Oregon City Oregon

Biography of Rev. St. Michael Fackler

THE REV. ST. MICHAEL FACKLER. – The Reverend Mr. Fackler was the first clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal church in Oregon. He was a native of Staunton, Virginia, first moved to Missouri, and then crossed the plains for his health in the year 1847. This was greatly improved by the trip; and he soon undertook such work as he could do, teaching and preaching as opportunity offered. For a short time he taught in the Methodist school at Salem, the progenitor of the present Willamette University. At an early day he secured a farm not far from Butteville, where he … Read more

Biography of Hon. B. F. Burch

HON. B.F. BURCH. – B.F. Burch was born on the second day of May, 1825, in Chariton county, Missouri, where he lived during the first twenty years of his life, and received what was then considered a good, common-school education. It was complete enough to secure him the position of teacher for the families of Honorable Jesse Applegate and neighbors the first winter after his arrival here, – 1845-46. He also taught the first school in what is now known Polk county. In 1846, in company with Jesse Applegate, Lindsey Applegate, David Goff, William J.G. Parker, William Spotsman, John Jones, … Read more

Ward, Lois Eileen – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Lois Eileen (Ward) Anderson Funeral Services were conducted Sunday afternoon for Mrs. Richard Anderson (Lois Ward), 28, of Oregon City. Rev. Earl Rogers officiated. Music was provided by Mrs. Ralp Kay and Mrs. Garnet Best who sang “Beyond the Sunset”. Pallbearers were Keith Searles, Harold Lay, Bob Hamilton, Jack Christy, Bob Freels and Clyde Fleenor. Interment was in the Enterprise cemetery. Her first funeral was held at 10:30 Saturday at the chapel of Atkinson Memorial Congregational church in Oregon City. Lois Eileen Ward was born January 6, 1923 in Portland, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Landy Ward. … Read more

Vancil, Merna Bernice Adkins Mrs. – Obituary

Merna Bernice Adkins Vancil, 89, a former longtime resident of Northeastern Oregon, died April 17, 2008, at her home in Oregon City. Her graveside service will be later at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery. Merna was born near Weston on April 9, 1919, to Eva Lena and Marvin Adkins. She began her schooling at Fairview School on Reed and Hawley Mountain and then moved to Weston with her family when she was in third grade. She was a 1936 Weston High School graduate. Merna married Marvin Vancil on Aug. 7, 1938, at Weston and they made their homes at Weston, Enterprise, Arlington, … Read more

Biography of Dr. Alden H. Steele

DR. ALDEN H. STEELE. – “Olympia will always be a place for pleasant homes,” says one of her citizens well qualified to render an opinion, – the gentleman whose name appears above. The wide streets, magnificent shade-trees and comfortable residences of the capital of Washington Territory, together with her delightful climate, an extensive view of water and mountains, fully justify the remark; and no place could have a more pleasant recommendation. The Doctor has also examined the facilities of the place for a naval station, and finds that the location is most desirable from the following particulars: Safe anchorage and … Read more

Biography of Robert W. Worsham

This enterprising and representative citizen of Malheur County has the distinction of being one of the early pioneers of Oregon, while also he was among the very first in many mining regions where he endured the almost overwhelming hardships there encountered and wrought with a strong hand and courageous heart, doing well his part in the great development of the west. Robert W. was born in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky, on April 30, 1839, being- the son of Robert and Emeline (Elgin) Worsham. He was reared on a farm and in the winter months attended school. In 1852 he came … Read more

Biography of Hon. James Willis Nesmith

HON. JAMES WILLIS NESMITH. – Oregon has given a few men to the nation; and the luster of their memory still shines in the galaxy of her heroes. Colonel Baker, one of the most brilliant men ever at Washington, District of Columbia, has coupled with his title that of senator from Oregon. Yet he was in no sense an Oregon-made man, but rather made use of Oregon to elevate him to a seat which it was impossible for him to attain from Illinois. With Colonel Nesmith, however, the case was the reverse. He was as truly an Oregon man as … Read more

Gill, George – Obituary

Minam, Oregon George Gill, 76, of Baker City passed away at his home on June 6, 2007. Memorial Services will be held at the Eagles, 2935 H St. in Baker City on Saturday, June 16, at 1 p.m. An additional memorial will be held on the Minam at a later date. Mr. Gill was born in Oregon City to Manuel and Mary Gill. He attended several schools in Oregon as a child, moving with his family as his father worked in the construction business. When he was 12 years old, his father bought a ranch on the Minam in Wallowa … Read more

Biography of Judge Columbia Lancaster

JUDGE COLUMBIA LANCASTER. – Judge Lancaster, one of our earliest and most eminent judges, was born at New Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, on the 26th of August, 1893. His father was of Quaker descent, and settled in Ohio at an early date. Columbia read law under Whittlesy & Newton in Ohio. The Whittlesy of the firm was the honorable Elisha who was a long time in Congress, and afterwards held office in the auditor’s department under both Whig and Democratic administrations with no charge of his political sentiments. He though almost as much of his student Lancaster as of his … Read more

Biography of Archbishop F. N. Blanchet

ARCHBISHOP BLANCHET. – The Most Reverend F.N. Blanchet ranked among the apostolic men who laid the deep foundations of the Catholic faith in this country. He was born at St. Pierre, Riviere-du-Sud, Quebec, Canada, September 5, 1795, was educated in the Petit Seminaire, Quebec, and was ordained July 18, 1819, by Archbishop Plessis. At that time Oregon was simply the name given to a territory extending along the Pacific coast from latitude forty-two degrees to fifty-four degrees, forty minutes north, until finally, in 1846, – the year of the accession of Pius IX. to the see of Peter, – all … Read more

