LaGrande Oregon

Biography of Charles R. Patten

CHARLES R. PATTEN. – It is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant to the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this paragraph a representation in this volume of Union county’s history, since he has labored faithfully here for the advancement of the county and has demeaned himself in such a commendable manner that he has won the admiration and esteem of all who are acquainted with him. Charles R. was born in Walla Walla, Washington, on December 10, 1860, being the son of William H. and Elizabeth A. (Young) Patten, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and … Read more

Biography of Robert C. Mays

ROBERT C. MAYS. – The well-known and capable business man, whose name appears at the head of this article, is one of the most widely known men of Union, and Wallowa counties, and is at the present time handling a large business as warehouseman at Elgin, where he is numbered among the leading residents of that thriving city, and he has made a record in this section that is both crowned with gratifying success from a financial standpoint, and wherein he has maintained a representation that is untarnished and displayed talents that properly place him among the real leaders in … Read more

Biography of Franklin S. Bramwell

FRANKLIN S. BRAMWELL. – To the esteemed gentleman, whose life’s career it is now our privilege to give in brief review, we grant a representation in these chronicles of our county, since he is at the head of one of large industries of the county, and also because of the prominent place that he holds in the manipulation of the affairs of the strong church of the Latter Day Saints in this section. He is assistant manager of the Oregon Sugar Company of Lagrande, but is far more widely known as bishop of his church and lately in the more … Read more

Biography of William Arnold

WILLIAM ARNOLD. – One of the best known men in northeastern Oregon, capable and upright, a pioneer of the country and one who has faithfully done his part in the development of the same, having met the dangers and hardships and self-denials incident to a life on frontiering in this region in early days, the subject of this article is eminently fitted for representation in this volume, and it is with pleasure that we accord space to him, and we desire to add that in connection with his abilities and courage, he has manifested excellent moral qualities and integrity that … Read more

Van Blokland, Icis L. – Obituary

Icis L. Van Blokland, 91, of Tigard and formerly of La Grande, died Tuesday, Dec 25, 1990, at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland. A private family interment service was held Friday at the Island City Cemetery. A memorial service will be held later. Mrs. Van Blokland was born Aug. 21, 1899, at Kansas City, Mo., to Haskell and Letitia (Halstead) Bryant. She moved to Island City in 1912 and married Ray Van Blokland on Oct. 14, 1924. He died in 1949. Following her husband’s death, she moved to La Grande where she lived until moving to Tigard in 1987. She … 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

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

Biography of George E. Wells

GEORGE E. WELLS. – The subject of this sketch is a man of great energy and power of adaptability, as is manifested in the occupations that have been engaged in by him during the years in which he has been in this western country, and it is pleasant to remark that during all of these varied undertakings, some of which have been exceedingly arduous and fraught with hardship and danger, he has manifested a stanch and unflinching courage, marked industry and enterprise, with excellent personal qualities of integrity and upright principles, while a good success has attended his efforts, both … Read more

Biography of Jacob Zuber

JACOB ZUBER. – Without doubt the subject of this sketch is one of the men whose name should be among the list of those who are accorded representation in the history of Union county, since he has wrought here with an energy and assiduity that have placed him in possession of a goodly competence, while also he has the distinction of always being allied with those enterprises that were for the benefit of the people of the county, and his life has been one of long and continued activity and manifestation of wisdom and ability, and having been in the … Read more

Carpenter, William Vernon – Obituary

Island City, Oregon William Vernon Carpenter, 78, of Island City died Feb. 4 at his home. A graveside service is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Carpenter, known as Vern, was born July 18, 1928, to Thomas and Zoe (Safford) Carpenter in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1946 and received an associate degree from what was then known as Eastern Oregon College. He served with the Army during the Korean War. On Nov. 20, 1955, he married Laurel “Grace” Miller in Boardman. He managed Van Petten Lumber Company and later … Read more

Biography of D. B. Hendricks

D.B. HENDRICKS. – The well-known merchant and financier, whose name initiates this paragraph, is one of the representative business men of Elgin, and indeed of union county, doing at the present time a large and lucrative business in general merchandise, while in all his career he has displayed a breadth of comprehension and aggressiveness that, coupled with a conservative policy and dominated by keen practical judgement and sagacity, have made him the master of hte enterprises that have been taken up by him, while also he has maintained an untarnished repuation and is one of the prominent men of our … Read more

Biography of Albert Good

ALBERT GOOD. – One of Union county’s intelligent and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen is named at the head of this sketch and we are constrained to grant him representation in this volume of his county’s history since he is one of the leading men of today and because he has achieved a very flattering success here, and because his personal characteristics of ability and integrity demand a place for him among those so represented having achieved his splendid success by dint of hard effort and wise management. In Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1844, the subject of this sketch … Read more

Biography of William J. Beach

Although the subject of this sketch has not resided in Oregon as long as some within Wallowa County, still he is nevertheless a true pioneer, having wrought with faithfulness for the welfare of other sections and since coming to this region has made commendable efforts in the development of the resources of the county and in the material progress of the same, while he has ever manifested excellent capabilities and showed both zeal and integrity, coupled with which are sound principles and sagacity that dominate a tireless energy and constant industry. Mr. Beach was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, on … Read more

Biography of Wallace Fairbank

WALLACE FAIRBANK. – The subject of this sketch is one of the substantial and capable men of Union county, and one who showed the metal of which he was made at the time Columbia called for sons to avenge her insult and to put down the minions of rebellion, at which time he responded and did good service until the work was completed and he was honorably discharged, carrying, however, until this day the serious effects of his service and the wounds that he received. Mr. Fairbank was born in St. Lawrence county, New York on July 27, 1848, being … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles W. Meek

Without dispute some of our most worthy and progressive and thrifty citizens have come to us from England whence also sprang the subject of this sketch whose life of commendable activity and successful enterprise in business relations, coupled with stanch and unswerving integrity and high moral qualities of intrinsic worth, justly entitle him to a representation in this volume of Wallowa’s abiding chronicles, and it is with pleasure that we incorporate his name here with a brief review of his eventful career. Charles W. was born to Charles and Sarah (Sparks) Meek in Hertfordshire, England, in the year 1850. There … Read more