Biographical Sketch of Joseph M. Dinwiddie

This well’ known pioneer and responsible and leading business man and stock man of Malheur County is one of the prominent citizens of the town of Jordan Valley and is a man of sterling qualities of worth and integrity, being possessed of excellent capabilities which have wrought with a winning hand in the business and financial realm of our County for many years. Joseph M. was born in Indiana, on September 1, 1851 being the son of Daniel and Elsie Dinwiddie. In 1853 his parents came with the noble .band of pioneers who crossed the plains in those days, and … Read more

Barton, Arnold – Obituary

Promise, Oregon Arnold Barton Arnold E. Barton died Oct. 9, 2005, at his home in Goldendale, Wash., of an apparent heart attack. He was born and raised in the Promise area. Funeral services are pending at this time. A full obituary will appear as details are available. Wallowa County Chieftain, Thursday, 13, 2005 Mr. Barton was born May 18, 1921 in Promise to Silas and LaVida (Lortie) Barton. He attended schools in Promise and in the lower valley. Mr. Barton enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a M.P. during World War II. He married Myrtle Sullivan in Weiser, … Read more

Basse, Wilhelmina Isaacson Jacobson – Obituary

Funeral rites for Mrs. Wilhelmina Basi [Basse] were held last Saturday, November 30, in the Finnish Lutheran Church at Centerville, conducted by Rev. C. J. Sacarisen, of Portland. The organist was Charles Isakson, and singers were Mrs. Kenneth Nelson and Miss Louise Hoikka. Pall bearers were Frank Sarsfield, Jack Mulligan, Ernest Mattson, Hilmer Erickson, Otis Anderson, and Walter Lande. Interment was in the Centerville Grange Cemetery. Mrs. Basi, wife of Wilhelm Basi, passed away Thanksgiving morning in the Goldendale General Hospital, at the age of 74 years and ten months. She was born in Kuttanen, Sweden and came to America … Read more

Hooker, William Guy “Bill” – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon William Guy “Bill” Hooker, 92, of Union, died Dec. 24, 2002, at his home. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Union Cemetery. The Rev. Jerry Peters of the Union United Methodist Church will officiate. Mr. Hooker was born Jan. 15, 1910, at Cleveland, Wash., to Joseph J. Hooker and Emma Selinda Fletcher Hooker. At the age of 2 he moved to Asotin, Wash., where he grew up and attended public school. Bill married Frances Harriet Wilsey on March 23, 1932, at Goldendale, Wash. Bill and his wife lived at Lewiston, Idaho, … Read more

Biography of Hon. James B. Reavis

Much interest attaches to the life and work of an attorney such as Mr. Reavis, whose chief endeavor both privately and professionally has been to realize a high degree of public justice. He is a man whom the people feel safe in having by; for they can trust his sagacity and integrity, knowing that he is thoroughly incorruptible by any influence, corporate or otherwise. He is one of the men of whom both unscrupulous politicians and monopolies have a wholesome fear. Glancing at his ancestry, we observe that he came honestly by these rugged qualities, being in lineal descent from … Read more

Sampson, Gerald Weston “Sam” – Obituary

Gerald Weston “Sam” Sampson, 72, of Baker City, died of kidney disease on June 8, 2006, at his home. Burial will be at Husum, Wash. Sam was born on Dec. 5, 1933, to Claude and Rachel Rowland Sampson at White Salmon, Wash. He was a 1951 graduate of Washougal High School at Washougal, Wash. Sam enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 2, 1953, and served during the Korean War. He received an honorable discharge from the Army on Sept. 22, 1959. After the service, he worked for an Oregon trucking company as a dispatcher and terminal manager. Sam and … Read more

Ransier, David J. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon David J. Ransier died at the Wallowa County Nursing Home in Enterprise on December 30, 1983. He was born on August 4, 1898 at Bickleton, Wash. In 1920 he was married to Rena Ivy Morgan at Arlington, Oregon. She preceded him in death. Mr. Ransier was a restaurant proprietor by profession. Survivors include a son, James R. Ransier of Las Vegas, Nev.; a daughter, Mrs. Edwin (Lorean) Kruse of Wallowa; three brothers, Roy Ransier of Pasco, Wash., Lester Ransier of Goldendale, Wa., and Norman Ransier of LaCenter, Wa..; two sisters, Mrs. Nettie Sheldon of LaCenter and … Read more

Wiidanen, Charles – Obituary

Funeral services were conducted at the Phillips Funeral Home Monday afternoon for Charles Wiidanen, pioneer Centerville resident. Interment was made in the Centerville Grange Cemetery with committal services by the Centerville Grange. Rev. J. A. Dunn was officiating minister at the rites. Wiidanen was born April 21, 1877 in Calumet, Michigan and died at the Klickitat Valley Hospital, November 28 at the age of 75. He was the oldest son of Andrew and Amanda Holm Wiidanen and was six months old when he and his parents arrived in the Klickitat Valley. They came by train to California and by boat … Read more

Ragsdale, Lee Verdell – Obituary

Lee Verdell Ragsdale, 91, a former Baker City resident, died March 4, 2004, at Medford. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. March 22 at the First Congregational Church of Christ in Portland. He was born to Lee A. and Mable Ragsdale on Dec. 25, 1912, at Baker City. On May 29, 1939, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Crow. She died in 1998. He was a 1930 Baker High School graduate. He attended Eastern Oregon College (now Eastern Oregon University) at La Grande where he was student body president from 1933 to 1935. He received a bachelor’s degree in physical … Read more

