Harney County OR

Biography of James F. Mahon

It is especially gratifying to be enabled to chronicle in this volume of the history of Harney county the salient points in the career of the estimable gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, since he has done so much for the development and advancement of this county, has demonstrated his ability as a financier and to handle successfully large interests, of which he is happily possessed at the present time, being doubtless the largest grain farmer in the county and also a leader in raising fine horses and mules; while individually, Mr. Mahon is a man of marked … Read more

Harney County, Oregon Census

Harney County, Oregon was formed from Grant County in 1889. 1890 Harney County, Oregon Census Free 1890 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1890 Veterans Schedule $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Hosted at Census Guide 1890 U.S. Census Guide 1900 Harney County, Oregon Census Free 1900 Census Form for your Research Free 1900 Census Images and Index Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1900 Harney County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1900 Census Transcriptions Alvord Precinct Catlow Precinct Diamond Precinct Pueblo Precinct Wild Horse Precinct Hosted at Census Guide 1900 U.S. … Read more

Pidcock, Genevieve – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Genevieve Pidcock, 90, of La Grande, died March 6 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. Genevieve was born July 10, 1916, to Roy and Mary (Hug) Flexer in Harney County. She moved to La Grande with her family when she was a child. She attended Riveria Elementary School and graduated from La Grande High School. On March 27, 1936, she married Howard Pidcock in La Grande. They both attended Kinman Business University in Spokane and worked in Portland during World … Read more

Biography of William Henry Canaday

It is fitting that in a work that purports to accord to the leading citizens of Harney county representation there should be special mention of the well known business man whose name heads this article and who has labored in our midst for a number of years, gaining a good success and making for himself a name and standing which are enviable. Madison Canaday was born in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, on October 21, 1831, and when a boy went with his parent to Illinois and then to Iowa, whence they crossed the plains with ox teams in 1852. They … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles P. Rutherford

Hon. Chas. P. Rutherford, County Judge of Harney County. Is essentially a self-made man. Left an orphan at an early age, his education was that of the tallow dip and district school. At the age of sixteen he began ruining through Idaho and Oregon, also packing from Umatilla landing to Boise Basin. In 1873 he began raising stock in Grant County, but moved five years later to Morrow County. Returning in 1887 to Grant, now Harney, County, he has resided here since. He was formerly a member of the Democratic Party, but was elected County Judge in 1894 on the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Cawlfield

This worthy gentleman is to be numbered with the younger men of Harney county who have attained a good success in the stock business here and who bid fair to gain much better in the future, judging by their faithful and wisely bestowed labors of the past. George W. was born in Johnson county, Kansas, on October 21, 1870, being the son of David A. and Abigil (Evans) Cawlfield. The father was a native of Tennessee, and went across the plains to California in an early day and then returned via Panama, after which for some time he acted as … Read more

Pitcher, Carl Allen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Carl Allen Pitcher, 70, of Nampa, Idaho, died Jan. 12 at home after a battle with cancer. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kings Grace Church, 48 E. 18th St. in Junction City with the Rev. Gordon Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Gates Cemetery in Crow. A viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Kings Grace Church in Junction City. Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N. Midland Blvd. in Nampa is in charge of arrangements. Carl A. Pitcher was born on April 2, 1937, to Paul Franklin and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Page

Among the leading stockmen of the country, the subject of this article also stands with the prominent and substantial citizens of the county of Harney and is one of the real pioneers of this section, being also a westerner by birth. He owns Sonoma county, California, as his native place and February 13, 1858, is the date thereof. His parents were Joseph W. and Nancy (Johnson) Page. In 1867 they all came overland to Lane county, Oregon. The father had been operating a large dairy in California, and in Oregon he devoted his attention to farming, also raised stock. In … Read more

Ellis, Christopher John – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Christopher John Ellis, 38, of Silverton, a former Baker City resident, died April 25, 2004. A small family memorial service will be scheduled later. Chris was born on Aug. 21, 1966, at Portland and spent his early years in Medford. In 1978, the family moved to Silverton where he completed high school and was active in athletics, particularly baseball. He graduated from Eastern Oregon University at La Grande with a degree in accounting. He married Sami Baisley of Baker City, and moved to Burns to work as an accountant. He became a certified public accountant CPA, remained … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. McKinnon

A. J. McKinnon, the present sheriff of Harney County, was born in Page County, Iowa, in 1866. He has been a resident of this County with but short intervals since 1886, during a portion of which time he conducted a blacksmith shop in Burns. In June 1896, he was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket, and has given general satisfaction as an officer, being both capable find efficient. He takes quite an interest in fraternal affairs, being a Mason, Knight and Odd Fellow.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Jones

