Olympia Washington

Olympia, the capital city of Washington State, is located at the southern end of Puget Sound in Thurston County. Established as a town on January 28, 1859, Olympia has a rich history that dates back to its original inhabitants, the Coast Salish Native American tribes. The city’s name is derived from the Olympic Mountains to the northwest, named by explorer George Vancouver in honor of the Olympic Mountains, which in turn were named for their resemblance to the home of the gods in Greek mythology. As the state capital, Olympia serves as the administrative and political hub of Washington, housing the state government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Geographically, Olympia boasts a picturesque setting with a blend of urban and natural landscapes, including Capitol Lake, the Deschutes River, and the nearby Puget Sound shoreline.

Biographical Sketch of Gustave Rosenthal

GUSTAVE ROSENTHAL. – This well-known merchant was born in Bavaria on the 4th of July, 1840. He continued to live in his native country until 1856. In that year he emigrated to America. The first three years of his stay he spent in Boston. Then, removing to the city of New York, he was engaged in mercantile business until 1861. In September of that year he came by the Panama route to California; and two years later he resumed his journeyings, coming to a final pause at Olympia, Washington Territory. There he soon embarked in the business of general merchandising … Read more

Biography of John W. Waughop, M.D.

JOHN W. WAUGHOP, M.D. – The subject of this sketch was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, October 22, 1839, and is now in his fiftieth year. His early life was that common to boys on a Western farm, working in the summer and going to school in the winter. By the aid of private instruction, he prepared for and entered Eureka College, at Eureka, in his native state. Before the close of his college course, the war of the Rebellion broke out; and those whose memory runs back to that time can never forget the fire of patriotism and enthusiasm … Read more

Akes, Esther Elaine – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Esther Elaine Akes of Milton-Freewater died June 27, 2006, at Evergreen Nursing Home. She was 86. Mrs. Akes was born August 23, 1919 in Pendleton to James Wallace and Lucia Mae Tilton Spencer. On February 27, 1943, she married Charles Leonard Akes, Sr. at Olympia, Wash. She worked at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle as a “Rosie the Riveter,” putting the metal skin on B-17 bombers, while her husband served overseas during World War II. After the war the couple ranched in Bickleton and Roosevelt, Wash and Mrs. Akes started Oasis Aviaries, marketing her birds in the area. They … Read more

Jorgensen, S. Cleone Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon S. Cleone Jorgensen, formerly of Enterprise, died May 1, 1983 at Olympia, Washington. She was buried at Bellevue, Washington. She is survived by one son, Lee Jorgenson, of Brush Praire, Washington; one sister, E.V. Ulrich, of Bellevue, Washington; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Source: Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, May, 1983 Contributed by: Sue Wells Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Beam, Delilah Lillian Siegler Mrs.

Baker City, Oregon Lillian S. Beam, 83, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 13, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Ed Niswender of the Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co. She was born Delilah Lillian Siegler on Sept. 1, 1920, at Kulm, N.D., to John and Katherina Weisser Siegler. After finishing her schooling, she traveled West with her sister, Viola, to … Read more

Biography of Rev. John F. Devore, D. D.

REV. JOHN F. DEVORE, D.D. – Doctor Devore was a native of Kentucky, being born near Lexington, December 7, 1817. He was of French descent, as the name indicates, and owed very much to the pious example of religious parents, who urged him with their last words to be “faithful to his God.” The “Life of Bramwell” fell into his hands at an early date, was read with great relish, and had much to do in molding the shape of his after life. Entering the ministry, he joined the Rock river conference in 1842, Bishop Roberts presiding. He was ordained … Read more

Mrs. Betty Hackney Maynard – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Betty Maynard, 80, a longtime Baker City resident, died Monday, March 25, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2177 First St. Betty was born March 12, 1922, at LaMar, Mo., to William H. and Nell Murray Hackney. The family moved to Salem when she was 5 years old. When she was 12 they moved to McMinnville She graduated from high school there. On Aug. 11, 1940, she married John C. Maynard in McMinnville. They moved to Baker City in 1958. Betty worked for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alexander C. McClelland

ALEXANDER C. McCLELLAND. – The present registrar of the United States land-office at La Grande, Oregon, is a native of Indiana, having been born there in 1842. He received his education at the Berlin High School, Wisconsin, and in 1863 came west to Montana as a gold-seeker. He found the employment of his intellectual acquisition more profitable, however, and for a number of years engaged in school-teaching and educational work in the Willamette valley. In 1867 we find him in the mines at Baker City, looking after “lodes” and “leads,” and also in 1870 engaged in the stock business with … Read more

Biography of Hon. William F. Keady

HON. WM. F. KEADY. – “The pen is mightier than the sword;” and the editor is greater than the captain. He is not simply a gossip and talker, but a thinker. The man who has grown up in a newspaper office can make his way in the world wherever a way is possible, and becomes a pillar in society. This is the case with Mr. Keady, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1821. He learned the printer’s trade, and entered the printing office of the Iroquois Journal at Middleport, Illinois, in 1852. Within six months he was half … Read more

