Grays Harbor County WA, located in the U.S. state of Washington, was originally named Chehalis County when it was formed out of Thurston County on April 14, 1854. It was later renamed to Grays Harbor County on March 15, 1915, in honor of the large estuarine bay on its western edge, Grays Harbor, which itself was named after the American merchant sea captain Robert Gray who discovered and entered the harbor in May 1792. This coastal county is marked by its significant geographical features, including dense temperate rainforests, large expanses of coastal beaches, and the Olympic Mountains to the north. The area has a rich history of indigenous habitation by various Native American tribes, European exploration and settlement, and economic development initially centered around the fur trade, fishing, and timber industries.
“The Last Wilderness” by Murray Cromwell Morgan, published in 1955 by Viking Press in New York, is a comprehensive historical account of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Spanning 275 pages, this book delves into the rich and tumultuous history of the region, offering insights into its pioneering days, the challenges of its lumber ports, and the establishment of Olympic National Park.
Barbara Verell McCullough, 93, a former longtime Haines resident and Baker County teacher, died Aug. 14, 2006, at her home in Elma, Wash. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guest book at www.whitesidefamilymortuaries.com. Barbara was born Jan. 6, 1913, at Montrose, Colo., to Loring Wesley and Mable Schee Jordan. After the death of her mother, Myrtle May became Barbara’s stepmother when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Roseburg High School and then went on to earn her teaching … Read more
SAMUEL BENN. – There is a certain keenness amounting almost to prescience which enables a man to locate a successful town. The laws of a city’s development are so peculiar that few are able to make much of the riddle. Nevertheless some seem to know where to locate a townsite, and where to invest in real estate. It is a business instinct. Mr. Benn is one of these persons. He is the founder of Aberdeen. He was born in New York City, and, as a youth, learned the carpenter’s trade. In 1856 he came to San Francisco, and mined and … Read more
La Grande, Oregon Darrel Ray Billerbeck, 68, of Elma, Wash., and formerly of La Grande died June 26 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. July 21 at Whiteside Family Mortuary in Elma. A potluck meal will follow at Vance Creek Park. Participants are encouraged to bring a story or favorite memory to share. Mr. Billerbeck was born June 22, 1938, to Harry and Bernice Billerbeck in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and attended Oregon State University until he returned home to run the family farm. He graduated from Oregon Technical … Read more
Scientific company executive; b. Hoquiam, Wash., Feb. 15, 1919; son of Clifford Harvey and Edna Winifred (Johnson); married Anita Knapp Wegener, Sept. 6, 1941; children: Suzanne Winifred Whalen, Colleen Louise Szurszewski. BS, University Puget Sound, 1941; MS, University Washington, 1950; postgrad., MIT, 1955, 57, UCLA, 1959. Certified teacher, administer, Wash. Teacher at Lake Washington School Dist., Kirkland, Wash., 1942-48; professor of Math, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, 1948-1951, Supervisor Mathematician Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., 1951-1955; research specialist Boeing Company, Seattle, 1955-1968; vice president R. M. Towne & Assocs., 1968-1975; founder, president Dynac Scis., Tacoma, 1975-. Cons. R .M. … Read more
La Grande, Oregon Marjorie Ann Bartlett, 68, of La Grande, died May 26 in her home, surrounded by her family. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center with Phil Burling from the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses officiating. Marjorie was born Aug. 23, 1939, to Ralph and Eula (Bircher) Trow in Elma, Wash. The family moved to La Grande when she was 10 years old. On Aug. 23, 1959, she married James William Bartlett in La Grande and soon after started a family. The family lived in the Union County … Read more
The Humptulip Tribe was based in the western part of Washington State, primarily along the Humptulips River, which flows through the dense, temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula. This area is within Grays Harbor County, a region known for its lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The environment around the Humptulips River is rich in natural resources, providing a traditional homeland for the tribe. Hodge identified the name to mean “chilly region” without providing a source for that nomenclature. Modern interpretation state that it comes from the Quinault word Ho-to-la-bixh, meaning “hard to pole.” The Humptulips … Read more
Lela M. Conner, 87, a resident of McCleary for 18 years and a previous resident of O’Brien, Oregon, died February 13 [1975] at a local hospital. She was born December 2, 1887, at Lowell, Washington, and was a member of the McCleary Grange and the American Legion Auxiliary at Kerby, Oregon. Her husband, Clyde L. Conner died August 20, 1974. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Fattig of McCleary; four sons, Edwin Cooke of Cave Junction, Ore., Gordon Cooke of Port Angeles, Ellsworth Cooke of Grants Pass, Ore., and Jim Cooke of O’Brien; three sisters, Mary Atkenson, Gladys Carter and … Read more
Mrs. Emma A. Lucas, 67, pioneer resident of Aberdeen and prominent worker in the Order of Eastern Star, died last night [May 24, 1928] at the family residence, 1701 West First Street following a several weeks’ illness. Mrs. Lucas was the widow of the late M. E. [Marshall Edward] Lucas and had lived in Aberdeen for more than 30 years. Mrs. Lucas was born in Junction City, Oregon, and came to Grays Harbor shortly after graduating from the University of Oregon. Soon after her arrival here, she became identified with Eastern Star work, and had served as secretary of Rhododendron … Read more
