January … Read more

Hilderbrand, Ashley Jean – Obituary

Ashley Hilderbrand, 22, a longtime resident of John Day and Baker City, died unexpectedly Dec. 19, 2006, at Salt Lake City Medical Center in Salt Lake City. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Baker City Christian Church, 650 Hwy. 7 in Baker City. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception following the services at the church. A funeral service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Whispering Pines Funeral Home in Prineville. Interment will follow at Juniper Haven Cemetery. Ashley Jean was born June 21, 1984, in John Day to Mariann … Read more