Biography of Conrad G. Saylor

CONRAD G. SAYLOR – Among the pioneers to the Pacific Northwest, and especially to the “classic shades” of Yamhill county, Oregon, none enjoyed a greater measure of esteem than the gentleman whose name is the title to this memoir. He was born in Martinsville, Indiana, October 6, 1818, and in that state resided until he was twenty-two years of age, when he came west to Iowa. In the latter state he learned the brickmaking and brick-laying trades, which he followed in various sections, first as employe’, then as contractor and builder. Among the numerous buildings which were constructed under his … Read more

Biography of A. H. Chambers

A.H. CHAMBERS. – This wealthy and influential resident of Olympia is a native of Washington Territory, and a son of one of the earliest pioneers, his parents having crossed the plains to Oregon in 1844. Andsworth was born near Olympia, at Chambers Prairie, June 25, 1851. He began his career at the early age of twelve as a herder of stock, and continued in this business until nineteen years of age, acquiring thereby a knowledge of life and of practical affairs which has been of great value. At the above age, in partnership with his father, he successfully established a … Read more

McCully, Frank M. – Obituary

Death calls F. M. M’Cully, Passes away after a sinking spell yesterday morning Funeral Thursday Frank M. McCully, Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction, died at 5:30 o’clock yesterday morning…underwent an operation for removal of gall stones about ten days ago. The operation was successful but his condition was so enfeebled by the progress of the disease attended by kidney trouble of a similar nature that he failed to rally and rapidly became worse. Saturday and Sunday death was fought off by the injection of saline solution but on Monday he rallied perceptibly and strong hope of his ultimate recovery … Read more

Biography of Esdras N. Ouimette

Explore the remarkable life of Esdras N. Ouimette (1838-), from his roots in St. Eustache, Quebec, to becoming a cornerstone of Tacoma, Washington’s early business community. This biography highlights Ouimette’s journey westward, his transformative contributions to Tacoma’s development, including the construction of the city’s first three-story brick building, and his success in real estate. Ouimette’s story is a testament to the enduring impact one individual can have on a city’s economic and social fabric, inviting readers to uncover the details of his legacy and Tacoma’s ascent as the City of Destiny.

Champ, William – Obituary

Large funeral state pioneer-William champ dies at Winlock and funeral held on Sunday-Baptist church would not hold nearly all the mourners-organized many Masonic lodges in the west. Sunday afternoon from the Baptist Church at Winlock were held the funeral services of William Champ of that city who died Saturday. The church would not begin to hold the people who were present to pay their respects to the memory of this old pioneer who came west and who first located in Olympia in 1860. Born in Kentucky in 1825-he would have been 88 year old in about one month-Mr. Champ joined … Read more

Dale, Donald D. – Obituary

Donald D. Dale of Portland, Oregon, died in an Olympia hospital Wednesday [January 4, 1950] after a week’s illness. Mr. and Mrs. Dale came to Olympia for a visit during the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stuth, 223 North Foote Street. Mrs. Dale and Mrs. Stuth are sisters [Lottie and Nellie Grunden]. Born in Missouri, July 17, 1886, Mr. Dale moved to Portland thirty five years ago and had been engaged in the real estate business there. He is survived by his wife, Lottie; two brothers, Bogue Dale in the real estate business in Klamath Falls, and Keith Dale, … Read more

Sisk, Audrey Leville Swan – Obituary

Mrs. Audrey L. Sisk, daughter of a pioneer valley resident died last night at the Valley General Hospital after being hospitalized 13 days. She was born April 1, 1882 in Olympia and came here in 1898 with her father Thomas Swan who crossed Snoqualmie Pass by horse-drawn wagon. The family homesteaded the ranch in the Reecer Creek area which is now the Dunbar-Marriott ranch. She was married to Charles T. Sisk, July 17, 1901, and they moved to the Wenas District where they ranched until 1922 when they returned to the Kittitas Valley. Sisk preceded his wife in death, Feb. … Read more

Biography of William H. Saylor, M.D.

William H. Saylor, M. D., was born in Wapello County, Iowa, August 17, 1843. His parents were Conrad G. and Mary A. (Black) Saylor. In 1852 he was brought by his parents across the plains to Oregon, and in the fall of that year arrived in Portland. In the succeeding spring the family went to Olympia, Washington Territory, remaining there until the summer of 1854 when they removed to a farm which his father had purchased in Rock Prairie. Here our subject lived until the breaking out of the Indian war of 1855 when the family, removed for protection to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas M. Alvord

THOS. M. ALVORD. – Mr. Alvord was born in Homer, Courtland county, New York, February 26, 1832, and is the son of Sylvester and Lucy Hull Alvord. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving under General Washington, and took up a Donation claim on the present site of Homer, New York. His father was born on the place, and died in 1864. He resided at his birthplace until 1853, when with his brother, Henry S., he left New York on board the Prometheus, via Nicaragua, and on the Pacific side took the Cortez, arriving in San Francisco … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles H. Mason

HON. CHARLES H. MASON. – Mr. Mason was born at Fort Washington, on the Potomac river, Maryland, in 1830. At the age of seven, with his widowed mother, he removed to Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated in 1850 with distinguished honors at Brown University, and was admitted to the bar of Rhode Island in 1851. On the election of President Pierce, he was recommended by the Rhode Island bar for the office of United States district attorney for that state. On the declination of the secretaryship of Washington Territory by Major Farquaharson, in September, 1853, Mr. Mason received the appointment … Read more