Linn County OR

Harpole, Howard – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Howard Harpole, 82, of Albany and formerly of La Grande, died June 15 at Samaritan Albany General Hospital with his family at his side. Memorial services will begin at 10 a.m. June 28, at the First Christian Church in Albany. Howard was born in 1926 to Marvon and Rosetta (Marsh) Harpole in Elmira. He was raised in the Cottage Grove area, where he lived until enlisting in the Army. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and was in the 341st Infantry, 86th Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star. After the war he … 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

McDowell, Nora Alice Thompson Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Nora Alice McDowell, 77, of North Powder, died May 1, 1996, at the North Powder Ponderosa Adult Foster Home. Her graveside funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Marion/Friends Cemetery at Marion , Oregon. Rev. E.E. Blackmon of the Parkrose Deliverance Tabernacle of Portland will officiate. Vault interment will follow. Visitations will be today until 4 p.m. at the Coles-Strommer-Monroe Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. in Baker City. Mrs. McDowell was born April 3, 1919, in Marian, Oregon, the daughter of Fredrick and Milly Slyter Thompson. She spent her childhood and attended schools … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas K. McCoy

THOMAS K. McCOY. – The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born March 9, 1827, in Sangamon county, Illinois, and there was reared and educated. On October 12, 1848, he was married to Margaret A. Kendall, who was also born and raised in Sangamon county, the date of her birth being October 4, 1829. The fruits of their union were seven children, three daughters and four sons. Mr. McCoy came to Oregon in 1851 via the “ox-team route,” and settled in Linn county. The following year his wife joined him in his new home, she having come in 1852 … Read more

Burkhart, Jonathan Wassom – Obituary

The funeral of Jonathan Burkhart, 75, who was born four miles from Lebanon in 1851, was held in the Presbyterian Church Thursday afternoon. Rev. W. E. Baskerville, pastor, preached the sermon and members of the choir sang. The services at the cemetery were conducted by the Masons of which order Mr. Burkhart had been a member for more than 50 years. D. P. Mason, of Albany led the services and J. K. Weatherford, also of Albany, in a short address gave a eulogy of his friend. There was a large attendance. Mr. Burkhart is survived by his widow and three … Read more

Wood, Oliver – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Oliver Wood Rites Being Held Today Funeral services for Oliver Wood are being conducted by the Bollman Funeral Home today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at the Christian Church with the Rev. Lester Wells officiating. Mrs. Harry Stein will be organist and Ella McArtor and Sue Smyth will sing “Whispering Hope” and “Beyond The Sunset.” Casket bearers will be E. J. Hook, Howard Williamson, Orval McArtor, Delbert Wart, S. G. Sheets and John Lewis. Interment will be in the Enterprise cemetery. Mr. Wood had been in failing health for the past five years and had been a patient in … 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

Busick, Effie Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Memorial to Mrs. Effie Busick, Effie Cusick was born in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, near Scio, in Linn county, Oregon, September 27, 1866. In 1885 she came to this county, making her home with her brothers W. S. And S. F. Cusick, in the Powder River Valley. She was united in marriage to Arthur N. Busick November 18, 1886. The next spring, April 10, they moved to their home near Union. Ever since, over 38 years, this has been her home-to her the most sacred place on earth. Her she has happily lived and toiled with … Read more

Jewell, Marie Mildred Bilyeu – Obituary

A funeral for Marie Mildred Jewell will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Skyline Funeral Home. Burial will be in Skyline Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Jewell died of pneumonia Saturday in a Portland hospital. She was 66. Born Dec. 30, 1925 in Silverton, she was raised and attended school in Lebanon. Her maiden name was Bilyeu. She married Ray Evan Jewell on June 20, 1943. Mrs. Jewell worked for the Milwaukee Box Factory for several years and was employed at a gift shop at Union Station for about five years until 1970. She then operated the utility pay … Read more

Biography of Oliver P. Coshaw

OLIVER P. COSHAW. – This leading citizen of Brownsville, for many years a merchant of that place, was born July 4, 1831, at Connorsville, Indiana. His parents, who were characteristically thriving and agreeable people of French extraction, went to Iowa in 1843. After leaving school, the young Oliver was employed in a store as salesman, clerk or book-keeper, and there laid the foundation of knowledge and experience which has so well served him in his later years. In April, 1851, he engaged to drive an ox-team to Oregon for Honorable R.B. Cochrane, long known in our state and now, as … Read more

