Biography of Henry Heppner

HENRY HEPPNER. – This s the gentleman after whom the city, in which he resides, and of which he was one of the first proprietors, and the builder of the first brick building, has been worthily named. He was born in Germany in 1843. He came to New York in 1858 and in 1863 via Cape Horn to San Francisco. His first venture was in Shasta, California, in the mercantile business; but after two years he transferred his business to Corvallis, Oregon. Meeting with little encouragement there he opened a stock at The Dalles, doing well for six years. As … Read more

Bean, Harold Cedric – Obituary

Complications following an operation, yesterday caused the death of Dr. Harold C. Bean, 40, president of the State Board of Health and one of the most prominent diagnosticians in Portland. Dr. Bean died shortly before noon at the Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was operated on December 26, two days before his 40th birthday. He had been ill only a week, entering the hospital Christmas Day. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2:30 o’clock at the Finley Chapel. With the exception of a brother in Seattle, all members of his immediate family were at the bedside when Dr. Bean … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. J. Leezer

W. J. LEEZER. – Mr. Leezer, one of the most active of all ourcitizens, was born March 21, 1846, at Rushville, Illinois, where he received a common-school education and learned the tinner’s trade. In 1870 he crossed the plains, locating at Umatilla Landing, and working for his brother, J.M. Leezer, who was then doing a tin and hardware business at that point. A year later he bought the establishment and conducted the business for himself, until in 1880 he closed out his interests there and moved to Heppner, Oregon, where he has established and carries on successfully a mercantile business … Read more

Perdue, Delcie Elma Hogeland Mrs. – Obituary

Unity, Baker County, Oregon Delcie Elma Hogeland Perdue, 86, of Unity, died Dec. 27, 2005, at Phoenix, Ariz. There will be no service at this time. A Celebration of Life service will be announced later. Delcie was born on May 26, 1919, at Heppner to Russell and Ida Crewdson Hogeland, and grew up at Mount Vernon. She spent almost all of her life in Oregon and held a variety of jobs through the years. In 1961, she and her her husband, Darrel Perdue, purchased the Waterhole in Unity. It was not uncommon for people to drive from as far away … Read more

Miller, Inez E. Wellman Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Inez E. Miller, 81, of Heppner, a Baker City native, died Dec. 7, 2004, at Hermiston Terrace Assisted Living Facility. Her funeral was Monday at the United Methodist Church in Heppner. A concluding service and interment was at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery. Mrs. Miller was born on Sept. 4, 1923, at Baker City to Homer and Lucy Hunt Wellman. She grew up and attended school at Baker City where she graduated from high school. She attended and graduated from Eastern Oregon College (Eastern Oregon University) at La Grande. She began teaching at Riverside School in Pendleton. She … Read more

Jewett, Helen M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Helen M. Jewett, 93, of La Grande, died Aug. 17 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cove Christian Camp. Helen was born June 22, 1914, to Harold and Thena Mae Moak Fry in Montesano, Wash. Helen spent most of her childhood on a ranch on the Wynooche River near Montesano, with a brief time spent in Alberta, Canada. She attended a one-room school, and graduated high school in Montesano. She attended Eugene Bible College (now called Northwest Christian College) in Eugene. She and her husband, Joe, ministered during college … Read more

Morrow, Jackson L. – Obituary

Jackson L. Morrow passed away at Salem on April 29,1984. He was born February 11, 1896 at Heppner son of James William and Katie Rea Morrow. On July 23, 1917 he was married to Irene Johnson at Portland. He was a WWI veteran, a life member of Harmony Lodge No. 12 AM & AM, a 50 year member of the American Legion. He moved from Joseph to Salem in 1977. Survivors include two sons, S.W. Morrow of Portland, and S.L. Morrow of Longview, Washington; a sister, Mrs. M.V. Sutherland of Salem. Funeral services and interment of remains will be held … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas G. Matlock

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 … Read more

Graves, Kenneth Deane “Little Kenny” – Obituary

Kenneth Deane “Little Kenny” Graves, 39, died March 17, 2006, near Dayville. He died doing what he loved — flying helicopters. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Heppner Elks Lodge, with Corey Laughary officiating. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the Elks Lodge after the service. Kenny was born on Feb. 23, 1967, at Heppner to Bonnie and Deane Graves. He was a 1985 Heppner High School graduate. His love of the woods and operating heavy equipment made logging a natural career choice after high school. Early in his career, he … Read more

Sturgill, Barbara Ann – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Barbara Ann Sturgill, 82, of Baker City, died June 20, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2130 Second St. The Rev. Dick Toll of Milwaukie will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the church. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Barbara was born to L.D. and Neva Chidsey Clabough on Aug. 12, … Read more

George, Ella Mrs.

