Courtney, Alva

Alva Courtney, 90, of Sweet Home, died Feb. 14, 2005. A graveside service was held today at the North Powder Cemetery. Workman & Steckley Funeral Chapel of Sweet Home handled the arrangements. Alva was born Dec. 10, 1914, in Anadarko, Okla., to Joseph and Myrtle English Courtney. He married Pauline Coates on Aug. 7, 1937, in Haines. She preceded him in death in 1972. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II. Alva is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Juanita and Nick Hutchins of Sweet Home; two grandsons, Jeff Hutchins and his wife, Sally, of Lebanon and … Read more

Bilyeu, Nancy Ellen Cole – Obituary

Mrs. Nancy Ellen Bilyeu, 64, died here Sunday [February 18, 1945] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ima Woodard. Funeral services are to be held in the Weddle Chapel here at 2 p.m. Tuesday with Rev. Kenneth W. Knox officiating. Burial will be in the Bilyeu Den Cemetery. Born at Grubville, Mo., on July 9, 1880, Mrs. Bilyeu had lived in Oregon for 62 years, chiefly In the Scio-Crabtree area. In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Woodard, she is survived by two grandchildren, Larry and Collene; four brothers, Robert Cole of Salem, Curtis Cole of Eugene, Roy and Otto … Read more

Marks, Alfred Porter – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Death Claims Imnaha Pioneer Alfred Porter Marks, an early pioneer of the county, and a farmer and stockman of Imnaha, passed away Saturday, December 27, 1958 at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient for about five weeks. He was born in Linn County, Oregon, January 28, 1881, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Marks, coming to Wallowa County in 1889. On June 8, 1912 he was married at Joseph to Mary Fisk who passed away November 10, 1941. Survivors include two sons, Clarence and Elmer; both of Imnaha; five brothers; Arch, of La … Read more

Young, Steven Eugene – Obituary

Steven Eugene Young, 55, of Hereford and formerly of Blackfoot, Idaho, died May 2, 2005, at Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario after a long illness. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home. Vault interment will be at Gilliland Cemetery. Steve was born on Aug. 5, 1949, at Longview, Wash., to Oscar Gene Young and Betty Alaine Wood. As a family they traveled extensively, wherever the logging jobs took them. The family finally settled at Sweet Home, where Steve attended high school. Steve became quite an athlete and loved sports, especially football. … Read more

Biography of Charles M. McClure

CHAS. M. McCLURE. – Mr. McClure has taken as active a part as anyone in establishing our state, and was one of the veterans who, as lieutenant, saw the whole war in Southern Oregon. Born in Missouri in 1832, he went to Mexico in 1850, and in 1851 crossed the plains to Oregon, settling near Brownsville on the Calapooia. He soon undertook the toilsome and exciting life of a miner in Northern California and Southern Oregon, and in 1853 assisted the settlers of Rogue river valley in protecting themselves form the Indians, being one of the relief party from Table … Read more

Biography of Benjamin Marks

A stanch and sturdy pioneer of the western country, commendable and loyal and patriotic as a citizen in all his relations since, a faithful member of society, and a progressive agriculturist and stockman of the Imnaha country now, the subject of this brief article is eminently fitted to be represented in any volume that purports to detail the lives of the pioneers and the leading men of the county, consequently it is with pleasure that we accord space for mention of the salient points in an eventful and interesting career in which our subject has universally manifested virtues of a … Read more

Childers, Mary – Obituary

Mary Childers Passes Away After Long Illness, Death Ends Suffering Well Known Woman’s Demise Occurs at Harrisburg, Oregon Mary E. Childers, formerly resident of Union county, died in Harrisburg, Oregon, Monday evening March 11. She has been ailing for several weeks and her daughter, Mrs. Irwin of Island City, was called to the bedside some time ago. Mrs. Childers was 59 years, 2 months and 21 days old at the time of her death. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. C. O. Heath at the M. E. Church at Harrisburg at 2 o’clock p.m. March 17. La Grande … Read more

Bilyeu, Hannah Jane Wassom – Obituary

Surrounded by sorrowing relatives and friends and of which there were a large number, and encased in a beautiful casket, all that is mortal of the late Mrs. Hannah J. Bilyeu was placed beside the husband of her youth, the late John M. Bilyeu, in Franklin Butte Cemetery, last Tuesday afternoon. The funeral cortege arrived from Lebanon to the cemetery shortly after 1 p.m., where a large number of relatives and friends from this city and vicinity had already arrived. After some little delay, caused by the non-arrival of Wm. Bilyeu, a son and his family from Jefferson, Rev. Baker, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William M. Blakeley

WILLIAM M. BLAKELEY. – The subject of this sketch, a prominent citizen of the rapidly developing upper country, was born in Missouri in 1840. In 1846 he crossed the plains with his father, who located near the present site of Brownsville, Linn county, Oregon, where he still resides. Mr. Blakely was here favored with the educational advantages afforded by the public school, and assisted his father on the farm until 1860, when he moved to a point near the present site of Prescott, on the lovely Touchet river, in Washington Territory. In the spring of 1861 he tried his fortune … Read more

Biography of Staas Spekker

As his name indicates, Staas Spekker, of Lewiston, the well known assessor and tax collector of Nez Perces county, is of German birth, one of the representative citizens that the Fatherland has furnished to the New World. The German element is an important one in our national existence, for its men of sterling worth, of enterprise and perseverance, have done much to promote the industrial, commercial and professional interests of the land. In his business career Mr. Spekker has manifested the sterling character of his race, and is regarded today as one of the valued citizens of northern Idaho. He … Read more

