Nez Perce County ID

Biography of Robert E. McFarland

Robert E. McFarland, late incumbent of the responsible position of attorney general of Idaho, by his faithful and capable discharge of duty won the highest commendation. Thoroughly versed in the principles of jurisprudence, he was well fitted to handle the intricate problems which presented themselves for solution, and his success affords the best evidence of his capabilities. He is a native of Missouri, born in Independence, November 21, 1857. The family is of Scotch lineage, the first American ancestors having crossed the Atlantic in colonial days and actively participated in the events which form the history of that epoch. They … Read more

Evans, John William “Jack” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon John William “Jack” Evans, 78, of La Grande died Aug. 24 at his home. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Daniels Chapel. Burial will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wallowa Cemetery. Mr. Evans was born Oct. 29, 1927, to James Ward and Myrtle Maude West Evans in Wallowa. He graduated from Wallowa High School, and served in the Army Air Forces in 1946 and 1947. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English … Read more

Blang, Patricia M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Patricia M. Blang, 63, of La Grande died Nov. 4 of natural causes at a care center in La Grande. There will be a celebration of life service at the Union County Senior Center at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Burial will be at Asotin Cemetery in Asotin, Wash. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. Mrs. Blang was born to William Murphy Watkins and Opal Marie Truitt on July 20, 1943, in Lewiston, Idaho. She married Richard J. Blang on June 28, 1980. She enjoyed teddy bears, stuffed animals and singing. … Read more

Botts, Neva May – Obituary

Mrs. Neva May Botts 66, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Hospital after suffering a heart attack outside the Lewiston Eagles Hall at 1304 Main St. She had just emerged from the lodge hall with Mr. and Mrs. Chester Bull when she slumped to the sidewalk. She was rushed to the hospital, where a doctor and Wilfred J Duclos, Nez Prece County coroner pronounced her dead at 1:37 A.M. The doctor said she had suffered a coronary occlusion and was dead when she hit the sidewalk. The Bulls with whom she had attended the club said she had danced frequently … Read more

Leyva, Rick Lonnie – Obituary

Rick Lonnie Leyva, 29, of Culdesac, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died May 31, 2001, at Joseph Plains, south of Cottonwood. His body was cremated and no service is planned at this time. Uhlorn Funeral Home at Cottonwood, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Leyva was born at Valdese, N.C., on Dec. 31, 1971. He was the son of deaf-mute parents. He had lived in Idaho since April 1972. Mr. Leyva attended schools at Clarkston, Wash., Baker City and Medford. He was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Survivors include a sister, Consuela Hernandez of Rialto, Calif.; three brothers, Marcelo … Read more

Political Secessionism And Crime

Before the mining period, commencing in 1862, Idaho was a comparatively unknown region belonging nominally to Oregon and afterward to Washington. During the years 1862-3 such was the rush of immigration to this section that Idaho was erected into a territory of the United States government. The enabling act to organize as such was passed by congress in the spring of the latter year, and on the 22d of September William H. Wallace, late delegate to congress from Washington, who had, on July l0th preceding, been appointed governor of Idaho by President Lincoln, issued his proclamation for organizing the territory, … Read more

Appleton, Nathan – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mr. and Mrs. Raburn had taken Nathan Appleton down to the boat on the Grande Ronde river on which he went on to Lewiston. Mr. Appleton was critically ill when he began the trip and died the following Wednesday at Lewiston Enterprise Record Chieftain, Enterprise, Wallowa, County, Oregon January 25, 1912 Contributed By: Charlotte Carper

Anderson, Barbara “Carol” – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Barbara “Carol” Anderson of Joseph and formerly of La Grande died May 4, 2006, at home. She was 73. Mrs. Anderson was born May 31, 1932, to Chester Duane and Blossom Lenore Waterer Hoskin in Agatha, Idaho. She was raised in the Lewiston, Idaho area and moved to La Grande in 1949. She moved to Wallowa County five years ago to be near her daughter and granddaughters. During her life she worked in various restaurants and at Hot Lake Resort for a time. Mrs. Anderson loved the outdoors, gardening, and fishing. She enjoyed picking huckleberries, hunting for mushrooms … Read more

Hester, Ray C. – Obituary

Troy, Wallowa County, Oregon Ray C. Hester, who was engaged in stock raising at Troy a few years beginning in 1918, died at Pendleton Monday after a short illness. He was born at Emmetsburg, Iowa, 54 years ago, and the family moved to Lewiston, Idaho in 1904. After leaving Troy he moved to Pendleton, and at the time of his death he was assistant cashier of the branch of the First National Bank of Portland. Surviving are the widow, a son and a daughter and a brother and a sister. Source: Enterprise Record Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, February 29, 1940, page … Read more

Biography of Rev. Henry Harmon Spalding

REV. H.H. SPALDING. – Rev. Henry Harmon Spalding was born at Prattsburg, New York, November 26, 1803. In early life he was left an orphan, and was brought up by strangers, who gave him almost no school advantages, so that at the age of twenty-one he began the rudiments of English grammar and arithmetic, could read so as to be understood and write after a copy. Having become a Christian, he united with the Presbyterian church of his native place in August, 1826; and between 1825 and 1828 he went to school so much that he was able to teach … Read more