Williams, Ellen Planer Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ellen Williams, 80, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 27, 2002, at Meadowbrook Place in the presence of her family. There will be a celebration of Ellen’s life beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor John Goodyear of the Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Elkhorn Athletic Club, 1243 Second St. Ellen was born on March 21, 1922, at Minot, N.D., to Millie Gaslin and Orville Planer. Ellen grew up at The Dalles. She graduated from The Dalles … Read more

Clark, Rena – Obituary

Paradise, Oregon Rena E. Clark, a former resident of Athena, died Sept. 23, 2007, at the St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. She was 90. Mrs. Clark was born April 27, 1917, in Paradise to James and Anne Beeman Winters. She was one of 15 children. She attended schools in Paradise and later graduated from White Salmon High School in White Salmon, Wash. She married Charlie R. Tinsley on Feb. 22, 1934, in Enterprise, where he farmed and worked in the sawmills. The couple later moved to Adams in 1957. He died in 1962. Mrs. Clark moved to Athena and later … Read more

Klickitat County, Washington Cemetery Records

Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted At Klickitat County, Washington Tombstone Transcription Project) Horseshoe Bend Cemetery Juniper Canyon Cemetery Linder Cemetery Mt. Adams Cemetery Number 6 Cemetery White Salmon Pioneer Cemetery Woodland Cemetery Lone Pine Cemetery (hosted at Interment)  

Chilluckittequaw Indians

As reported by Lewis and Clark, the Chilluckittequaw Indians lay along the north side of Columbia River, in the present Klickitat and Skamania Counties, from about 10 miles below the Dalles to the neighborhood of the Cascades. Spier (1936) thinks they may have been identical with the White Salmon or Hood River group of Indians and perhaps both. In the latter case we must suppose that they extended to the south side of the Columbia.

Christopher, Anna Josephine Basse [Basi] – Obituary

Mrs. Anna Josephine Christopher of Adams, died this morning at St. Anthony’s Hospital. Born in Centerville, Wash. in 1903, she had lived in Oregon 25 years. She leaves her husband Walney Christopher, a son, Donald L. Christopher, a daughter, Elizabeth E. Christopher; a father, Wilhelm Basi; three brothers, Elmer, Arthur, and Ernest Basi. Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Folsom’s with the Rev. E. M. Butenshon officiating. [Interment Olney Cemetery] East Oregonian, July 2, 1947 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Chilluckittequaw Tribe

Chilluckittequaw Indians (Chilû’ktkwa). A Chinookan tribe formerly living on the north side of Columbia river in Klickitat and Skamania counties, Washington, from about 10 miles below the Dalles to the neighborhood of the Cascades. In 1806 Lewis and Clark estimated their number at 2,400. According to Mooney a remnant of the tribe lived near the mouth of White Salmon river until 1880, when they removed to the Cascades, where a few still resided in 1895. The Smackshop were a subtribe.

Wishram Indians

Wishram Indians were located on the north side of Columbia River in Klickitat County, Washington.

Purkes, Lena Floy Tozer Bowman – Obituary

Mrs. Lena F. Purkes, 92, of 800 Mechanic St., died at 5:35 P.M. Thursday in Fairview Medical Facility in Centerville where she had been a patient since January, 1972. She was born in LeRoy, Mich., July 26, 1880, to Mailand and Olive (Simonton) Tozer. She was married to Edson R. Bowman on April 18, 1902 in LeRoy. He died Aug. 7, 1944. On Oct. 12, 1951, she was married to Thomas Purkes in Angola, Ind. He died July 29, 1960. Mrs. Purkes was a member of the First Baptist Church. Surviving are a son, Virgil Bowman, of Sturgis; three daughters, … Read more

Pierson, Dale W. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dale W. Pierson, 82, of Salem and formerly of La Grande died June 2 at his home. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday June 8 at Howell Edwards Doerkson Funeral Home in Salem. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday June 9 at the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Pierson was born Oct. 6, 1923, to Sylvan and Vera Bradley Pierson in Grafton, Neb. The family lived in Lyle, Wash., Hermiston and at Mount Emily Camp. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1941, and served in the Army during World War … Read more

Weatherspoon, Evelyn Irene – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Evelyn Irene Weatherspoon, 67, of Elgin, died March 18 at her home. A celebration of life began at noon today at the Rockwall Grange. Mrs. Weatherspoon was born April 18, 1939, to Lloyd Rodney and Gladys Marie (Dodson) Brock in White Salmon, Wash. She graduated from high school in Portland. In 1984 she moved to Elgin from Portland and worked as a bartender. On April 7, 1988, she married Donald Weatherspoon in Elgin. He died Sept. 15, 2005. Mrs. Weatherspoon loved rock hunting and the outdoors. She enjoyed her home and family. Survivors include her brother, Dwayne Lee … Read more

Smathers, Martha Etlidge – Obituary

Mrs. Martha [Etlidge] Smathers, 85, a resident of Ellensburg for the past 50 years, died in Yakima Friday evening [June 20, 1947]. It was learned here today. A native of Nashville, NC, Mrs. Smathers came here from Goldendale before the turn of the century. She is survived by three sons, Ed and Lee Smathers, both of Omak and John Smathers, Ellensburg A granddaughter, Mrs. George Minton of Ellensburg, and six great grandchildren also survive her. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Honeycutt-Evenson chapel followed by interment at the IOOF cemetery. The Rev. Paul Deane … Read more