Island City Oregon

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

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

Asemissen, Maurice D. – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Maurice D. “Ozzie” Asemissen, 82, died March 21 at a local adult foster care home from the effects of a stroke he suffered on Oct. 20. The Island City Lion’s Club will host an informal celebration of life at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Island City City Hall. Pizza will be served. Ozzie was born July 1, 1925, in Moneta, Iowa, and attended school in South Dakota. On his 18th birthday he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the submarine service. He observed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from the deck of his submarine. … Read more

See, James B. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon James B. See Pioneer of This County Dead James B. See who was born on June 25, 1869 near Island City, died this week in Tacoma. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the Summerville Chapel under the auspices of the Moose Lodge. He is survived by his father, Benjamin See who resides in La Grande. Four brothers; Jefferson, Frank, George and Albert, and a sister, Anna Arthur living at Stanfield. The See families were early settlers of this valley and for many years made their home on the Summerville District. Source: The La Grande … Read more

Biography of William H. McDonald

WM. H. McDONALD – Mr. McDonald, long known as purser on the old Oregon Steam navigation Company’s steamers, and now cashier of the La Grande National Bank, is one of the Oregon educated men who are a credit to the state. He is the son of Mr. H. McDonald, the well-known architect and pioneer, and was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1848, coming around Cape Horn on the clipper Hurricane in 1851. His education was gained at the Portland Academy at the Pacific University of Forest Grove, and the Willamette University of Salem. While still young, he entered the … 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

Biography of James G. Anson

JAMES G. ANSON – Enterprising, industrious and capable, the young man of whom we now have the pleasure to speak is eminently worth of a place in the history of Union county, since he has shown in the years in which he has striven here that he is made of material which is bound to win success and since he has also shown that he is possessed of the sagacity and energy that is capable of grappling with the problems of life that are to be met with here in his native place. And especially, it is pleasant to recount … Read more

Biography of John L. Caviness

JOHN L. CAVINESS. – The name presented above is borne by one of the most exemplary citizens of Eastern Oregon, and a man who has sounded all the depths and shoals of pioneer life. The family came from Indiana, settled for a time in Iowa, and came on to Oregon in 1852, spending a short time at Forest Grove, but soon locating in Linn county on a section Donation claim. In 1856-57 John L., now a young man of eighteen, began his career by driving cattle to California, and in the spring of the latter year to Eastern Oregon. While … Read more

Walnum, James Y. – Obituary

Island City, Union County, Oregon James Walnum Dies in Hospital James Y. Walnum, 77, retired locomotive engineer and Island City resident, died at a local hospital yesterday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Daniels Funeral Home with the Rev. Louis Samson officiating. Burial will follow in Island City cemetery. Born in Bergen, Norway, Sept. 24, 1882, Mr. Walnum had resided in Union County for 55 years. He was a member of the Elks Lodge No. 433, Union Pacific Old Timers and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers Survivors are the widow, Mrs. Bessie May Walnum, Island … Read more

Stickney, Genevieve Blanche – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Genevieve Blanche “Jean” Stickney, 90, of La Grande, died April 1 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Island City Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Daniels-Knopp, Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Jean was born on Aug. 26, 1917, to Charles “Bob” and Anna Gertrude Reasland Heisner in Hazard, Neb. On Dec. 3, 1935, she married Wayne Rufus Stickney and they moved to Imbler in 1936. After a year they moved to La Grande. Jean enjoyed fishing, gardening, quilting and cooking. She … Read more

Halley, Sarah C. Mrs. – Obituary

Island City, Union County, Oregon The death of Mrs. Sarah C. Halley occurred at her home in Island City Wednesday, February 8, 1905. Death was due from paralysis. The funeral services, conducted by Rev. Gillilan, were held in the Island City church Friday and were attended by a large concourse of friends. Sarah C. Halley was born at Laplata, Macon County, Mo., October 4, 1857, aged 47 years, 4 months and 8 days. She was converted at the age of 12 years and became a member of the Protestant Methodist church and led a consistent life and during her illness … Read more

Biography of James A. Russell

JAMES A. RUSSELL. – A well-known and esteemed member of the business world of Island City, where he operates a butchering establishment and also handles much stock, the subject of this article is deserving of representation in this volume, since he is not only now one of the prominent men of the county but has spent practically all of his life in this valley and has labored with zeal for the advancement of its interests. James A. was born on September 23, 1861, in Linesville, Iowa, being the son of Thomas J. and Savannah C. (Atha) Russell, who started the … 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

Walnum, Bessie M. – Obituary

Bessie M. Walnum, 87, Island City, died Tuesday at a local hospital. Mrs. Walnum was born on Jan. 24, 1884 at Island City, the daughter of Charles and Mary Goodnough. She graduated from La Grande High School and attended Weston Normal School. On June 8, 1908, she was married to James Walnum at La Grande. She was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of La Grande and was an avid gardener. Survivors include her sons, Charles G. Walnum, La Grande, and Frank Philip Walnum, Pendleton; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Friday … Read more

Biography of Thomas H. Gilham

THOMAS H. GILHAM. – Although born in another state, the subject of this sketch is practically a product of Union county, being educated here and here achieving the success that has attended him in his labors, while he has ever manifested a stanch and unswerving integrity and adherence to the principles of uprightness, laboring for the advancement and upbuilding of the county, as well as prosecuting with vigor and sagacity the private business enterprises that have occupied him. Thomas H. Gilham was born in Siskiyou county, California, on February 13, 1858, being the son of Calvit A. and Almeda (Howell) … Read more

Burnett, Preston Frank – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Preston Frank Burnett, 85, of Pendleton and formerly of La Grande died June 7 at St. Anthony Hospital. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 241 S.E. Second St. in Pendleton. Preston was born July 7, 1921, to Lawrence and Mabel Brown Burnett in Island City. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1938 and served in the Navy prior to World War II. Preston married Madaline E. Rhoads in Portland. He worked for the Oregon Highway Division for 42 years and was a resident engineer on many … Read more

Winter, Bob – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Bob Winter, 82, of Island City died June 22 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. A memorial will be held at a later date. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Winter was born May, 21, 1924, to Fred and Lillian Klein Winter in Sandoval, Ill. After high school he entered the Army and served during World War II and the Korean War. He married Mae Fetter in Carlisle, Pa. He spent 21 years in the Army and another 21 years as a civilian executive assistant at the Umatilla Army Depot. … Read more

Blair, Eli Mrs. – Obituary

Death of Another Pioneer The death of Mrs. Eli Blair occurred at her home in Island City, Sunday, March 25, 1906. Deceased was 68 years old and was one of the honored pioneers of Union county, having moved here in the early sixties. She had resided in Island City since 1879. By a former marriage to Mr. Thomas she became the mother of five children: Mrs. Sarah Quimbey of Portland, H.A. Thomas, of Elgin, Mrs. T.R. Sheperd of Bellingham, Wash., William Thomas, of Island City and Mrs. E.R. brooks, of Bodie, Cal. For several months she had been in poor … 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

Thompson, Shirley Eugene – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Stanley Eugene Thompson, 59, of Island City, died from unexpected natural causes on Aug. 24 at a hospital in Boise. A celebration of life at the Island City School will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday. He was born in Arcata, Calif., on Aug. 11, 1947 to Ana Mae (Posey) and Glen Thompson. He was raised and educated in Oakland, Calif., and Eufaula, Okla. Mr. Thompson enlisted in the Navy in April of 1965. After his naval service, he moved to Government Camp and helped his father cook at the Huckleberry Inn Restaurant. He greatly enjoyed his work … Read more