Eva R. Hessemer, 94, of Tacoma, died Mon., June 28, 1993. She was born in Union, OR. Her grandparents settled in Oregon’s Grande Ronde Valley after journeying from Independence, MO over the Oregon Trail. She resided in Montesano, WA until 1960 when she moved to Goleta, CA following her husband’s retirement. After his death, she made her home in Los Osos, CA where she lived until moving to Tacoma in 1991. Survivors include a daughter, Doris Brown, Tacoma; a son, Robert A. Hessemer, Jr., Green Valley, AZ; 2 brothers, Gerald Spencer, Los Osos and Fred Spencer, Fresno, CA; a sister, … Read more
Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Joe Jewett, 93, of La Grande, died Feb. 19, 2005. He was born May 13, 1911 in Helena, Montana to George and Alice Geary Jewett. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church in La Grande. Visitations will be until 4 p.m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Joe was raised at Winston, Mont. He went to electrical school in Chicago, and graduated after one year. He returned to Aberdeen, Wash., to finish his high school education as an adult. He worked about 1 year before deciding to go to … Read more
Baker City, Oregon George Alvin Bergeson, 82, a life-long Baker City resident died Oct. 30, 2001, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. Visitations will from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. His funeral will at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Ritualistic rites will be accorded by the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338. Military rites will be accorded by Baker City AMVETS, Post No. 1874. Mr. Bergeson … Read more
Vern Curtis, 71, a 43-year Aberdeen resident, died Monday [March 21, 1988] at a local nursing home. He was born March 2, 1917 in Winlock. He fought in the Army during World War II and is a member of the Aberdeen VFW No. 224 and a member of the IWA, Local 3-2. Survivors include a brother, Glen Curtis of Apache Junction, Ariz.; a sister, Dorothy Cabibi of Porterville, Calif. A military graveside service is set for 1 p.m. Thursday at the Winlock Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Cattermole Funeral Home in Winlock. Daily World, Aberdeen, March 23, 1988 Contributed … Read more
Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted At Gray’s Harbor County, Washington Tombstone Transcription Project) Elma Catholic (St. Joseph) Cemetery Johns River Cemetery Old Schafer Homestead Cemetery St. Paul Catholic Cemetery Satsop Cemetery Sharon (Ford Prairie) Cemetery Vesta (North River) Cemetery Pioneer Cemetery (hosted at Interment)
Frank E. Long, the grandson of Baker County pioneers, died Saturday, Dec. 9th in Hoquiam Hospital in Hoquiam Wash., where he lived. The funeral was Monday at 11 a.m. in Hoquiam. Mr. Long was born July 2, 1913, in Haines, to William and Amy Long. His grandparents were Alonzo and Julia Ann Long. Survivors include four sisters, Pearl Thrasher and Doris Colton of Baker; Daisy Elliott of Haines, and Opal Blank of Butte Montana., four brothers, Garnet, Lewis, and Harry all of Baker, and Glen of Pendleton. Several nieces and nephrews. Mr. Long was preceded in death by his wife … Read more
La Grande, Oregon Paul E. Ransom, 83, of La Grande and formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Aug. 8 at Rose Cottage, an adult care center, in Kennewick. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla. Pastor Roger Holden will officiate. A reception will follow at the funeral home. Paul was born Sept. 30, 1924, to Ernest and Lou Hahn Ransom in Walla Walla. He attended elementary school on Government Mountain then the Forks School on the Walla Walla River. He started high school in Prescott, Wash. His family then moved … Read more
Imnaha, Oregon Ned Boyce passed away at Walla Walla, Wash., on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 1938. He was born Jan.6, 1912 at Elma, Wash., son of William and Olga Boyce. On Aug. 30, 1959 he was married to Cora Simmons at Enterprise. He was a painter by trade and was a member of the Enterprise Elks Lodge. He came to Wallowa County in February, 1948 and opened the Pie Shop and Melo Freeze Ice Cream Shop. He was in that business for several years. Survivors include his wife, Cora, of Imnaha; two daughter, Dorothy Keener of Joseph and Edith McGee of … Read more
Mrs. Elmira Curtis, 61, a resident of Aberdeen for the past 12 years, died last night [November 26] at a local hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Curtis was born in Winlock. She made her home here at 513 West Curtis Street and had been employed in various Harbor restaurants. Surviving are sons, Norman Curtis, Winlock, and Glen and Vern Curtis, both of Aberdeen, daughters, Mrs. Lois Audette, Aberdeen, and Mrs. Dorothy Cabibi, Terra Bella, Calif.; sisters, Mrs. Mae Olsen, Aberdeen; Mrs. Florence Leland, Seattle; Mrs. Godine McCoy, San Francisco, and Mrs. Geraldine Folkins, Fairfield, Wash.; brothers, Clifford and Jay … Read more
This provides the descendants of Wahmaskie, a Lower Chinook Indian who married James Huckquist, a white man. Using census and vital records, as well as Native American specific records, this research provides several generations of her descendants through her son, Dixie James, who was the only surviving heir.
Charles Champ, 36, known among Harbor loggers as “Big Charlie,” dropped dead at the door of the cookhouse of Camp 10, Humptulips Logging Company, immediately after the evening meal at the camp yesterday. Death was ascribed to heart trouble. Champ had engaged in woods work in the Harbor country for the last 10 years, coming here then from Winlock. His mother and brothers and sisters reside in Winlock. A nephew lives in Hoquiam, and an uncle, Willis, resides in Aberdeen. The body is at the local Whiteside parlors pending completion of funeral arrangements. [Interment Winlock Cemetery, Lewis Co.] Aberdeen Daily … Read more