Joseph Oregon

Courtney, Lowell Marvin – Obituary

Lostine, Oregon Lowell Marvin Courtney died Aug. 14, 2007, at Alpine House in Joseph of natural causes. He was 92. Mr. Courtney was born April 5, 1915, in Lostine to Edith Pearl Shelts and Harley M. Courtney. On March 30, 1935, he married Gladys M. Bowen in Baker City. The couple lived and worked on the family farm then bought a part of it. Mr. Courtney worked as a farmer, carpenter and mechanic. The farm became a century farm in 1997. In 2001 they sold the farm after 86 years and moved to Enterprise. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and picnicking … Read more

Cole, Catherine Linford – Obituary

Cole – At her home near Joseph, December 10, 1891, Catherine Lindford Cole, aged 56 years, 6 months and 14 days. Catherine Lindford was born hear London, England may 17, 1835, her parents removing to America the same year. after a short residence in Pennsylvania, they removing to America the same year. After a short residence in Pennsylvania, they removed to Indiana, and finally settled in Clark County, Illinois. In 1854 she was married to Eli Misner who died in 1858. In 1859 Mrs. Misner moved to Iowa. In July, 1860 she was united in marriage to Wiley P. Cole … Read more

Hovis, Earl – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Former Wallowa County resident, Earl Hovis, of North Bend, died Feb. 1, 1992, at St. Katherine’s Nursing Home in Coos Bay. At his request, no public services were held. Interment will be in Wallowa County at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Cool Bay Chapel. Mr. Hovis was born July 12, 1902, in Wayne County, Mo., the son of Robert E. and Minnie Hovis. He came to Wallowa County as a young person and attended Gwynn School, located between Lostine and Enterprise. On June 26, 1924, he married Vivian Emmons at Enterprise. They … Read more

Biography of Thomas N. Estes

Wallowa county owes her prosperity and prominent position today more to the intelligent, progressive and capable farmers and stockmen within her borders than to any other class of individuals. She was especially fortunate in that there assembled here men and women from all parts of the country who were wide awake to the advantages offered and of courage and vigor sufficient to endure the hardships and develop the resources that nature had so lavishly bestowed here. Among this enterprising class there must not be failure to specifically mention the capable gentleman whose name introduces our article and to whom we … Read more

Cowden, Robert – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Robert “Bob” Cowden of Joseph died May 10, 2006, at his son’s home in Davis, Calif. He was 74. Mr. Cowden was born Oct. 8, 1931, in Oakland, Calif., to Earl and Margaret Cowden. He spent vacations as a child with his grandparents on their coffee plantation in Managua, Nicaragua. He graduated from Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Calif., in 1950. He then enrolled at the University of California at Davis, but his education was put on hold because of the Korean War. After completing a tour in the Navy he returned to the university. It was there … Read more

Kutch, William Franklin – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Services Held For W.F. Kutch William Franklin Kutch, of Joseph, passed away Sunday, March 29, 1964 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient for the past three days. He had been in failing health for three years. He was born June 23, 1891 in Umatilla County, son of Allen and Guilla Kutch. He had been a farmer and had lived in or near Joseph most of his life. He was a member of the Christian Church. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Jerrold (Ruby) Graves, of Maupin; three sisters, Mrs. Bell V. … Read more

Mahon, William T. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon W.T. Mahon Dies at Joseph Home Another Wallowa county pioneer has passed to the great beyond in the person of William T. Mahon, who died at his home near Joseph Friday, November 13, 1936. William T. Mahon was born March 8, 1853, in Illinois and died aged 83 years, 8 months and 5 days. When a child he moved with his folks to La Cygne, Kansas, where in May of 1874 he was united in marriage to Sophia R. Conley. To this union, which lasted for 62 years, four children were born, all of whom survive … Read more

Knapper, Ellen Mrs. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church in Joseph m for Mrs. Ellen M. Knapper, who died Sunday evening, Dec 15.1940. Rev. Ralph Vanderwood was in charge and the Methodist quartet sang Beautiful Isle of Somewhere and Abide with Me. The pall bearers who assisted in the service were Henry Mitchell, P. Mullins, Max Wilson and Polk Mays, of Joseph, and Charles Johnson and Ross Leslie of Enterprise, Interment was made in Prairie Creek Cemetery besides her husband. Mrs. Knapper was born in Astoria Illinois, Feb 3 1862. She married Ludwig Knapper … Read more

Graham, Ralph – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Ralph W. Graham, a retired farmer of Joseph, passed away Monday, June 2, 1975, at Wallowa memorial Hospital. He had been ill for the past six months. He was born Aug. 10, 1898 at Promise, son of Albert and Adda Graham. On September 24, 1929 he was married to Cecile May McClain at La Grande. He was a ditch director and a silversmith artist. He belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Survivors include his wife, Cecile, at the farm home; two brothers, Dale and Herman of Grangeville, Ida.; five sisters, Mrs. Jeff (Ruby) Snyder, Kalispell, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ludwig Knapper

There are few men in Wallowa County that are possessed of higher order of talent than the esteemed subject of this sketch, who has manifested in various places and capacities of his ability to handle the business affairs of life in a manner that brings success and stamps him as a man of sound judgment, keen foresight, executive force and good financial ability, while also commensurate with these qualities there have been shown fine moral virtues that stamp him the stanch, true upright citizen. Mr. Knapper was born in Whiteside county Illinois, on April 9, 1853, the son of Gottlieb … Read more