Leep, Frances Williams Mrs. – Obituary

Frances W. Leep, 87, of Baker City, died Jan. 16, 2005, at her home. Memorial services for Mrs. Leep will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Baker City Christian Church. Pastor Roger Scovil and Mr. Jack Pittman of the church will officiate. Mrs. Leep was born in King City, Mo., on July 11, 1917, to Nelson Oscar and Clara Belle (Keeney) Williams. She moved to Oregon with her family at the age of 14 and settled in Eugene, where her father was a pastor and her mother taught school. She attended schools in the Eugene area and graduated … Read more

Biography of Rev. Gustavus Hines

REV. GUSTAVUS HINES. – Gustavus Hines was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1809. On his mother’s side he was descended from the Carvets and Wilkensons of the old Massachusetts colony, and on his father’s from the Hopkinns of Rhode Island, all names of the highest respectability and even celebrity in the early history of New England. Governor Carvet of Massachusetts colony, and Stephen Hopkinns, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, were of the same families. he grew to his majority in the county of his birth, and in 1832 removed to Cattaraugus county, in the … Read more

Collins, Ora O. Jackson Mrs. – Obituary

Ora O. Collins Dies, Burial Friday Funeral services for Ora Odelia Collins, 67, will be conducted at 2 pm Friday at West and Company Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Robert McNeil of the First Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Haines Cemetery. Mrs. Collins was born March 24, 1900 at Perry, Oregon and married Charlie E. Collins Feb. 22, 1920 at Haines. The daughter of G. W. and Ida Long Jackson, she spent her early life in Baker County. The family moved to Medford where they made their home for many years. After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Collins moved … Read more

Marks, Tom O. – Obituary

Tom Marks Dies At Home Here Tom O. Marks passed away at 7:45 p.m. August 5 at his home in Enterprise at the age of 80 years. Mr. Marks was born at Sweet Home, Ore., Dec. 9, 1866, and lived in Olax, Prineville and Arlington before moving to Imnaha at the age of 23 where he lived on a homestead. In 1905 he and Charles Rice formed a partnership and together they raised cattle for ten years. He was married Sept. 15, 1915, to Mrs. Vertie Snell at Vancouver, Wash. While living on the Imnaha he served as deputy sheriff, … Read more

Barns, Malinda Anna Geddis – Obituary

At her home on the West side, Feb. 26, 1903, Mrs. A. Barns, aged 43 years. Mrs. Barns was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Geddis, pioneers of this (Kittitas) Valley and county. She was born in Linn County, Oregon, in 1860. She was married to A. Barns Feb. 2, 1879. She leaves a family of seven children and a husband, besides a host of warm friends to mourn her departure. She had been ill a long time with dropsy, which finally terminated in death Malinda was the daughter of Sylvanna R. Geddis and Emily Christine Tureman. She … Read more

Taylor, Terry Grant “Shorty” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Terry Grant “Shorty” Taylor, 41, of Albany, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 29, 2002, at Samaritan Albany General Hospital. At his request, there will be no funeral. Mr. Taylor was born on Nov. 7, 1961, at Baker City to Kenneth and Roberta Miles Taylor. He lived in Baker City until he was 17 and then lived in various places before moving to Albany about 11 years ago. He enjoyed drawing and writing poetry. He served in the Oregon National Guard. Survivors include his father, Kenneth Taylor of Baker City; brothers, Bob Taylor of … Read more

Biography of John T. Redman

JOHN T. REDMAN. – The subject of this sketch was born in Linn county, Oregon, January 3, 1856. He is the second son of B.W. Redman, who was a prominent citizen of that county, and a staunch Union man, who upheld the old flag during the early part of the sixties, when it required more than ordinary courage to take that stand. In the great flood of 1861-62 the family lost everything in the way of property, except horses. Early in February, 1862, John moved with his family and settled on a farm near Scio, in Linn county, and there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James P. Dickenson

James P. Dickenson has gained a good success in material things in Harney county since his advent here and is one of the substantial and leading stockmen and farmers to-day. He and his family have two good hay farms near the Narrows and also three near Lawen. These fine tracts of land return him annually large amounts of hay and give him opportunity to handle many head of stock. James P. was born in Grayson county, Virginia, on February 18, 1842, being the son of John and Rosa (Hale) Dickenson. He grew up on the farm and gained his education … Read more

Biography of Archimedes Hanan

ARCHIMEDES HANAN. – This venerable pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born on the 9th of November, 1810, in Harrison county, Kentucky. The early years of his life were truly those of a wanderer. Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota reckoned him as a citizen at sundry times and places up to the year 1852. In the spring of that year he started on the long and wearisome journey across the plains. Oregon was his objective point; and after the usual trying though interesting incidents of the immigrants’ career, he stopped at Albany in the fall of 1852. There … Read more

Durr, Carolyn Bonitz Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Carolyn Durr, 70, died Nov. 5, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Her graveside service was at 1 p.m. today at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends were invited to join the family for a reception at the Lions Hall afterward. Carolyn Durr was born to Aubrey and Thelma Bonitz at Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 14, 1934. Her family later moved to Albany where she graduated from Albany High School. It was in high school that she met David Durr. They were married in 1954 while he was serving in the U.S. Marines. They spent the … Read more