Multnomah County OR

Biography of Werner A. Wrenn

Among the agriculturists and business men of Wallowa County, the subject of this sketch stands as a leader, having manifested capabilities that justly entitle him to that position, while also he possesses an adaptability and perseverance coupled with energy, that have enabled him to handle large interests and manipulate them in a manner that brings success, while also his characteristic integrity and stanch principles of truth and uprightness have given him a prestige enviable and commendable. Mr. Wrenn was born in Benton County, Oregon, on March 3, 1866, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Watt) Wrenn, natives respectively of … Read more

Mattson, Andrew – Obituary

Andrew Mattson Drowned in Grande Ronde River Andrew Mattson, who came to this city last Thursday from Portland to work on the new railroad, was drowned in Grande Ronde river about 13 miles below this city Wednesday afternoon. When Mattson reached the railroad camps, after leaving Elgin, he was crazed from the effects of liquor. He did not recover as expected he would, from that condition and became totally insane. Two messengers came to town about noon Wednesday and reported the matter to the authorities, who dispatched a special officer to bring the unfortunate man to town. At 5:30 p.m. … Read more

Biography of William Billings

WM. BILLINGS. – The name Billings at once suggests the picturesque hills and valleys of Vermont; and we find that the subject of this sketch is indeed a Green Mountain boy, having been born in Ripton in 1827. He lived upon his father’s place until 1846, and in that year went down to New Bedford and shipped before the mast. This step brought him to Washington Territory; for, in 1849, he was left at Honolulu, from whence, in the bark Mary, he came to California, the gold of the Yuba mines detaining him but a few months. Indeed, the best … Read more

Darr, Nora – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Nora Darr, age 83, of 16901 S. E. Division, Portland, a former resident of Elgin, died last Thursday in Portland. Mrs. Darr was born on November 18, 1895 at Bald Knob, West Virginia, the daughter of William and Ida (Perry) Brooks. She moved to Elgin in 1946 and to Portland two years ago. Her husband, George Darr, preceded her in death on March 16, 1965. Mrs. Darr was a member of the First Christian Church of Elgin; Elgin Rebecca Lodge and Elgin Pythian sisters. Survivors include her daughter, Jacque Zenger, Portland; granddaughters, Marlene Rahn, Kelso, Wash.; … Read more

Weeks, Nancy E. Beason Mrs. – Obituary

Nancy E. Weeks, 77, of Portland, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 16, 2001, at a Portland care home. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Peace House in Portland. Mrs. Weeks was born on Sept. 8, 1924, at Portland to Walter and Nan Beason. As a child, she moved with her family to Baker City where she was raised and educated. She was a 1942 Baker High School graduate. After graduating, she returned to Portland where she met William G. Weeks. Mr. Weeks was honorably discharged from the military after serving in World World II. … Read more

Biography of Col. William Williams Chapman

William William Chapman

COL. W.W. CHAPMAN. – It has frequently been remarked, that while many men of great fame, and a deservedly wide reputation, cannot lay their finger upon a single public act that they originated, others whose names are less known can county by the score the progeny of their brains, now alive and active in the affairs of the world. Of the latter class is Colonel Chapman of Oregon. There are few men in America, even among those esteemed great, who have originated and carried to completion a greater number of particular acts of large scope and general beneficence. Many whose … Read more

Biography of W. H. Holmes

W.H. HOLMES. – The subject of this sketch was born in the year 1850 in Polk county, Oregon. He came of sturdy pioneer stock, who were among the earliest settlers of this state, and to whom he is indebted for those qualities of mind and body which fit him to encounter the rugged contests of life or the arduous and difficult duties of his chosen profession. His early years were spent on the farm, engaged in the usual occupations of farm life; but his love of books drifted his mind towards other pursuits, and soon determined him to seek a … Read more

Mathews, Ada M. Paugh Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ada M. Mathews, 76, of Baker City died Nov. 4, 2002, at her home. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Interment will be at 2 p.m. at Pilot Rock Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Ada was born July 9, 1926, at Norton, Kan. She was a daughter of Merl and Mary Olive Culligan Paugh. In 1933, she moved with her parents to Milton-Freewater where she received her … Read more

Hammack, Lyle – Obituary

Portland, Oregon Lostine native Lyle W. Hammack died Sunday, Feb.11, 1996, at the age 0f 85. A memorial service was held Friday, Feb.16, in the First Unitarian Church in downtown Portland. He was born Sept. 15, 1910, in Lostine. He attended the Behnke-Walker Business School and the Dale Carnegie Institute. He went to Wisconsin Dairy School in 1928 and in 1937 became owner of Raven Creamery, where he had been an employee when it was known as Raven Dairy. He operated the business until selling it and retiring in 1974. He was appointed by the governor to the Oregon Dairy … Read more

Biography of James K. Kelly

For many years James K. Kelly has been a prominent man in the legal and political history of Oregon, and has left upon the annals of this section of the Union the impress of his personality. In positions of honor and trust he has maintained an exalted standard of excellence and according to the dictates of his conscience and judgment his influence has been cast for the agencies he believed to be conducive to the true interests of the people. A fitting record of the part he has borne in many important events during his long residence in Oregon, very … Read more

