Multnomah County OR

Wilson, Jim – Obituary

Island City, Oregon James “Jim” William Wilson, 72, died Aug. 5 at his home in La Grande. A celebration of life potluck begins at 1 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Island City City Hall. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. The Observer – August 7, 2008 ______________________________ James “Jim” William Wilson, 72, of La Grande, died Aug. 5 at his home. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. The Observer – August 7, 2008 James “Jim” William Wilson, 72, of La Grande, died Aug. 5 at … Read more

Biography of Dr. George Kellogg

DR. GEORGE KELLOGG. – Dr. Kellogg was born in Canada, April 6, 1814, and was the son of Orrin and Margaret Kellogg, and brother of Captain Joseph Kellogg of Portland. He was on of the most bold and original men that our state ever possessed, having that rugged and even combative disposition which finds its delight in antagonizing powerful and customary institutions and methods. Yet his genius was not destructive. It was simply seeking an opportunity to do constructive work that made him ready to give and to take blows; and underneath the shelter of his rugged front grew the … Read more

Neeley, Francis M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Frances M. Neeley, 83, of La Grande died Aug. 23 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A Mass of Christian Burial took place at 9 this morning at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. A graveside service will begin at noon Monday at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Mrs. Neeley was born June 11, 1923, to Frank Kovenz and Anna Schmidt in Billings, Mont. She attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and graduated from Commerce High School in 1941. She lived in northeast Portland until April 2002 when she moved to La Grande to be near her daughter. She … Read more

Smurthwaite, Thomas D. “Tom” – Obituary

Thomas D. “Tom” Smurthwaite, 77, a former Baker resident, died May 15, 2005, at his home in Portland. His funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Dick Hindman of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will conduct. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the funeral home. Tom was born to Jesse A. Smurthwaite and Zina Stark Smurthwaite on Nov. 10, 1927, at Baker City. He was a 1945 Baker High School graduate. While in high school, he enlisted in … Read more

Oregon in Control of Hudson’s Bay Company

As the ten-year period of joint occupation drew to a close, new commissioners were appointed by the two governments to effect a settlement of title to the disputed territory, but after much discussion they were unable to agree upon a boundary line, and, in 1827, a new treaty was signed extending the period of joint occupation indefinitely, to be terminated by either party upon giving one year’s notice. Thus, again, the settlement of the question was left to time and chance. In the meantime the British government, through the agency of the Hudson’s Bay Company, had gained a tangible foot … Read more

Hovde, Judith Ann Robertson Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Judith Ann Hovde, 60, of Baker City, died Sept. 22, 2004, at her home. There will be a celebration of Judy’s life at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Pastor Ed Niswender will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a time of sharing in the fellowship hall after the service. Judy was born on Feb. 20, 1944, at Mount Vernon, Wash., to Walter and Viola Andersen Robertson. She was a 1962 graduate of Eisenhower High School at Yakima, Wash. She went on to earn her nursing degree from Emmanuel Hospital … Read more

Biography of Charles Adolph Alisky

Charles Adolph Alisky was born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, October 6, 1840, and is a descendant of an old and highly honorable German family which for several generations has resided at or in the immediate vicinity of the place of his nativity. His father, William Alisky, was a native of Mayence, and early in life exhibited rare musical talent, at the age of seven years playing a flute solo at a concert in Mayence. His genius for music attracted the attention of the Grand Duke of Hessia under whose protection he was sent to the Conservatory of Music at Paris. Here … Read more

Biography of Sigmund Sichel

SIGMUND SICHEL. – America is made up of the most intelligent and energetic people from all parts of the world. It is those who are alert and keen in the pursuit of information who learn of the advantages to be found in this country. And it is those who feel the impulse to stretch their limbs and operate upon a larger scale of life than the opportunities the old world afford who undergo the labors and take the risks involved in a removal across the Atlantic. This rule, which is not without its exception, is exemplified in the career of … Read more

Bilyeu, Emma C. Brown – Obituary

The rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. June 16, 1994, followed by Mass at Holy Redeemer Church. Interment will be in Willamette National Cemetery. Mrs. Bilyeu, of southwest Portland, died June 10 of causes related to age. She was 99. She was born Jan. 8, 1895, in DeLamar, Idaho, and moved to Portland in 1915. She was a 50-year member of Holy Redeemer Church. Her husband, C. Lloyd, died in 1967. Surviving are her daughter, Cathryn M. Jiroch of Tigard; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Remembrances: American Cancer Society or American Heart Association. Arrangements: Zeller Chapel of … Read more

Hearing, Sam L. – Obituary

Sam Hearing 74, Native of Haines Sam L. Hearing, 74, of 1112 Washington St., Vernonia, former mayor and city recorder for the City of Vernonia, died Saturday in a Portland Hospital. Mr. Hearing was born and raised at Haines in Baker County. He was the youngest of 13 children of Sam P. and Susan Hearing. His grandparents came to Baker County at the time of the Civil War. Mr. Hearing came to Portland in 1928, where he was manager of a Safeway store, and in 1935 moved to Vernonia in that position. In 1938 he started his own store which … Read more

