Island City Oregon

Biography of John R. Ladd

JOHN R. LADD. – The stories told to the children of the generation hence of the abundance of gold and the immense profits of the early pioneers will fire their imaginations and set them on wild, and perhaps profitable, trips to the Andes or to Alaska. Mr. Ladd’s career will be thus exciting to his descendants, and to all who see this sketch. He was born in the Empire state in 1838. He came to California with his father in 1852, but returning East married Miss Rachel Knapp in Illinois. Here might be mentioned as a remarkable coincidence, that Mrs. … Read more

Kovach, Florian Michael – Obituary

Dr. Florian Michael “Jeff” Kovach, 87, of La Grande, died Oct. 12 at a local care center. A celebration of life will be planned for sometime in the spring. The announcement will be published later. He was born on July 3, 1920, to Michael and Elizabeth (Farkas) Kovach in Tacoma, Wash. He graduated from Washington State University with a degree in veterinary medicine and served with the Air Force in Korea. In 1946 he moved to the Grande Ronde Valley as the county’s first professional veterinarian and opened the Animal Health Center on Island City strip. On Aug. 30, 1948, … Read more

Down, Melvin C. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County Melvin Charles Down, 55, of Island City, died Friday, May 25, in Baker. Mr. Down was born Aug. 8, 1923 in Joseph to Roy and Ethel Stanford Down. On April 29, 1950 he married Peggy Waddingham in La Grande. In 1969 he moved from Milton-Freewater to La Grande. He was a World War II veteran and a member of La Grande Eagles Aeri No. 259, La Grande Elks Lodge #433 and the American Legion. He was a logger and former member of the Oregon Log Truckers Association. Survivors include his wife of Island city: sons, Kenneth, stationed … Read more

Bruce, Braddie May – Obituary

Braddie May Bruce, 79, of Island City, died Jan. 11 at a local care center. A service will be held later in Canyon City. Braddie was born Jan. 26, 1928, to Clyde Willis and Grace Irene (Herburger) Laughlin in Prairie City. She was raised in Dayville and graduated from high school there. On Jan. 12, 1947, she married Ralph Bruce in Canyon City. She worked as a school secretary in Canyon City, Ukiah and John Day. For several years they lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she worked for the Episcopal bishop and for a co-op drug company. In her younger … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alexander C. McClelland

ALEXANDER C. McCLELLAND. – The present registrar of the United States land-office at La Grande, Oregon, is a native of Indiana, having been born there in 1842. He received his education at the Berlin High School, Wisconsin, and in 1863 came west to Montana as a gold-seeker. He found the employment of his intellectual acquisition more profitable, however, and for a number of years engaged in school-teaching and educational work in the Willamette valley. In 1867 we find him in the mines at Baker City, looking after “lodes” and “leads,” and also in 1870 engaged in the stock business with … Read more

Curteman, Beatrice A. – Obituary

Beatrice A. Curteman, 81, of Baker, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center, Baker. Her funeral was today at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel, La Grande, with the Rev. James Wenger-Monroe officiating. Interment followed at the Grandview Cemetery, La Grande. Mrs. Curteman was born July 22, 1906 in Roulette, PA., to Otto and Bessie Touscher Hunter. She was reared in Wallowa County area and attended and graduated from Enterprise High School. From Wallowa County she moved to Island City and then on to Union and Cove, where her family ranched. She married Carl Curteman in La Grande on Oct. 19, … Read more

Kail, Mary Braughton – Obituary

Mary Kail of 1208 11th St. died Sunday, June 3 at Grande Ronde Hospital at the age of 80. Mrs. Kail was born Feb. 23, 1893 at Boring, Ky., the daughter of John and Lavicia Braughton. She came to Wallowa County at the age of nine and was a graduate of Eastern Oregon College. She began teaching in Wallowa County at the age of 17. She taught in Wallowa and Union counties for more than 50 years. She taught all grades and was principal of Island City and Perry schools. In 1940 she ran for county school superintendent. She began … Read more

Bull, Muriel Lovisa – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Muriel L. Bull, 85, formerly of 1403 6th St., La Grande, died Friday at a local hospital. Mrs. Bull was born on Sept. 21, 1885 at Island City, the daughter of Charles D. and Mary Bay Goodnough. She moved to La Grande when she was four years old and lived her entire life here, except while attending Holmes Business College in Portland. Mrs. Bull worked in the office of the La Grande Investment Company which was owned by W. D. Sargeant and J. K. Wright. After a few years she went to work in the … Read more

Abell, Wendell H. – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Wendell H. Abell, 81, of Island City died Saturday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Abell was born Dec. 23, 1924, to George and Josephine Graham Abell in La Grange, Mo. He had polio as a child. The family made three trips to Oregon before finally settling here. He began working in a lumber yard in Portland at the age of 16. On … Read more

Biography of Alex Furgason

ALEX FURGASON. – One of the earliest pioneers of Union county, and one who has been a real pioneer of the pioneers, the subject of this sketch is eminently worthy to be represented in a work of the character of our volume, since also he has always maintained a bearing of uprightness and manifested principles of truth and probity, and has wrought during all the years of his domicile here for the development of the county’s resources and for the interests of all, while he has prosecuted successfully his private business enterprises. Mr. Furgason was born in Rouse’s Point, New … Read more

