Biography of Don Francis Reed

Don Francis Reed has been identified with Harper, Kansas, successively as a blacksmith, farmer and lawyer. Admitted to the bar a little more than two years ago he had won his spurs in his first legal contest, and is now well established with a general clientage drawn from all over Harper County. Mr. Reed was born at Logansport, Indiana, January 10, 1887, and is a member of a family that had three living generations. He is of Scotch ancestry. His great-grandfather, Herriman Reed, was born in Scotland, came to this country in early times, settling in Philadelphia, and died there. … Read more

Burford, Paula Errolo – Obituary

Union, Oregon Paula Errolo Burford, 80, of College Place, Wash., and formerly of Union died Sept. 17 at her daughter’s home. The funeral was held today at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater. Burial was at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery. Mrs. Burford was born March 25, 1926, to Joseph Coleman and Katie Rosilla Deuel Lay in Medical Springs. She graduated from Union High School, and attended Brigham Young University. She moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where she worked for Western Union. On Sept. 16, 1949, she married Clifford Edwin Burford in Los Angeles. They returned to Oregon and lived in Milton-Freewater for … Read more

Lanegan, Lisa Lynn Simpson – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lisa Lynn Simpson Collis Lanegan, 40, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of La Grande and Baker City, died suddenly Aug. 18 in Vancouver. The cause of death has not been determined. No services have been scheduled. A family gathering will held at a later date to celebrate her life. Dahl-McVicker Funeral Home in Kelso, Wash., is handling arrangements. Lisa was born March 18, 1966, in San Gabriel, Calif. She attended junior high and high school in Baker but graduated from high school in California. As a certified nurse assistant she worked as a caregiver much of her … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Yount

Henry Yount of Tustin, was born in Platte County, Missouri, December 11, 1845, his parents being Henry and Deborah (Doherty) Yount, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsylvania, who moved to Missouri in 1832, locating upon a farm, and there the senior Yount died in 1845, when his son Henry was but two weeks old. His mother subsequently married Abraham Van Vranken. May 5, 1865, Mr. Yount started for California with an ox team; and after arriving he followed farming the first year in Santa Clara County; then he was a wheat-raiser in San Joaquin County … Read more

Dwan, Lois Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Lois Smith Dwan who was born in Baker Oregon on December 27, 1913 died yesterday at the age of 91 at home in Santa Monica, California. She was the daughter of Allan A Smith and Mable Garrett Smith. Alan and Mable both began their careers in Baker as school teachers at Baker High School. It was there that they met. Alan went on to become a lawyer and a state senator from Oregon. Lois graduated from Baker, Oregon in 1931. She had a younger brother Hugh Smith who also graduated from Baker High School and went on to Santa Clara … Read more

Wood, Lord, Adelyn – Obituary

Funeral services for Adelyn W. Lord, 69, 2250 4th Street will be conducted a 11 a. m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Beatty Chapel. The Rev. Merle W. Burres will officiate with internment in Hillcrest Cemetery, at La Grande, Oregon. Mrs. Lord was born July 8, 1896, at Columbus, Nebraska, the daughter of George S. (Sedgewick) and Nancy Ellen (Bunney) Wood, and attended school in Columbus, Missouri. She received her nurses training in California, and practiced nursing in Letterman General Hospital, at the Presidio, in San Francisco, and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. She had been a resident … Read more

Green, Clarence Ellsworth “Clancy” – Obituary

Keating, Oregon Clarence Ellsworth “Clancy” Green, 82, of Baker City, died April 6, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. At his request, there will be no formal service. There will be a celebration of life gathering by the pond at his ranch later this summer. The time will be announced. All friends and family will be welcomed. Clancy was born on May 2, 1921, at Corvallis to Seth and Alice Green. He graduated from Whittier College at Whittier, Calif. After graduation, he went into radio broadcasting and was a radio actor. He also worked at CBS as an announcer … Read more

Biography of John Congreve

John Congreve, one of the well-known business men of Riverside and San Bernardino County, with which he has been identified for many years, is the general manager of the Riverside branch of the Pioneer Lumber and Mill Company, one of the largest and best known lumber enterprises in Southern California. The Riverside branch was established in January 1886, under the firm name of William H. Perry Lumber and Mill Company, and continued until January 1, 1887. The present company was then organized with M. A. Murphy as president, and S. H. Moot, secretary, and at that time Mr. Congreve took … Read more

Biography of Jacob Polhemus

Jacob Polhemus, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Colton, who located in that thriving city when the only buildings in the place were a saloon and eating-house, and the Pioneer Lumber Yard office. This was in 1875. He was a carpenter and builder by occupation, and was employed in the erection of the pioneer buildings of Colton. He built the first store opened in the town for Hathaway & Davenport, and many other well-known old-time buildings. In 1877 Mr. Polhemus purchased lots on the corner of Eighth and I streets and built his residence and shop upon them. This … Read more

