Biography of James H. Raley

JAMES H. RALEY. – Prominent among the pioneers of Eastern Oregon may be mentioned this gentleman whose name and portrait appear here with, and who now sits as joint senator in the Oregon legislature from Umatilla and Morrow counties. He was born in Nebraska City in 1855, and as a boy, in 1862, crossed the plains with his parents, arriving at Portland at a time so early in the history of that metropolis as to find an excellent spot for camping near the present site of the St. Charles Hotel. A year later the family found a location at Vancouver, … Read more

Biography of Colonel S. M. Barrett

Colonel S. M. Barrett, commandant of the Oklahoma Military Academy at Claremore and an author of note, is one of the most prominent men in northeastern Oklahoma. He is a native of Nebraska, his birth having occurred in Nebraska City on the 3rd day of March, 1865, a son of Robert W. Barrett, his father being an old plainsman. S. M. Barrett spent his early life in Nebraska but in youth he removed with his parents to Jackson County, Missouri, (near Kansas City) and at the age of twenty-one years went to Tulare County, California, where he became a freighter … Read more

Biography of Thomas J. Crain

Thomas J. Crain was born near the Ohio river, in Fleming county, Kentucky, September 4, 1830. He was reared and educated in his native place, and continued to reside there until 1855, when he migrated to Missouri and entered land in Holt county, improving the same and living upon it until 1864, in February of which year he rented his farm and went to Nebraska City, Nebraska. Here he was engaged in freighting to Denver, Colorado, for one year, when he opened a feeding stable, and carried on that business until the spring of 1866, then went to Hamburg, Iowa, … Read more

Wilkinson, Lydia – Obituary

Lydia Wilkinson, wife of Thomas Wilkinson, of High Valley, died Sunday night last of diabetes, and the fruneral took place at noon Tuesday, with services at the cemetery in Union. Mrs. Wilkinson was 56 years, 11 months and 26 days of age, and had been in a feeble state of health for some time. Lydia Rundall was born near Nebraska City, Neb., January 17, 1861. At the time of her death she was 56 years, 11 months and 26 days of age. Her early childhood was spent in the States of Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. In 1876 she crossed the … Read more

Biography of Jacob Jones

Jacob Jones, a pioneer property-owner, merchant, farmer, blacksmith and hotelkeeper at Montpelier, Idaho, and one of the most prominent citizens of the town, was born in Breconshire, South Wales, May 14, 1825. His parents were descended from old Welsh families and his father was a Methodist, and his mother was a Presbyterian. Of their ten children he was the youngest. He was educated and entered upon the active struggle of life in his native land and there married Miss Anne Collier on the Saturday before Christmas, 1852. As early as 1846 he had been converted to the faith of the … Read more

Johnson, Mae – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mae Johnson died at her home at Rt. 1, Box 37, Enterprise on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1980, at the age of 83. She had been a resident of Wallowa County since 1941. Born in Nebraska City, Neb., on April 6, 1896, she was the daughter of Henry and Maryanne Seymour. On August 25, 1936, she was married to Charles J. Johnson in Reno, Nev. He preceded her in death on Oct. 3, 1964. A Rosary was said for Mrs. Johnson at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, in the Bollman Chapel. A mass of Christian Burial … Read more

Biography of Edward P. Ray

Edward P. Ray. Fortunate is the man who finds his work in the world early in life and concentrates all his energies upon discharging his duties and responsibilities with credit and efficiency. One of this fortunate class was Edward P. Ray of Arkansas City. His father and grandfather before him were in the produce business, established one of the early concerns of that kind in Southern Michigan, and the old house is still flourishing and doing a large business at Coldwater, Michigan, today. Edward P. Ray grew up in that business atmosphere and after breaking home ties and family associations … Read more

Frederick P. Todd of Jamestown NY

Frederick P. Todd7, (Thomas Jefferson6, Caleb5, Gideon4, Gideon3, Michael2, Christopher1) born June 24, 1837, in Thompson, Geauge County, Ohio, married, May 30, 1865, Mary A., daughter of George B. Ford, who was born Oct. 13, 1844. In early life he went to Nebraska with his parents in the year 1857, where he remained until 1860, when he went to De Wittville, N. Y., where he attended school during the winter of 1860-61, then he attended the spring and fall terms at the Westfield (N. Y.) Academy in the year of 1861. In the winter of 1861-62, he taught school on … Read more

Biography of William Mann

William Mann was born in Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, April 1, 1839. He is the son of Jonathan E. and Mary A. Mann, who came to Missouri in 1841 and settled at Gallatin, where the subject of this sketch was reared. His educational advantages were limited, only having the opportunity of attending school two or three months each year from the time he was eight until fifteen years of age. His mother died when he was nine, and his father just before he became of age. His father being a merchant, young Mann started for himself in the same calling, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clarence Alexander Ambrister

Clarence Alexander Ambrister, engaged in the general practice of civil law at Muskogee, was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, on the 10th of February, 1888, and is a son of Samuel Alexander and Sallie (Gillispie) Ambrister. The father was engaged in the operation of a cottonseed oil mill. The son was accorded liberal educational advantages, which he pursued at Norman, Oklahoma, following the removal of the family to this state. He supplemented his early training with a university course. He became a resident of Norman in 1892 and through the intervening period has resided in this state, where he has … Read more