The subject of this sketch has led an active life both as a public man and as a private individual. He is one of our self-made men and has won, and fully deserves every iota of esteem and regard in which he is held by his industry, integrity and enterprise. He was born in Header San County, Kentucky, in 1865, and lived on a farm until the age of 16. Moving at that age with his parents to Malheur County, Oregon. On coming to this State he followed several vocations until September. 1887, when he was appointed deputy county clerk … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nathan Brown

The worthy pioneer and capable business man of whom we now have the privilege of speaking is one of the leaders in the business realm of Burns, being senior member of the firm of N. Brown & Sons, general merchants, who have one of the largest stocks in the county and do a mammoth business, being well established and highly esteemed by all. Mr. Brown was born in Germany, in January, 1835, and at the age of thirteen years came to America. In 1852 he came via Cape Horn to San Francisco, and thence to Oregon City, where he engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. B. Horton

H. M. Horton, the leading druggist of Burns, came to Grant County in 1885, locating in Diamond Valley, where he followed his profession of dentistry. In 1891 he started in the drug business, and has gradually forged to the front until today he has the largest store in Eastern Oregon off the railroad. It is complete in every respect, being composed of drugs, chemicals, sundries, stationery, books, cigars, clocks and jewelry, &c. He occupies his own building, built of stone, of which we show an illustration. H. M. Horton is both it registered pharmacist and dentist in this State, and … Read more

Evans, John William “Jack” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon John William “Jack” Evans, 78, of La Grande died Aug. 24 at his home. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Daniels Chapel. Burial will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wallowa Cemetery. Mr. Evans was born Oct. 29, 1927, to James Ward and Myrtle Maude West Evans in Wallowa. He graduated from Wallowa High School, and served in the Army Air Forces in 1946 and 1947. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English … Read more

Singer, Carl Henry – Obituary

Carl Henry Singer, 88, of 130 Bryant Ave., No. 22, Walla Walla, Wash., died April 4, 2006, at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. Funeral service was held at Groseclose Funeral home at 315 W. Alder St. at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2006. The Rev. Albert Gillin of First Presbyterian Church officiated. Burial followed in Mountain View Cemetery, 2120 S. Second Ave. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Senior Center through the funeral home. Mr. Singer was born Nov. 22, 1917, in Boise, Idaho, to Henry and Carrie Chandler Singer. He graduated from Baker, … Read more

Reed, Irene Adell – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Irene Adell Reed, 93, of La Grande died Aug. 7 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and the funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at La Follette’s Chapel in Burns. Burial will follow in the Burns Cemetery. A memorial reception in La Grande will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church fellowship hall. Mrs. Reed was born Aug. 5, 1913, to Leonard Lincoln and Alda Bertha Elliot Davis in Leland, Idaho. She graduated from Kendrick High School in 1931 and Lewis and Clark Normal School 1933. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. D. Martin

One half mile southeast from Harney is one of the finest small grain farms in the county. It consists of eighty acres of choice land and is well under cultivation. The improvements are of a quality and kind quite fitting such an estate and its owner is the subject of this article. Mr. Martin was about the first man to try raising grain in this locality and he has made a marked success in this direction. He raised in 1901 the largest crop of any one man in Harney county and he is classed as one of the leading agriculturists … Read more

Baldridge, Ruby Anna – Obituary

Imnaha, Wallowa County, Oregon A private family service was held for Ruby Anna Baldridge, 68, a longtime Central Oregon resident in earlier years that returned to Prineville nine months ago. She died Tuesday, June 19, 1984 at the Crook County Nursing Home. Mrs. Baldridge’s activities were centered largely in her home, but she had worked for a time as a hospital cook. She was married April 25, 1934 in Park Falls Wis. to Henry T. Baldridge, who survives. They moved to Oregon in 1938 and settled in Hines, where they lived for five years before moving to Prineville. They moved … Read more

Stafford, Craig J. – Obituary

Craig J. Stafford, 54, Glendale, a former Baker City resident, died of a heart attack on Oct. 11, 2007, at Glendale. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Burns Cemetery. Craig was born on Feb. 27, 1953, at Baker City to Ralph and Josephine Stafford. The family later moved to Burns. Craig was a graduate of Burns High School. He then attended college and became a teacher. Survivors include his sister, Jannette Manning and her husband, Raymond Manning; his sister, Teresa Whipple, and her husband, Bert Whipple; three nieces, Kristina, Carla and Crystal; two nephews, Michael and Aaron; … Read more

A Brief History of Harney County Oregon

Harney Valley, Harvey Lake, Harvey City successor to Harney Camp, Harney County, and lastly Harney land district were named in honor of General Harney, who, so traditions of the Harney country tell us, “had a brush with the Indians while guiding emigrants through the valley.” The general in 1890 acknowledged this comment to his early army days, in an autograph letter to the to “council of Harney City. In area the county which was organized in 1889, is larger than any one of the six New England states, with the single exception of Maine; the valuation of its taxable property … Read more