Dinnick, Mabel Ann Long Mrs. – Obituary

Mabel Ann Dinnick, 93, a longtime Baker Valley resident, died June 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. There will be no funeral, at her request. A private family celebration of life will be scheduled later. Mabel, the daughter of Arch and Lizzie Long, was born on on June 26, 1912, at Muddy Creek at the home of her grandparents, Alonzo and Julia Long. She was the fourth of six children and attended her first 12 years of school at Haines. Mabel was the final surviving member of the Haines High School Class of 1930. After graduating from high school, … Read more

Reich, Ellen Mae White Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Ellen Mae Reich passed away April 26, 2000, at her home in Enterprise. She was born August 5, 1928, in Los Angeles, California. She married her husband of 53 years, William James Reich, who passed away April 13, 2000. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Elvin White, and Ester Obling (Thompson) White. Survivors include two sons, Terence J. Reich of Enterprise and Randall J. Reich, Central Point; one sister, Barbara Murray White of Oahu, Hawaii; two brothers, Harold White, Fallbrook, California, and William White, Carson City, Nevada; and one granddaughter, Brook Reich. Graveside … Read more

Biography of C. M. Scott, M. D.

In viewing the mass of mankind in the varied occupations of life, the conclusion is forced upon the observer that in the vast majority of cases men have sought employment not in the line of their peculiar fitness but in those fields where caprice or circumstances have placed them, thus explaining the reason of the failure of ninety-five per cent, of those who enter commercial and professional circles. In a few cases it seems that men with a peculiar fitness for a certain line have taken it up, and marked success has followed. Such is the fact in the case … Read more

Thomas, Thelma Gwendolyn Erdman Mrs. – Obituary

Thelma Gwendolyn Thomas, 92, of Baker City, died Feb. 1, 2005, at her home. Private family interment will be Friday at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Wash. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Bus. Thelma Gwendolyn was born on Sept. 25, 1913, at St. Louis to Alexander and Clair Erdman. She was raised and educated at Denver. Thelma met and married Louis “Bus” Thomas in 1935. Shortly after that they moved to Los Angeles. They had one son, Ron. Thelma and Bus owned and operated a printing and calendar binding business. She was always known … Read more

Bootsma, Edith Elaine Vallier Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Edith Elaine Vallier Bootsma, 58, died June 28, 2003, at her home after a year-and-a-half battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends until the end. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Elkhorn Baptist Church, 3520 Birch St. Pastor Ron Bissonnett will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at 2604 11th St. Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Edith Elaine was born on Feb. 17, 1945, at Long Beach, … Read more

Merritt, Matilda “Tillie” Barry Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Matilda “Tillie” Merritt, 79, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 20, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Dennis Marttala of the First Lutheran Church will officiate. Matilda was born Nov. 25, 1924, to Thomas and Amy Barry of Venice, Calif. On Oct. 27, 1951, she married Clarence “Don” Merritt of Baker City, whom she met while they were both employed at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft. She later spent several years working for Ralph’s Supermarket in Southern California until … Read more

Dishman, W. S. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Another Old Settler Passes To Eternal Home W.S. Dishman, an early settler of this county, well remembered by all the older residents, and father of Mrs. George S. Craig of this city, died at Whittier, Cal., Tuesday night, September 12, of illness due to old age, for he was in his 89th year. The body was brought to Portland for burial, the funeral being held Sunday afternoon from the home of William I. Dishman, a son of the deceased. Mr. Dishman was born in Kentucky, Dec. 6, 1821, and came west in the early eighties, settling … Read more

McDonald, Marian Titangos Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon There will be a memorial gathering at 2 p.m. Saturday for the friends of Marian McDonald, a former North Powder resident who died Jan. 2, 2004, at Los Angeles while visiting her family during the holidays. For directions to the memorial gathering, call Roxanna Swann at 523-9265. Marian had moved to Bainbridge Island, Wash., in 1999 after living in Baker County for almost 30 years. She was born at Youngstown, Ohio. Her parents Emile A. Titangos and Anna Fondas, came from Triglia, Asia Minor. The family moved to Los Angeles when Marian was quite young. Her father … Read more

Sullens, Wilbert L. “Will” – Obituary

Wilbert “Will” L. Sullens, 79, of Medical Springs, died April 4, 2005, at his home. His memorial service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Dale Bingham will conduct the services. Everyone is invited to a finger-food potluck reception at the VFW Hall, 2005 Valley Ave., immediately following the service. Will was born Nov. 3, 1925, in Prairie City to Russell and Madeleine (Barlow) Sullens. He was raised and received his education in Prairie City. In 1943, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, attending flight school in Santa Ana, Calif. He was honorably … Read more

Pullen, Raymond Francis – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Raymond Francis Pullen, 86, a longtime Baker City resident, and former longtime mayor/police chief and fire chief in Haines, died Sept. 10, 2001, at his home. His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Haines Cemetery. Pastor Sally Wiens of the United Methodist Church of North Powder will officiate. Visitations will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Mr. Pullen was born Feb. 27, 1915, at Wakefield, Neb., to Marion Francis Pullen and Emma Lena Fuoss Pullen. His family lived on a small farm near … Read more