Early settlers of Lewiston, Idaho

Ezra Bird, born in Schoharie County, N. Y., in 1839, came to California by sea in 1861, remaining in S. F. one year, when he removed to Idaho and engaged mining, express-carrying, and cattle raising. He was elected sheriff of Nez Percé County in 1873, serving 3 terms. He married Alice Odle in 1873. J. Clindinning, born in St Stephen’s, New Brunswick, in 1831, came to California overland in 1851, with a horse team, in company with H. H. Sloan, arriving at American Valley, Plumas County, in July. He mined in different localities for 3 years, when he settled at … Read more

Delaney, Vennie Florence – Obituary

Union, Oregon Vennie Florence Delaney, 98, of Lewiston and formerly of Union, died Oct. 23 in Lewiston. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Union Cemetery. A luncheon and sharing time will follow at the VFW Hall in Union. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Vennie was born Sept. 7, 1909, to Ray Jordan and Mamie (Riggins) Oliver in Fossil. The family moved to Union where she met Roy Delaney. They married on March 27, 1930. They lived in Union and raised their children there. She cooked at three restaurants during the … Read more

Biography of Lemuel C. Neal

A representative of the mercantile interests of Lewiston, Lemuel C. Neal is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and is a most energetic, enterprising man, whose success comes to him as the reward of his well directed efforts, and is therefore justly deserved. He is native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred at Sun Prairie, Dane county, on the 12th of June 1845. His ancestors were early settlers of Maine, and there his parents, Thomas and Olive (Dalton) Neal, were born, reared and married. In 1843 they removed to Wisconsin, locating within its borders ere its admission to the … Read more

Biography of Isaac C. Hattabaugh

Prominent in the field of politics and in business circles, Isaac C. Hattabaugh has left the impress of his individuality upon the public life of Latah county, and is today numbered among the leading and influential citizens of Moscow. A native of Indiana, he was born in Salem, that state, December 24, 1851. His grandfather, Jacob Hattabaugh, was born in Germany, and crossing the Atlantic to America settled in Virginia, whence he afterward removed to Pennsylvania and from there to Indiana. He was a man of ability and an influential pioneer settler of southern Indiana. His son, George W. Hattabaugh, … Read more

Fray, Rose Anne Deering Kernan – Obituary

Mrs. Rose Fray, 86, who first came to Idaho in 1902 when her husband homesteaded at Slickpoo, died last night [May 31, 1927] at 9 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Moore, 422 Sixth Street. Death was attributed to infirmities. Mrs. Fray was a native of Kentucky, born September 12, 1859. The family came west from Little Falls, Minn. Her first husband, James Kernan, died in 1928, and she remarried W. Fray who died several years ago. The family lived at Slickpoo until 1915 then moved to Lewiston and later Mrs. Fray made her home in Clarkston. She … Read more

Biography of Peter J. Pefley

An Idaho pioneer of 1864, Peter J. Pefley, is now engaged in the harness and saddlery business in Lewiston, and has long been accounted one of the representative men of the state, for the active interest he has taken in promoting her welfare renders him one of her valued citizens. His childhood days were spent on the Atlantic coast. He was born in Roanoke County, Virginia, June 6, 1830, and traces his ancestry back to the Fatherland, whence John Pefley, his great-grandfather, came to America, sailing from Baden-Baden in 1730. He took up his residence in Virginia, and there occurred … Read more

Biography of James C. Hanson

The Danish citizens of the United States are more nearly identical with our Anglo-American race than any other citizens of foreign birth. They possess the spirit which we call “go-aheaditiveness” in as large measure as any of our citizens, and they become Americanized and assimilate with the older population of our country sooner perhaps than foreigners of any other race. They are industrious, take to business on broad principles and are about as certain to make successes as any people among us. James C. Hanson, one of the prominent farmers of Latah County, Idaho, is not by any means one … Read more

Biography of John P. Vollmer

One of the ablest and best known businessmen of Idaho is John P. Vollmer, of Lewiston. In past ages the history of a country was the record of wars and conquests; today it is the record of commercial activity, and those whose names are foremost in its annals are the leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter, not of man over man, and the victor is he who can successfully establish, control and operate extensive commercial interests. John P. Vollmer is one of the strong and influential men whose lives have become an … Read more

Huffman, Harry Wayne – Obituary

Services Held For Harry Huffman Harry Wayne Huffman passed away on September 3, 1967 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Baker, Oregon after being a patient their for several months. He had been in failing health for the past two years. He was born on March 23, 1882 in Pyles Canyon near Union, Oregon. He was the son of William H. and Sophia Catherine Huffman. He was the last member of the family of six boys and one daughter. Mrs. M. Etta Dobbin. Harry was an old timer in Union and Wallowa County. For many years he employed by Keltner and Skaggs … Read more

Biography of James W. Poe

James W. Poe, a distinguished lawyer and Idaho pioneer, residing at Lewiston, is a native of Jackson county, Missouri, his birth having there occurred on the 15th of January, 1838. His father, William B. Poe, was born in North Carolina, and married Mrs. Nancy Mulkey, nee Johnson, a native of South Carolina, by whom he had four children, two of whom are yet living. He valiantly served his country as a soldier in the Mexican war, and in 1853 crossed the plains to Oregon with his family. Our subject accompanied his parents on their westward emigration, and acquired his education … Read more