Biography of H. McDonald

H. McDONALD – Mr. McDonald, who arrived in San Francisco in August, 1849, in the ship Hopewell of Warren, Rhode Island, and reached Portland the first time in August, 1850, on the brig Joaquina of San Francisco, was one of the earliest residents of Portland and of our state, and in the capacity of architect and stair-builder has done some of the most creditable work on our coast. One of his more recent successes, and something of a test of his skill, were the plans and specifications for the buildings for the Indian school at Chemawa, which were preferred to … Read more

Leonard, Jonathon – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Staff Sgt. Jonathan Leonard, U.S. Air Force Reserve, 47, formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 22, 1996, along with nine other airmen aboard the HC-130 cargo aircraft, call sign King 56, which crashed in the Pacific Ocean 40 miles out from Cape Mendocino, Calif. Last year a black granite marble memorial to the crew was placed at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. A military honors service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, La Grande. Sgt. Leonard was born April 11, 1949, … Read more

Bergstrom, Arnold K. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Arnold K. Bergstrom, 76, of Union, died March 4 of natural causes at his residence. A graveside service will be conducted at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Mr. Bergstrom, known as Arnie, was born May 14, 1930, in Kensington, Minn. He was one of ten children born to Theodore Ewald and Edith Eleanora (Eriksson) Bergstrom, both of whom sailed to America from Sweden in the early 1900s. His father arrived in America first, his mother following in 1911 aboard the Lusitania. He grew up in a frugal environment and … Read more

History of Portland Oregon

Harvey Scott’s classic work on the History of Portland Oregon is this basis behind this collection. Written at the turn of the century while Oregon was still young, Harvey heard figurative bands of progressive people marching through Oregon and moving it toward modernity, but also wanted to hold onto that old pioneer flavor that had made the region unique. In this manuscript you will find the history of this city of Portland, written by somebody who has been deemed one of the most qualified writers of Pacific Northwest historical material. For the genealogist, check out the biographies found in the Men … Read more

Biography of Captain Z. C. Norton

CAPTAIN Z.C. NORTON. – Of the early pioneers to Oregon who were natives of the Pine Tree state, the subject of this sketch occupied a prominent place during his life. He was born in Farmington, Maine, December 29, 1808, and when fourteen years of age was sent to sea by his father for the purpose of learning navigation, and gaining possible promotion to the captaincy of a vessel. His patron was an old friend of his parents, and was the commander of the vessel in which our subject began his travels on the briny deep. By close attention to the … Read more

Schlegel, Willard “Willie” – Obituary

Willard “Willie” Schlegel, 82, a former Elgin resident, died June 26, 2003, at Emmett Rehab & Healthcare in Emmett, Idaho. The family invites all of Willie’s friends to join them in a memorial celebration of his life on Saturday, July 26, at 2 p.m. at the Stampede hall on the rodeo grounds in Elgin. The oldest son of Velma and William “Bill” Schlegel, Willie was born March 12, 1921, in Whitefish, Mont. He attended school in Whitefish, where he excelled in sports. In high school he was a member of the all-star team in both football and basketball. After graduation, … Read more

Williams, Franklyn Spence – Obituary

Franklyn Spence Williams, 70, a former Baker resident, died July 10, 2008, at Providence Medical Center in Portland, Ore. A service was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Omega Funeral & Cremation Service in Portland. Franklyn was born July 1, 1938, in Baker, to Jay and Marjorie Williams. He graduated from high school in Baker. He worked during his early years in Baker, and in 1959 moved to Portland where he worked for Johnston Bros. contract carriers providing services at the Oregon Journal, which later sold to The Oregonian. In 1968 he bought the Husky Service Station … Read more

Biography of Solomon Hirsch

There is something inspiring in the record of a busy and useful life; something stimulating in the details of a career that is marked by a generous and beneficent purpose; something worthy of emulation in the success that has been wrought by unselfish means. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name is the title of this biography, and so thoroughly have the varied lines of his efforts been blended with the agencies which have been conducive to the material progress of the Pacific Northwest during many years that no history of this portion of the Union, and … Read more

Menolascina, Kay Sharon Phillips Mrs. – Obituary

Kay Sharon Menolascina, 68, of Baker City, died July 16, 2009, at an adult foster care home after an extended illness. At her request, her body was cremated. Private inturnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Menolascina was born on Nov. 17, 1940, at Oregon City to Raymond I. and Emma “Jean” Phillips. Kay graduated from Franklin High School where she sang in the choir. She also attended Business College. For more than 10 years she and her husband, Dino, operated D & K Detector Sales, a successful metal detecting and prospecting business they started together in 1968 in … Read more

Andrew, George Emmet – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon George Emmet Andrew, 82, of Baker City died Nov. 2, 2001 in a Boise hospital of complications resulting from a traffic accident Sept. 28 in downtown Baker City. Disposition was by cremation. His ashes will be dispersed at his favorite locality. Mr. Andrew was born in Portland on Sept. 2, 1919. He graduated from Kelso High School in 1938. He worked at The Long Bell Lumber Co. in Longview, Wash., from 1940 until he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps after Pearl Harbor and attained the rank of sergeant. After World War II service he returned to … Read more