Biography of Alonzo L. Richardson

Thirty-eight years have passed since Alonzo L. Richardson came to Idaho, then a sparsely populated territory of the extreme northwest, its splendid resources undeveloped, its advancement a development of the future. For many years he has been closely identified with the work of progress, and is now filling the position of clerk of the United States court in Boise. A native of Missouri, Mr. Richardson was born in Franklin County that state, on The 19th of December 1841, and is a representative of one of the old families of Virginia. His ancestors located there in 1750, and there occurred the … Read more

Limbocker, Clyde L. – Obituary

Final rites for Clyde L. Limbocker [March 3, 1951], 724 Taylor Street were held in the chapel of the Oregon City Funeral Home, Wednesday afternoon. Concluding services were at Mountain View Cemetery. Rev. Howard Hutchinson, pastor of the Church of Christ (Christian), officiated. Pall bearers were Earl Downing, Clifford Chapin, Ray Corless, Bryan Foster, Frank Parker and Richard Bittner. Mr. and Mrs. E. Granville Limbocker of Richmond, Calif., were in Oregon City for the funeral. Enroute from the south, their train was stalled by a snow slide at the summit of the Siskiyou Mountains for 16 hours. The accident occurred … Read more

Kasinger, Lyman Roy – Obituary

Imbler, Union County, Oregon Local Resident Hears of Brother’s Death Mrs. Keith Glenn received word that her brother, Lyman Roy Kasinger died Sunday of a heart attack at his home in Oregon City. He had been a resident of Imbler and La Grande several years ago, and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kasinger. Survivors include a daughter, Gertrude Persyn of Oregon City, and two [*] grandchildren; one brother Jack T. Kasinger, San Bruno, Calif.; sisters Lillie Fehr, Woodland, Wash.; Floy Davis, San Francisco, Calif., Hattie Bell, Hood River, Bessie Ruckman, Oakland, Calif., Hester Glenn, Summerville, … Read more

Biography of Oliver P. Goodall

OLIVER P. GOODALL. – Mr. Goodall, one of our best men in developing Oregon, was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, August, 1828, and grew up on a farm, securing a common-school education. At the age of eighteen he left school and joined Colonel William Bent, and spent the winter of 1846-47 at Bent’s fort on the Arkansas river, in the capacity of clerk. He there met with continuous adventures, associating with such old mountaineers as Kit and Bob Carson, Bridger, the Calloways, Bill Williams, Dick Dallam, Black Dick Curtis and others; and his recitals of their brave and daring deeds … Read more

Biography of A. Lawrence Lovejoy

A. LAWRENCE LOVEJOY. – The subject of this memoir was born in Groton, Massachusetts, March 14, 1808, and was the third son of Doctor Samuel and Betsey Lawrence Lovejoy, descendants of good English families. His mother, Betsey Lawrence Lovejoy, was a cousin and adopted sister of Amos and Abbot Lawrence of Boston. When quite young he moved with his parents to Townson, Massachusetts, where he was a pupil of the Reverend David Palmer until the age of sixteen, when the death of his mother made it necessary for him to reside with an elder brother in Boston, where he engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Kineth

JOHN KINETH. – This pioneer of Oregon and of Whidby Island, Washington, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born in 1828. At the age of ten years he came with his parents to American, and passed his early life in Springfield, Illinois. He there obtained the practical education of the West, and learned as his resource for the livelihood the trade of a harness-maker. As early as 1849 he felt the impulse to go West. Joining a company of emigrants at Springfield, he crossed the plains, arriving at Milwaukee, Oregon, November 3d. Seeing that there was an abundance … Read more

Jackson, Phyllis Evelyn “Jacky” Ward Bryan Mrs. – Obituary

Phyllis Evelyn “Jacky” Jackson formerly of Baker City, Ore., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, of renal failure, in Oregon City, Ore. Services will be held at Hillside Chapel on 7th Avenue in Oregon City, Saturday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m., with vault interment in Mountainview Cemetery in Oregon City. Phyllis was born April 17, 1913, in Rothwell, Northamptonshire, England, the second of three children of Arthur and Mary Anne (Dawkins) Ward. She attended schools in Rothwell and at the age of 13 began her first job in Gruecock’s shoe factory. She later was employed at Desbeaux Corset Factory. In … Read more

Biography of J. T. Hunsaker

J.T. HUNSAKER. – This pioneer of 1846, one of the most substantial and upright men of one state, who has borne his full share of the burden and heat of the day in building up Oregon, was even from the first upon the advanced wave of American civilization, having been born at Jonesboro, Illinois, in 1818, and having assisted in laying the foundations of that giant state of the old West. He began domestic life in 1837, marrying Miss Emily Collins of the same state, and devoting his energies to the development of a farm. He was moved, however, by … Read more

Biography of John Marshall McCall

JOHN MARSHALL McCALL. – Among the substantial and favorably known residents of Southern Oregon, none have occupied a more useful place in the upbuilding of the state since the days of its infancy than the gentleman whose name is the heading of this brief memoir. His is one of those aggressive, go ahead dispositions that is an example of that time-honored adage, that “God helps those who help themselves;” and his whole life has bristled with instances of this belief. A man of strong convictions and honest prejudices, scorning hypocrisy in all things and in his dealings with friend, foe … Read more

Biography of James Duval Holman

James Duval Holman was born in August 18, 1814, on his father’s farm in Woodford county, Kentucky. He was of the Holman family so well known in the Southern and Middle States. His mother was a Duval of Hugenot descent, a family of equal position with the Holmans in the south. Of Mr. Holman’s great-grand parents, three came from Virginia and one from North Carolina. His parents were John and Betsy L. Holman, who were married in October, 1810. In 1817 they moved to Tennessee, where they resided for nine years, when they moved to Clay county, Missouri. His mother … Read more