Boner, Nellie – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Services Held For Nellie Boner Memorial services for Mrs. Nellie Boner who passed away Monday, September 14, 1964, at the Wallowa memorial Hospital were held last Thursday, September 17, at the Bollman Chapel, with the Rev. Douglas T. Field, Pastor of the Enterprise Baptist Church officiating. Mrs. Luella Miller was organist. Casket bearers were: Everett Talbott, Jerry Jennings, Max Gorsline, Malcome Dawson, Elmer storm and Guy Davis with internment in Prairie Creek cemetery. Mrs. Boner was the daughter of Samuel and Ella Foster, and was born on October 27, 1887 in Bellingham, Wash. She came with … Read more

Cathcart, H.J. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Henry James Cathcart, of La Grande, formerly of Joseph, passed away Thursday, September 2, 1965 at St. Joseph hospital in La Grande, following several months of ill health. Memorial services were held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel with Rev. James E. Jones officiating. Mrs. Luella Miller was organist and Rev. Douglas T. Field was soloist and Sang “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” Casket bearers were: S.W. Begley, Lou Knapper, Willard Prout, Carlyle Roundy, Earl Hovis and Kirk Hayes, and internment was in the Prairie Creek cemetery. Mr. Cathcart, a retired merchant, had lived … Read more

Trainor, Mrs. Guillia – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Guillia Trainor passed away at the Sheets Hotel last Saturday morning after a long illness. She was a pioneer of Wallowa County, having lived here since 1883. Guillia Scott was born in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1870 and died in Joseph Feb. 6, 1937, aged 67 years, 26 days. She came by covered wagon with her family when a small child and after living in Milton a short time the Scott family came to Wallowa County. She was married Sept. 10, 1885 to Allen J. Kutch and to this union was born Mrs. Belle … Read more

Phillips, Freeman H. – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Freeman H. Phillips of Joseph died June 4, 2007, at the Wallowa Valley Care Center in Enterprise. He was 81. Mr. Phillips was born Dec. 27, 1926, at Wilmot Flats, N.H. to Freeman S. and Christabel chamberlain Phillips, the second of 14 children. In 1927, the family moved to Alexandria where he attended grammar school and spent his early years working on the farm and for neighboring farmers at the going wage of fifty cents per day. Following his seventeenth birthday, in 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy and served on ships in the Atlantic Fleet before being … Read more

Cannon, G.M. Mrs. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. G.M. Cannon Passes To Rest Mrs. George M. Cannon, pioneer of Wallowa County for 51 years, died at her home in Joseph, Saturday morning, Dec. 22, 1934, following a long illness. Funeral services were held in Joseph at 10 o’clock Monday morning at the Methodist Church. The body was taken to Lost Prairie where services were conducted at the Lost Prairie schoolhouse with Rev. G.R. Archer of the Joseph Methodist Church officiating at both places. Five of the pallbearers at Lost Prairie were former pupils of Mrs. Cannon, who taught the first school in the … Read more

Biography of David Diggins

Although the subject of this sketch has not resided in Wallowa County so long as some others, nevertheless, he is one of the earliest pioneers of this section, having braved the dangers and suffered the hardships and deprivations in the fifties to assist in opening this country for the advent of civilization’s march. Mr. Diggins has lived the life of a typical frontiersman and pioneer, and to him and his companions is due the honor and distinction of discovering the leading placer mines of this northwest country, which in fact rivaled any on the Pacific coast, and during these long … Read more

Willis, Laura Ethel – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Services Held For Laura Willis Mrs. Laura Ethel Willis of Joseph passed away on Thursday, April 26, 1973 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital where she has been a patient for six days. She was the daughter of Alfred C. and Matilda Toney and was born in Joseph on February 18, 1900. She had lived in and near Joseph all her life. On Nov. 22, 1924 she was married to William Jasper Willis who preceded her in death in 1949 She was a member of Wallowa Lake American Legion auxiliary 157 of Joseph and a life member of … Read more

Twaddell, William C. – Obituary

The funeral of the late Mr. WC Twadell was held on Saturday afternoon, May 22, from the United church, Vermilion, when a large gathering attended to pay their respects to their departed friend and neighbor. The service was conducted by the Rev. L.G Sieber who spoke feelingly of Mr. Twaddell as he had known him on his visits to the home. Interment was made in the Vermllion cemetery. The deceased was born on March 14, 1863 in Murser County, Missouri USA. and moved with his parents to the state of Oregon at the age of two years. On Nov. 18th, … Read more

Cornwell, Elizabeth Ann – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Cornwell, a longtime resident of Wallowa County, died at the age of 89 on Oct. 24, 2005, at the Life Care Center in McMinnville. Cornwell was a poet with four books to her credit and also wrote a bi-weekly column for the Chieftain for over a decade. She was born on March 24, 1916, in Portland, the daughter of Ned and Irene Butler Hynson. She grew up in the Parkrose area of Portland and graduated from Grant High School. After high school she went on to attend the University of Oregon. While working on the … Read more

McClain, John – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon John J. McClain died at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital June 26, 1978 where he had been a patient for 5 days. He was a resident of the Pioneer Guest Home, and a former resident of Medford and Salem. He was born September 30, 1886 on Upper Prairie Creek to James R. and Alice McClain. He married Ida Mae Hursch at Medical Springs, Oregon. She preceded him in death in 1939. In August of 1977 he married Lurena B. in Salem, Oregon. Mr. McClain was a meat cutter, retired. Services were held Saturday, July 1 at Bollman … Read more