McCoy, Margaret Elizabeth Young – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Margaret Elizabeth Young McCoy Margaret Elizabeth Young McCoy, 88, of La Grande died Feb. 2 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Mrs. McCoy was born June 19, 1918, to Fred and Sarah (Monroe) Young in Crane. She moved to La Grande in 1921 with her family and grew up with her three sisters. The family operated the Young’s Ice House and Delivery, harvesting ice near Riverside Park. On April 3, 1935, she married Ralph McCoy. They farmed in the Mount Glenn area and, after … 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 Edmund A. Fraser

The young and eminently successful gentleman whose name appears above is one of the leading men of Malheur county, being the owner of a controlling interest in the Malheur Mercantile Company, a large general merchandise establishment of Ontario, which does an immense business not only from the country adjacent to Ontario, but also from the interior of Malheur and Harney counties. Our subject was born in Woodstock, Canada, on September 2, 1870, being the son of George and Sarah (Sheperd) Fraser. He attended the common school, and at the age of twelve was ready to enter the Upper Canada College … Read more

Berland, Barbara Ruth – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Barbara Ruth Berland, 92, of Pendleton, died Feb. 25, 2004. She was born Aug. 31, 1911 to Burton and Mabel (Gray) Kelsay in Burns. After graduating from Redmond High School in 1931, she lived with an aunt when she was selected as a princess for the Fourth of July Celebration in Enterprise. She married Marvin “Jake” Berland of Paradise in 1933 and together they ranched in Wallowa County for the next 30 years. She did office work for the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service for 10 years, served on the Deer Creek School Board and substitute taught. She moved … Read more

Thornton, Pamela Liebig – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Pamela Liebig-Thornton, 56, of La Grande, died at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A recitation of the rosary will begin at 7 tonight at Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 L Ave. Burial will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Pamela was born May 22, 1951, in Portland to Norman and Dorothy (Drinkwater) Liebig of Hines. As an infant she lost her first mother and was raised by her father’s second … 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

I. S. Greer & Company

This establishment is a credit to Burns. Their building, of which we present a cut, was erected in 1892, and is one of the first stone buildings put up in the interior. They carry a large and well assorted stock of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves and tinnier, crockery, glassware, sporting goods, cutlery &c. They are exclusive agents for the Peters Cartridge Co., Queen heating stoves, Born steel ranges, D. M. Osborn & Co.’s farm machinery, Heath & Milligan paints, and other special lines. They have the only tin shop in the interior, doing plumbing, jobbing and repairing. The also … Read more

Adams, Charles M. “Chuck” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Charles M. “Chuck” Adams, 79, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 29, 2005, at his home. His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Chuck was born on June 28, 1926, at Todd, N.C., to Wiley Lee and Hollie Wagner Adams. He graduated from high school and entered the U.S. Army serving in World War II. After he was discharged from the service, he married his wife, Charlene, on Sept. … Read more

Miller, Dillie Marie – Obituary

Dillie Marie Miller, 94, of La Grande, died Oct. 7 at her home. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Dillie was born on Nov. 12, 1912, to Bird and Amanda (Rollins) Bennett in La Grande. She was educated in La Grande. On Oct. 16, 1929, she married Elmer T. Miller. They would have celebrated 78 years of marriage this month. During the early years of their marriage they lived in Burns before returning to La Grande in 1947. Those who knew … 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 James T. Simmons

Among the arrivals in Harney county who have come from native places to identify themselves with this progressive region, we must not fail to mention the gentleman whose name is at the head of this article and who has wrought here with untiring energy and unflagging zeal in the line of stock raising, and in addition now handles the mail and stage line from Diamond to Andrews. Mr. Simmons was born in Berryville, Arkansas, on March 22, 1862, being the son of Isaac and Sarah Simmons. He grew up on a farm and received his education from the public schools … Read more

Taylor, Margaret Irwin Mrs. – Obituary

Margaret I. Taylor, 77, of 1760 Valley Ave., died Saturday August 14, 1982, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Grays West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Greg Eicher of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Taylor was born September 10, 1904, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Andrew and Sharah Irwin. She attended schools in Burns and Baker. She married B. A. Taylor in Caldwell, Idaho on June 9, 1952. She had worked in bakeries in Portland and the the Gwilliam … Read more

Deiter, Eugene “Gene” – Obituary

Eugene “Gene” Deiter, 66, died June 18, 2004, at his daughter’s home in Vancouver, Wash. He had been ill for the last few years. There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 349 South Egan in Vancouver, Wash. Gene was born on Oct. 17, 1937, at Rifle, Colo., to Edwin and Pearl Nichols Deiter. He attended grammar school in Colorado until 1949, when the family moved to Burns, where he continued his education. When he was 17, he joined the military and served during the Korean War. During his military … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin V. Smith

A veritable pioneer of the pioneers is Mr. Smith, having come to the Pacific coast in the early fifties and continued here in worthy labors in various lines since that time, ever displaying the same courage, capabilities, tenacity of purpose, and integrity, that have made the pioneers such a noble class of people. Mr. Smith was born in Kennebec county, Maine, on January 10, 1833, being the son of James and Hannah Smith, natives also of Maine, the father being born near Portland. His death also occurred in that state. Martin V. received a good schooling and remained with his … Read more

Hagenbuch, Marvin Harold “Marty” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Marvin Harold “Marty” Hagenbuch, 72, of Baker City, died Oct. 14, 2004. His graveside service was at 2 p.m. today at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Lennie Spooner officiated. There was a reception afterward at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene Fellowship Hall, 1250 Hughes Lane. Marty was born on Sept. 27, 1932, at Northampton County, Pa., to Paul M. and Ruth O. Kester Hagenbuch. He grew up in “Pennsylvania Dutch” country and was very proud of his German heritage. After graduating from high school in Pennsylvania, Marty served in the U.S. Air Force, which led … Read more

An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties Oregon

These 91 biographies and sketches have been taken from the manuscript “An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties Oregon.” Presently this is an incomplete offering so subscribe to this page if you’re interested on further updates. We will eventually provide the entire manuscript here.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph P. Rector

Among those who have gained a remarkable success in Harney county we are constrained to mention the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, and who has wrought such wisdom, energy and assiduity that he has gained one of the finest holdings of the county and is numbered among leading stockmen of this section. This is more to his credit when it is mentioned that he came to the county with no means and has gained his entire property by his thrift and wise management since his advent. Joseph P. was born in Schenectady county, New York, on August 28, 1844, … Read more

Ketscher, Ruth Jean – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Ruth “Jean” Ketscher, 84, of Burns and formerly of Enterprise, died Monday at her home. A memorial service at St. Katherine’s Catholic Church in Enterprise begins at 10 a.m. Monday. The service will be followed by burial at the Enterprise Cemetery and a celebration of life in the church hall. Arrangements are under the direction of Bollman Funeral Home. Mrs. Ketscher was born Oct. 9, 1922, in Detroit, Mich., to Catherine Gelineau and Ross Wadsworth Waffle, the second of sixth children. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in home economics and history, then became a … Read more

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

Marshall, Katherin Mrs. – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Katherin Marshall died Sunday, Jan. 24th, 1937 at Wallowa. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Wallowa Tuesday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. E.A. Pollock. Burial was in Wallowa cemetery. Katherin Jones was born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1873 and died at the age 64 years, six months and 20 days. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Marion Jones. Her parents came to Oregon when she was a small girl and settled in the Grande Ronde valley where she was married to William Marshall in 1886. She and … Read more