Biography of Joseph Alexander

There is ever an element of interest in the history of a self-made man, one who starts out in life empty-handed and wrests fortune from an adverse fate. Obstacles and difficulties are encountered, but to the man of resolute purpose these but call for renewed effort and serve as stepping stones to something higher. The life record of Mr. Alexander stands in exemplification of what may be accomplished in this free land of ours, where the man of ambition and determination is unhampered by caste or class. He was born in Adelsheim, in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany, on … Read more

Biography of Aaron Freidenrich

Aaron Freidenrich, one of the most prominent merchants of Grangeville, and the managing member of the firm of Alexander & Freidenrich, wholesale and retail dealers in general merchandise, is in control of the largest establishment of the kind in the town, and perhaps no town of equal proportion in the entire country can boast of a better or more extensive store. The success of this enterprise is due to him whose name begins this sketch, a most energetic and progressive man, whose sound judgment is supplemented by industry and honorable methods. These qualities have brought to him a most creditable … Read more

Dove, Larry Allan – Obituary

Larry Allan Dove, 58, of Baker City, died May 25, 2005, at his home. Visitations will be from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Sunday at the American Legion Club, No. 41, 2129 Second St. and a potluck brunch afterward. His graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at Kamiah, Idaho. He will be laid to rest with his parents. Larry was born on Oct. 27, 1946, at Orofino, Idaho. He was the only child of Vernon D. and Gladys L. Dove. … Read more

Hooker, Frances Harriet – Obituary

Union, Oregon Frances Harriet Hooker, 92, of La Grande and formerly of Union, died April 4 at a local care home in La Grande. A life tribute and celebration will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at the Union Cemetery in Union. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Through the last 92 years, those who knew Frances say she touched many lives and helped many people as a volunteer at senior meals and the local food bank at the United Methodist Church in Union. She was usually the first one at church on Sundays and would turn … Read more

Biography of John Krall

Few lives have been more active or more thoroughly filled with incidents of interest and of unusual nature than has that of John Krall, one of the pioneers of Idaho, and for about thirty-five years a resident in the vicinity of Boise City. Now a wealthy man, he is indebted to himself alone for his fortune, for he started out in youth to fight the battle of life, a poor boy, and by the exercise of industry and perseverance, in the face of great difficulties, he came off victor over all. Mr. Krall is a native of Germany, born December … Read more

Barnes, E.W. Dr. – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Passes This Life Dr. E.W. Barnes formerly a resident of North Powder, and publisher of the North Powder News, died suddenly at the home of his daughter. Mrs. Opal White, at Lewiston, Idaho, early Tuesday morning of this week. For several years past Dr. Barnes had made his home at Hermiston. For several months he and Mrs. Barnes have been visiting the home of Mrs. White and the day before his death the doctor had celebrated his eighty-third birthday, and apparently was in his usual good health. Dr. Barnes was well known in Union county … Read more

Biography of William A. Caldwell

The history of pioneer life has long rivaled in interest the tales of battles and of life on the tented field. Without the roar of cannon and musketry or the inspiring notes of fife and drum, hosts no less brave and determined have gone forth into the wilderness to reclaim it for the purposes of civilization and have fought the hard battle of conquering the raw land, the sturdy forest and the rocky fastnesses of the earth, making each yield of its treasures such elements as can be utilized for man. This is an arduous labor and one to which … Read more

Wilson, Donna Rae Fine Mrs. – Obituary

Donna Rae Wilson, 59, of Joseph, a former Baker County resident, died Aug. 12, 2005. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church, 1420 W. North St., in Enterprise. Burial will be at 11:45 a.m. Thursday at the Grangeville, Idaho, Cemetery. Donna was born on Feb. 23, 1946. She attended schools in Idaho at Clearwater Valley and Grangeville. She married Ray Wilson in 1961 and began her adventurous life on a sheep ranch in Hells Canyon. The couple had two sons and a daughter. After the Forest Service forced them off of their land … Read more

Humes, Bill – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Bill Humes Dies Lewiston, Idaho Bill Humes, until recently a resident of North Powder, died in a hospital at Lewiston, Idaho, last week, was the information received yesterday morning by William Denton of this city. No particulars of the demise were given, nor as to the funeral arrangements. Mr. Humes had been at work, it is said, on a mining project on the Salmon river in that section. Mr. Humes conducted a shoe repair shop in North Powder for a number of years, the place being destroyed by fire some months ago. The News is … Read more

Biography of General Edward McConville

In the recent trial of arms in which America won recognition and admiration never before accorded her by the older “powers” of Europe, there was no more distinguished or valiant soldier than General McConville, of Idaho, who went forth as one of the commanders of the Idaho troops and laid down his life on the altar of his country. His was a noble life and a glorious death, and his name is enduringly inscribed on the roll of America’s heroes. Though his loss is deeply mourned by his many friends, his memory will ever be cherished by all who knew … Read more