Brooks, Ellen C. – Obituary

Ellen Carolyn Brooks, 86, lifelong resident of La Grande, died Oct. 23 at her home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Burial will be at the Island City Cemetery. A gathering at the La Grande Country Club will follow. A viewing will be run from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels-Knopp. Ellen was born Dec. 16, 1922, to James A. and Rhoda (Price) Garity in La Grande. She was a direct descendant of Ben Brown, one of the first settlers in … Read more

Frison, Donald L. – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Donald L. “Don” Frison, 62, of Island City, died March 30 at his home. Private services will be held at a later date. Don was born Dec. 10, 1945, to Joseph and Alma I. Kluth Frison in Mobridge, S.D. He grew up and attended school in Weston. After his schooling he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1962 to 1966. After his discharge from the service he worked in Portland for the Teamsters Union for 10 years and later for the Operating Engineers Union for 22 years, doing various jobs. He retired from the unions and … Read more

Humphrey, Lee Mrs. – Obituary

Island City, Union County, Oregon Funeral Set For Thursday Body Of Late Pioneer Buried Tomorrow Island City Church and Cemetery Is Place of Services The Rebekah lodge of this city is preparing to attend the funeral of the late Mrs. Lee Humphrey of Island City, in a body tomorrow afternoon. The noble grand, Mrs. Clapp, has issued a call to all members to be present at the hall at 1 o’clock tomorrow at which time conveyances will be supplied to take them to the funeral. The funeral services will be held at the church in Island City tomorrow at 2 … Read more

Biography of William G. Peach

WILLIAM G. PEACH. – There is no doubt but there should be special mention in this volume of the abiding chronicles of Union county, of the capable and venerable citizen, whose name appears at the head of this article, and it is with pleasure that we accord to him space for the epitome of an interesting and eventful career, since his abilities are worthy of such, and since his success has been achieved by meritorious effort, and since his character is upright, stanch, and worthy to be exemplified. Mr. Peach was born in the Green Mountain State, at Newbury, Orange … Read more

Taal, Beulah May – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Beulah May Taal, 92, of La Grande, died April 21 at a local care center. A celebration of life will run from 1 to 3 p.m. May 3 at her home at 1903 Washington Ave. in La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Beulah was born Dec. 10, 1915, in Starkey. She lived there for a few years until she moved with her family to Island City. She went to grade school in Island City, then on to high school in La Grande. In 1937, she married Winnie Taal. They lived a … Read more

Grimmet, John G. – Obituary

May 22d, 1878 near Island City of Diptheria, JOHN G. Grimmet son of G.A. Grimmet, aged 7 years and one day. The parents, brothers and sisters are sad in their bereavement, but let them not mourn for the departed as dead, he has only passed. Mountain Sentinel, Saturday June 15, 1878

Kiddle, E. E. – Obituary

Island City, Union County, Oregon E. E. Kiddle Died Tuesday Morning State highway commissioner Edward E. Kiddle died suddenly at his home in Island City at 4:30 o’clock Tuesday morning of this week. Death was due to acute indigestion and neuralgia of the heart. Mr. Kiddle was one of the best known men in Oregon, having represented Union and Wallowa counties in the state senate and since the death of highway commissioner Burgess, he has served by appointment of Governor Olcott as a member of the state highway commission. He had returned from the national capital where he had been … Read more

Pearson, William Mrs. – Obituary

Pioneer Of Grande Ronde Valley Died In Island City Mrs. William Pearson who resides on the Vandecar farm, received word last Wednesday from Island City that her mother, Mrs. Emma Jane Shafer, had passed away. Mrs. Pearson left at once for Island City. Funeral services for Mrs. Shafer were held Sunday afternoon from the Snodgrass & Zimmerman chapel in La Grande, Rev. W.C. Ross of the Presbyterian church officiating. Mrs. Shafer came to the Grande Ronde Valley 54 years ago. Her husband died nine years ago. Surviving her are two sons, Fred of Troy, Oregon, and Isaac of Island City; … Read more

Sanderson, Kathleen Enid – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kathleen Enid Sanderson, 83, of La Grande, died March 19 at a local care home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. April 14 at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Kathleen was born Oct.22, 1923, to Thomas Houston and Lucinda (Davis) Blackman in Island City. On Jan. 8, 1941, she married Delbert “Bud” Sanderson in Weiser, Idaho. During World War II she ran the head rig for Mt. Emily Lumber and was a “Rosie the Riveter” for Reur Aircraft in San Diego, Calif. After the war, … Read more

Coy, Glendolla Jacqueline – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Glendolla Jacqueline “Jackie” Coy, 78, of La Grande, died Jan. 3 at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. A celebration of her life will begin at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at “The Place,” 62872 Buchanan Lane, in Island City. Jackie was born July 12, 1929, to George Earl and Ida Mae McDanell in Tulsa, Okla. The family traveled quite a bit, often living in rustic conditions. Jackie was the oldest of four siblings. She would tell stories of how she and her two sisters and brother would hunt or fish for the evening meal, pick greens, fruit, … Read more