Calavan, James Madison, Jr. – Obituary

James Madison Calavan, well-known resident and pioneer of Oregon, died at the family home, 804 Taylor Street, Friday night [February 8, 1924], after an illness of several months. James M. Calavan, son of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Calavan Sr., was born in Kentucky, October 24, 1845 and crossed the plains with an ox team to Oregon in 1863. He settled in Linn County where he made his home with a brother who preceded him. He took up a homestead which he cleared and later engaged in farming. For a number of years Mr. Calavan has been a resident of … Read more

Kropf, Elmer James – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Elmer James Kropf, 88, of Cove, died April 11. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church, 10401 West First Street, Island City. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Burial is to be at the Duchess Cemetery in Duchess, Alberta, Canada, at 2 p.m. Friday with Delbert Birky officiating. Elmer was born Feb. 15, 1920, to Levi David and Esther (Maurer) Kropf near Harrisburg. At the age of 13, Elmer accepted Christ as his personal savior and was baptized and united with the Mennonite Church, to which faith … Read more

Twaddell, James Eber – Obituary

James Eber Twaddell, 96, died Monday at his home 337 SE 79th Avenue. Mr. Twaddell was born in Mercer County, Missouri, March 15, 1853. When he was 12 his parents brought him over the Oregon Trail to Union County. In 1876 he moved to Linn County near Lebanon and there, on May 10, 1878 he married Maria Hare. The family moved to Portland in 1904 when Mr. Twaddell built the house in Montavilla where he lived thereafter. Mrs. Twaddell died in 1940. Surviving are one son Ivan, in Portland; two nephews, George and Stephen Allingham in Portland, and a niece … Read more

Bilyeu, Edward Lee – Obituary

Funeral for Eddie Lee Bilyeu, 78, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. PST in the Scio Baptist Church. The Rev. Gerald Manley and the Rev. Victor Loucks will officiate. Interment will be at Franklin Butte Cemetery. Mr. Bilyeu, who was born April 8, 1884, spent his entire life in Scio. A farmer, he was a member of the Scio Baptist Church. He died Tuesday at Lebanon Hospital. Survivors are his widow, Laura; his son Ray, Lebanon; his brothers, George Dane Bilyeu, Lebanon; and Byron, Chemault; and his sisters, Mrs. Effie Small, Portland; and Mrs. Jessie Klinge, Salem. Lebanon Express, June … Read more

Linn County, Oregon Census

1850 Linn County, Oregon Census Free 1850 Census Form for your Research Free 1850 Census Images (partially indexed) Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1850 Linn County, Census (images and index) $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Free 1850 Census Transcription Census Transcription Hosted at Census Guide 1850 U.S. Census Guide 1860 Linn County, Oregon Census Free 1860 Census Form for your Research Free 1860 Census Images and Index Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1860 Linn County, Census (images and index) $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Free 1860 Census Index Surname A-B Surname C-F Surname G-K … Read more

Fleshman, Mintie Courtwright Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Mintie E. Fleshman, of Albany, a former resident of Wallowa County and well known here, passed away Sunday morning, February 19, 1973 in the Albany nursing home following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Fleshman was born at Logan, Iowa, on October 2, 1891, daughter of Peter Courtwright and Amanda Henderson. On December 10, 1910 she was married at Milton to Robert Lee Fleshman. For many years the couple farmed on Alder Slope. In 1947 they moved to Walla Walla where he passed away in 1949. She had lived in Albany since 1966. She was a member of Albany First Methodist … Read more

Crawford, Clarence H. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Clarence H. Crawford Clarence H. Crawford, 78, of La Grande and formerly of Elgin, died Tuesday at Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, followed by a graveside service at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Crawford was born July 4, 1928, near Gotham, Ark, where he grew up. Later in life he worked with handicapped children for the State of California. After retirement, he moved to Oregon and ranched near Lebanon and Prineville, then moved to Eastern Oregon. Clarence loved the outdoors. He felt he was a caretaker, a protector of the … 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

Yeske, Donald A. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Donald A. Yeske, 77, of Lebanon and formerly of La Grande, died June 29 at Salem Hospital. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the family home, 38811 Collins Lane, Lebanon. Mr. Yeske was born Aug. 17, 1928, to Herman E. and Frieda V. Zweifel Yeske in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and served in the Army Air forces during World War II, then served 32 years in the reserves. On April 22, 1949, he married Lois Johnston in La Grande. He attended the Brooks Institute of Photography in … 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