Hammond, Ruth – Obituary

Ruth Hammond departed this life while at the hospital at Lewiston, Idaho, January 30th, 1920, aged 18 years, 11 months and 2 days. Ruth was the daughter of Tim Gordon (deceased) and Eliza (Gordon) Backelman, a resident of Bartlett, where the daughter was born. She was married to T.B. Hammond on Dec. 30th. 1918, who, with the mother and one sister, Mrs. Dale Estes, of Troy remain to mourn her departure. Wallowa County Reporter, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday February 19, 1920

Biography of Peter J. Pefley

An Idaho pioneer of 1864, Peter J. Pefley, is now engaged in the harness and saddlery business in Lewiston, and has long been accounted one of the representative men of the state, for the active interest he has taken in promoting her welfare renders him one of her valued citizens. His childhood days were spent on the Atlantic coast. He was born in Roanoke County, Virginia, June 6, 1830, and traces his ancestry back to the Fatherland, whence John Pefley, his great-grandfather, came to America, sailing from Baden-Baden in 1730. He took up his residence in Virginia, and there occurred … Read more

Biography of William F. Kettenbach

William F. Kettenbach now deceased, was one of Lewiston’s most enterprising and successful businessmen, and for many years was president of the Lewiston National Bank. He left the impress of his individuality upon the commercial life and prosperity of the city, and his history forms an important chapter in the annals of the growth and development of this section of the state. He was born in New York City, May 15, 1849, just two days after the arrival of his parents, Henry and Elizabeth Kettenbach, from Germany. They were natives of that land. The father was descended from one of … Read more

Biography of James W. Poe

James W. Poe, a distinguished lawyer and Idaho pioneer, residing at Lewiston, is a native of Jackson county, Missouri, his birth having there occurred on the 15th of January, 1838. His father, William B. Poe, was born in North Carolina, and married Mrs. Nancy Mulkey, nee Johnson, a native of South Carolina, by whom he had four children, two of whom are yet living. He valiantly served his country as a soldier in the Mexican war, and in 1853 crossed the plains to Oregon with his family. Our subject accompanied his parents on their westward emigration, and acquired his education … Read more

Biography of Lewis Fleischner

Fleischner, Lewis, one of the leading merchants of Portland was born in the village of Vogelgesang, Bohemia, in 1829. He was educated in his native village and at Tissan a small town near his home. At the age of fifteen years he came to America, and for a short time remained in New York City. He then went to Philadelphia, where he was employed for five years by a dealer in horses and cattle. At the end of this period, in 1849, he came to Drakeville, Davis County, Iowa, and for three years was engaged in merchandising. In 1852 he … Read more

Fray, Rose Anne Deering Kernan – Obituary

Mrs. Rose Fray, 86, who first came to Idaho in 1902 when her husband homesteaded at Slickpoo, died last night [May 31, 1927] at 9 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Moore, 422 Sixth Street. Death was attributed to infirmities. Mrs. Fray was a native of Kentucky, born September 12, 1859. The family came west from Little Falls, Minn. Her first husband, James Kernan, died in 1928, and she remarried W. Fray who died several years ago. The family lived at Slickpoo until 1915 then moved to Lewiston and later Mrs. Fray made her home in Clarkston. She … Read more

Simonton, Rolvin David – Obituary

Colonel R. D. Simonton, one of the best-known railroad men in the Lewiston Country, died this morning [December 30, 1915] at 2:20 o’clock at the family home, 9223 Twenty Fourth Street from hemorrhage of the brain with which he was stricken last May. Colonel Simonton had been in failing health since first stricken and for the past month his condition was critical. It was known for several days that the end was near. Colonel Simonton would have been 74 years of age on January 24, 1916. He was employed by the Northern Pacific 27 years and was relieved from duty … Read more

Biography of Perrin Beza Whitman

The name of Perrin Beza Whitman is indelibly inscribed on the pages of the history of the northwest, for throughout the period of its development he was an active factor in promoting its interests and is numbered among the honored pioneers who made possible its later-day progress and prosperity. The lot of the pioneer of the northwest has been a peculiarly hard one. The Indians, driven from their hunting grounds farther east, have cherished the resentment characteristic of the race, and have met as foes the brave band of white men who came to the western wilderness to reclaim the … Read more

Biography of James Madden

The broad acres of Idaho have made stock raising one of the principal industries of the state, by reason of the excellent pasturage afforded, and among those who are successfully and extensively engaged in this business is James Madden, of Lewiston. A native of Ireland, he was born in county Galloway, December 18, 1855, his parents being Patrick and Mary (Kane) Madden, both of whom were natives of the Emerald Isle, where the father filled the responsible position of superintendent of a large estate. He lived to the venerable age of ninety-five years, and the mother passed away at the … Read more

Biography of Edwin R. Sherwin

This well and favorably known resident of Grangeville came to the territory of Idaho when the, flourishing city of Lewiston was but a collection of tents, and through the thirty-seven, years that have since come and gone he has been an important element in the business life of this section of the commonwealth. He was born in Onondaga County, New York, January 26, 1821, and is of English and German descent. His ancestors were early settlers of New England, and the grandfather. Captain Joshua Sherwin, was a resident of Hartford, Connecticut. He was one of a family of seven sons, … Read more