Death Takes Widow of Pioneer Minister (By Halfway Correspondent) Milton, Feb. 4. – Mrs. Ella George, widow of Rev. David George, who died 15 years ago, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.D. Walters, here Monday night. Mrs. George was well known in the valley, having lived here the greater part of her life. She was born in Iowa in 1858 and crossed the plains when but a very small child coming with her parents first to California. In that state in 1875, she married the Rev. Mr. George, who was a circuit rider for the Methodist Episcopal … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Swagart

GEORGE W. SWAGART. – Mr. Swagart, identified since 1853 with the interests of our coast, and now one of the “cattle kings” of Eastern Oregon, was born May 1, 1848, near Galena, in Joe Davis county, Illinois. In 1853 he came with his parents to Oregon, locating in Lane county, where he received a common-school education, and became inured to the hardships of an early pioneer life, in the saddle, and to the arduous labors of farming, until, in 1865, he branched out for himself in the stock business, driving a band of sheep across the Cascade Mountains to the … Read more

Prindle, Joan Oribel Eddy Mrs. – Obituary

Joan Oribel Prindle, 70, of Umatilla, died March 6, 2002, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hermiston Assembly of God Church. Disposition was by cremation. Joan was born on March 13, 1931, at Malheur City to George and Lucy Woodcock Eddy. She had been a Umatilla resident since 1961. She married Harold Prindle on Aug. 27, 1949, at Heppner. She owned and operated Joan’s Beauty Salon in Umatilla from 1970 until she retired in 2000. She was baptized at the First Christian Church in Vale. She loved gardening … Read more

Robbins, Darlene Emma Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Darlene Emma Robbins, 71 died Monday, January 26, 2004 in Baker City, Oregon after a lengthy illness. Memorial services will be held Monday, February 2, 2004 at 11 a.m. in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street with Rev. Ron Kratzer officiating. Inurnment will follow at Baker Cemetery at a later date. Mrs. Robbins was born September 13, 1932, in Bentonville Arkansas to Austin and Grace Robbins. In 1936, she moved from Nebraska to Ontario, Oregon at the age of four. She graduated from Ontario High School in 1950. She met her future husband while attending the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. L. Andrews

C.L. ANDREWS. – The present county clerk of Morrow county was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, October, 1862. He came with his parents to Oregon in 1864, via the Isthmus, and lost his father by death soon after reaching the Pacific Ocean, and saw him buried from the ship in a watery grave. He located with the family near Brownsville, and here received his education, completing the same at Philomath College. He made his home near Brownsville until 1882. In that year he went over to Seattle, where he accepted a position as mailing clerk, filing it eight months. In … Read more

Biography of Hon. Henry Blackman

HON. HENRY BLACKMAN. – Mr. Blackman, as mayor of Heppner, Oregon, occupies a responsible and eminent position. His first election to the office was in 1887, during his absence at Salem, where he was still perfecting the articles of incorporation for the town. He was re-elected in 1888 by a heavy majority (100 to 41), and was re-elected for the third time in 1889 unanimously, there being no opposition. At all times the tickets were nonpolitical, although the mayor is a Democrat. The issue was upon general improvements, and a general policy of progress. The town was laid out upon … Read more

Russell, David Alan – Obituary

David Alan Russell, 61, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 26, 2005, at his mother’s home in Vale after a sudden illness. There will be no funeral. Disposition was by cremation. His cremains will be scattered at the same site as those of his brother, Fuller. Dave was born on Jan. 13, 1944, at Randleman, N.C., to Paul T. and Verneta Mae Russell. He grew up in North Carolina, Idaho and Oregon. After graduating from high school at Portland, he joined the U.S. Navy Seabees, serving on Guam and Okinawa. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked for … Read more

Case, Norman Eugene “Gene” – Obituary

Norman Eugene “Gene” Case, 64, of Baker City, died May 11, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Baker City Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St. Pastor Roger Scovil will officiate. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. There will be a graveside service at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery. Gene was born on Aug. 18, 1940, at Salem to Norman and Edith Parsegian Case. When he was 7 the family moved to Heppner. Gene lived there with … Read more

Biography of E. L. Matlock

E.L. MATLOCK. – This successful merchant and respected citizen of Heppner, Oregon, was born August 25, 1844. He came to Oregon in 1853, and located in Lane county, near Eugene. There he engaged in farming, stock-raising and mining. He was with his father when he died at Bannack City in 1863, and laid to rest all that was mortal of that good man and beloved parent. Returning to the home near Eugene, he conducted his father’s affairs there until 1866. In January of that year he was married to Miss E.J. Bennet of Lane county. After that event he engaged … Read more

Hallock, Ahlma Rose MacDonald – Obituary

Ahlma R. MacDonald, 99, a resident of Tacoma the past 64 years, died Monday [January 7, 1985]. Mrs. MacDonald was born in Heppner, Ore. She was a retired librarian who had worked in Portland and New York City. She was a former member of the Ladies Musical Club, pro America, Tacoma County & Golf Club and Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Herrick (Beatrice) Allen of Tacoma, and two grandchildren. Buckley-King Downtown is in charge. Tacoma News Tribune, January 9, 1985 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman