Linn County OR

Bilyeu, Inez Withers – Obituary

The funeral will be held Oct. 21 for Inez B. Bilyeu of Eugene who died Oct. 17 [2004] of age-related causes. She was 87. Bilyeu was born Oct. 13, 1917 in Oilton, Okla., to Ora Claude and Edna Guinn Withers. She married Edward Bilyeu on Oct. 13, 1940 in Lebanon. He died Nov. 13, 1978. She moved to Lebanon in 1927, graduating from Lebanon High School in 1936. She and her husband opened an insurance agency in 1942 now known as Bilyeu-Mill Insurance. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and trips to the Oregon Coast and Clear Lake. … Read more

Biography of Hon. Zenas Ferry Moody

HON. Z.F. MOODY. – Zenas Ferry Moody, ex-Governor of the State of Oregon, was born on the 27th of May, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts. His father was Major Thomas H. Moody. His mother was Hannah M. Ferry, an aunt of ex-Senator T.W. Ferry, of Michigan, formerly vice-president of the United States. Governor Moody comes of good old New England Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Gideon Moody, having borne arms as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. He has proved himself worthy of his lineage; and the principles which he imbibed on New England soil have been the guide of his whole … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. J. Kirk

T.J. KIRK. – It is pleasant to see that the oldest pioneers, who bore the brunt of the settlement of the country, are now the most prosperous. Mr. Kirk came to Oregon in 1846, being at that time but a boy of seven. He lived with his father in Linn county until 1871, when he made his home in Umatilla county near the pleasant city of Centerville. Here he has been in the horse and cattle business and a pioneer in raising wheat on the uplands. He now owns a farm of fourteen hundred acres consisting of the best land … Read more

Burkhart, Mary Scott – Obituary

Mary Scott Burkhart was born near St. Clairsville, Ohio, August 16, 1834, and died, at her home near Lebanon, on Sunday, April 4, 1897, aged 62 years, 7 months and 18 days. At an early age she removed with her parents to Iowa, where she lived until her marriage with R. S. Burkhart, which occurred in 1864. Soon after this she came with her husband to Oregon, and located near Spicer, in this county, where she resided for 12 years, and then removed to the place now occupied by the family, at the foot of Peterson’s Butte, where she has … Read more

Biography of S. R. Geddis

S.R. GEDDIS. – Mr. Geddis, a portrait of whom, together with a view of his beautiful home farm, appears in this history, is a leading and wealthy citizen of Kittitass county. He is one of the men whose success in life has been mainly achieved in the county in which he now lives by the exercise of economy, industry and business integrity, guided by intelligent financial ability. He is now a rich man, while but a few years ago he came to the Kittitass valley with nothing but an unblemished reputation as his entire capital. Mr. Geddis was born in … Read more

Kinzer, John Wesley – Obituary

John Wesley Kinzer, 79, lifelong resident of Linn county, died at a Lebanon nursing home Monday evening [November 14, 1955]. He was born at Crabtree on April 10, 1876, and married Rose Jane Bilyeu in 1900. Mr. Kinzer was a retired farmer. Surviving are a son, Lyle C. Kinzer of Lyons, a daughter Mrs. Reta Beebe of Eugene; three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Fortmiller-Fredricksen Funeral Home in Albany Friday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John Ryan, minister of the first Baptist church of Albany officiating. Concluding services will take place in Franklin … Read more

Kinzer, Louisa Wolf – Obituary

On Monday, July 26 [1896], at 9:25 o’clock in the evening, of a complication of diseases, Mrs. L. M. Kinzer, aged about 67 years. Mrs. Kinzer was an energetic pains taking woman just in her dealing with all, an accommodating neighbor and a kind mother. She was one of the 1852 emigrants and settled in the immediate vicinity of where Crabree station now is and where she passed to the Great Beyond. The remains were interred in the family burial plot at Franklin Butte cemetery on Tuesday. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Crume, Cecil A. – Obituary

Cecil A. Crume, 80, 3595 Bernard Ave., Albany, died suddenly Friday morning (Aug. 23) at the Albany General Hospital from a heart attack. Services were held today at 2 p.m. at the Fisher Funeral Home with interment at Waverly Memorial Cemetery. The Rev. William George Hooper officiated. Mr. Crume was born at Scio, March 12, 1888 to Charles Crume and Matilda Leeper Crume, and lived in the Albany vicinity since 1914. He was a retired farmer. He married Ada Crystal Bilyeu at Albany, May 27, 1907. She died Sept. 24, 1947. Mr. Crume and Fay Wokoloughlin Crume were married at … Read more

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

Wire, Sedonia M. Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Sedonia M. Wire, 93, of Lebanon died Sunday May 11, 2003, at Twin Oaks Care Center in Sweet Home. A graveside service was held Thursday, May 15, 2003 at Providence Cemetery near Scio. Huston-Jost Funeral Home handled the arrangements. She was born Oct. 21, 1909, in Portland, the daughter of Leroy and Anna (Burghardt) Davis. She was raised on a farm in the Lebanon area and graduated from Albany High School. During World War II, she worked at Fort Lewis, Wash. On Oct. 8, 1943, she married Walter Wire. The couple moved to Lebanon then settled in Sumpter. Her husband … Read more

Biography of Hon. L. M. Ringer

HON. L.M. RINGER. – There is moral earnestness about a man who is able to hold his own convictions in the face of his neighbors and friends. We find such a man in Mr. Ringer. Born June 17, 1834, in Washington County, Maryland, he moved as a child to Amherst County, Virginia, there receiving his education, but later making his home in Stoddard  County, Missouri, engaging in the mercantile business. When the war broke out in 1861, that community was strongly for secession. Mr. Ringer was obliged either to enter the rebel army or to leave. He chose the latter … Read more

Hansard, Sarepta – Obituary

Mrs. Sarepta M. Hansard, a resident of Lebanon for the past 43 years, died following a long illness at her home on East Grant Street, June 18, 1931 at the age of 75 years, 2 months and 26 days. She was the daughter of Francis and Jemima DeVaney and was born in Cass County, Missouri, March 23, 1856. She crossed the plains in 1864 with her parents who spent a year in Idaho, coming to Oregon and locating at Jefferson in 1865. She was united in marriage with John Bilyeu in 1871. Five children were born to their union. Following … Read more

Crume, Ada Crystal Bilyeu – Obituary

Mrs. Ada Crystal Crume, 58, a resident of Lebanon for the past 18 months, died Sept. 24 at the Albany General Hospital. She was born at Scio, Feb. 22, 1889, and lived in the Scio and Albany areas previous to her Lebanon residence. Services were held Saturday at the Fisher Funeral Home in Albany with Dr. E. B. Luther of the Baptist Church officiated. Interment was in the Franklin Butte Cemetery. Mrs. Crume is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Ruby Schulte and Mrs. Berniece Steen both of Albany; brothers, Eddie Bilyeu, Scio, Dane Bilyeu, Lebanon and Byron Bilyeu, Salem; sisters … Read more

Lee, Ruthella Chaplin – Obituary

Ruthella Chaplin Lee, 95, died Wednesday, May 10 [1989], in Providence Hospital in Centralia. She was born Oct. 3, 1893, in Brownsville, Ore., and was the daughter of Ralph and Sarah [Coshow] Chaplin. Lee attended Bellingham Normal School and was a teacher in the Chehalis School District until her marriage in 1917 to Virgin R. Lee. He died in 1986. She was a life member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a long-time member of the St. Helen’s Club and the Pioneers of Washington. Surviving are a son, William R. “Bill” Lee of Chehalis; three granddaughters; and three … Read more

Biography of Hon. James B. Sperry

HON. JAMES B. SPERRY. – The striking difference between a savage and a civilized community is the multiplication of different industries in the latter. The most of our interest in life arises from the interdependence of many persons, each supplying some single necessity of all the rest. The man who makes flour for the people of Heppner, Oregon, is Mr. Sperry. He built his mill with a capacity of seventy-five barrels in 1885, from means realized by the sale of his band of fourteen thousand sheep, which he drove to Montana to market. He is one of the substantial men … Read more

Bailes, George S. – Obituary

George S. Bailes of 844 South Sixth Street, Cottage Grove passed away June 1, 1963 at Cottage Grove Hospital at the age of 90 years. Born November 22, 1872 at Scio, Oregon. Married Emma Johnson, May 22, 1899 at Castle Rock, Washington. Residing in Lane County the last 58 years, a member of the London Church of Christ. Besides his wife Emma, he is survived by one daughter, Rita Swan of Washington D. C. and one sister, Mattie Jackson of Castle Rock, Washington, and many other relatives. Services will be held Tuesday, June 4, 1963 at 2 p.m. at Smith … Read more

Oswald, Ellen F. – Obituary

Mrs. Ellen Frances Oswald, 87, a Summerville housewife, died in a local hospital June 18 following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at the Summerville Chapel Thursday, June 21 at 2 p.m. with burial in Summerville cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Daniels Funeral Home. Mrs. Oswald was born in Harrisburg, Ore., Dec 2, 1868 and had lived in Union county for 85 years. Survivors include the widower Charles F. Oswald, who is in a local hospital, three sons, Wilbur of Barview, Eugene and Donald of La Grande, six daughters, Mrs. Oral Williams of Arrowhead, Alberta, … Read more

Fish, C. A. Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. C.A. Fish Answers Call Mrs. C.A. Fisk died at La Grande last Thursday, Feb. 28. Services were held Sunday afternoon from the Booth chapel with Rev. Howard Stover officiating. Nellie May Marks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Marks, was born at Sweet Home, Oregon, on March 29, 1879. When she was 11 years of age she came with her parents to Wallowa County, the family locating on the Imnaha River. She continued to live in Wallowa county most of her life. On Dec. 30, 1902, she was united in marriage to C. A. Fisk. … Read more

Bilyeu, George Franklin – Obituary

At the residence of his parents, in Scio, on Saturday, December 13, 1890, George Franklin Bilyeu, aged 30 years. The immediate cause of his death was hemorrhage of the lungs, but the real cause was being thrown from a wagon loaded with lumber, a portion of which fell upon him, 13 years ago, causing injury from which he never recovered. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Lewis Fleischner

Fleischner, Lewis, one of the leading merchants of Portland was born in the village of Vogelgesang, Bohemia, in 1829. He was educated in his native village and at Tissan a small town near his home. At the age of fifteen years he came to America, and for a short time remained in New York City. He then went to Philadelphia, where he was employed for five years by a dealer in horses and cattle. At the end of this period, in 1849, he came to Drakeville, Davis County, Iowa, and for three years was engaged in merchandising. In 1852 he … Read more