Geographical Position of Portland Oregon

To define her position in more particular terms, she is located in latitude forty-five degrees and thirty minutes north; longitude one hundred and twenty-two degrees and twenty-seven minutes west on the left bank of the Willamette River, twelve miles below the Falls of that stream at Oregon City, and ten miles above its confluence with the Columbia. It is one hundred and ten miles from the city by the Willamette and Columbia Rivers to the debouchure of the latter stream into the Pacific. As for distance to other well known points, it is about seven hundred miles to San Francisco … Read more

Emlaw, Catherine A. Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Catherine A. Emlaw, 97, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 29, 2006, at Portland. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 13th Street and Clay Street S.W., in Portland. Portland Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Catherine was born on Aug. 29, 1908. She was raised at Dickinson, N.D. She traveled to Spokane, Wash., for nurses training and graduated from Sacred Heart where she met and married one of her patients, Earl Emlaw, an engineer with the Great Northern Railroad. They moved to Portland in 1929 … Read more

Bilyeu, Emery Leroy – Obituary

Emery Leroy Bilyeu, an 18-year resident of Bend, died of natural causes May 1 at St. Charles Medical Center. He was 75. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon May 8 at Deschutes Memorial Funeral Home. A funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home’s Cascade Chapel. Burial will follow in Deschutes Memorial Gardens. Pastoral Counselor Ronald A. Melver will be the officiant. Mr. Bilyeu was born in Portland on Nov. 20, 1919, to James and Leona (Anderson) Bilyeu. He lived in southeast Portland and graduated from Franklin High School. He served in the Army during World … Read more

Biography of James Steel

James Steel, banker of Portland, was born in Woodsfield, Monroe county, Ohio, on September 20, 1834, and is a son of William and Elisabeth (Lawrie) Steel. His father was born in Scotland, but came to America when nine years of age, and was engaged in merchandising nearly all of his active life. He was a man of strong character, and every action in business and private life was governed by the most rigid adherence to a lofty conception of right and justice. He was strongly opposed to human slavery, and was very active for more than twenty years prior to … Read more

Biography of Capt. Hiram Smith

CAPT. HIRAM SMITH. – Capacity for business may make a man a miser or a shark. Generosity may make him a pauper. In the one case he may so use his talent as to over-reach and distress his neighbors; and in the other he may impoverish himself and become a burden rather than a benefit to society. The benevolent heart is best when joined to a sagacious head. No man seems so happy, and certainly none so useful, as he who is able to gratify his love of doing good by having the means for its accomplishment ever at hand. … Read more

Stevenson, Hallie Myrtle Graham Mrs. – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Hallie Myrtle Stevenson, 99, 4000 Cedar St., an Elgin native who would have been 100 years old next week, died Sunday, August 15, 1982, at Cedar Manor Nursing Home. Her graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Elgin Cemetery in Elgin. Pastor Ralph Holcomb of the First Christian Church will officiate. Mrs. Stevenson was born August 24, 1882, in Elgin to Daniel and Elizabeth Graham. She was the first white child born in Elgin after it was incorporated. Her father was a blacksmith in Elgin for many years. She married George English Stevenson … Read more

Miller, Henry C. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon COVE, Jan. 6. (Special) – Henry C. Miller, 65, of Portland, a brother of George Miller of this place, and Charles Miller of Burns, died suddenly at his home in Portland Friday, Dec. 30. Two nephews, John Miller and Lynn Chadwick were called from here to Portland. The funeral services were held at the Summerville chapel, the W. H. Bohnenkamp company in charge and interment was made in the family lot at Summerville, the Rev. Mr. Pollard officiating. Mr. and Mrs. George Miller left here two weeks ago to spend the remainder of the winter in … 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

Biography of Charles H. Dodd

In no summary of the forces and agencies which have made the Pacific Northwest within the last two decades take such rapid strides in material greatness, should be omitted the part bourne by the subject of this sketch. For nearly a quarter of a century he has been a conceded power for good in the commercial, intellectual and moral progress of a wide extent of country, and has left in many places and on many things the impress of his individual work. The following sketch of his life belongs very properly to the history of a city where he has … Read more

Biography of Hon. George A. Steel

HON. GEORGE A. STEEL. – The subject of this sketch was born in Stafford, Ohio, on April 22, 1846. Coming to Portland in 1863, he soon received an appointment to a clerkship in the Portland postoffice. Afterwards, accepting the secretaryship of the old Oregon Iron Works, he gave such satisfaction that Ladd & Tilton offered him a situation as accountant in their bank, a position which he held for five years. In 1870 he was elected treasurer of Multnomah county, a place he filled with general approval. During the first year of his official life, he and J.K. gill purchased … Read more