Payette County ID

The Payette Valley, Its Towns

For the following graphic and ably written article in regard to the attractions of the Payette valley we are indebted to a souvenir edition of the Payette Independent issued in March, 1898: The Payette valley lies in the southwestern part of Idaho, with its upper and narrow end extending far back into pine-clad mountains and its lower flaring into broad, fertile fields, terminating at the banks of the Snake river, just across whose waters rise the mountain peaks of Oregon. Its length is upward of forty miles, its width varying from two miles at the upper point to eight where … Read more

Crockett, Rosslee Dama “Rosy” Taylor Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Rosslee Dama “Rosy” Crockett, 82, a longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 21, 2000, at her home. A celebration of her life will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Darlene Friedlander will conduct the service. A reception will follow the service in the Oregon Trail Room at the Quality Inn Motel, 810 Campbell St. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Mrs. Crockett was born Feb. 8, 1918, at Monett, Mo., to Leslie A. Taylor … Read more

Biography of C. M. Scott, M. D.

In viewing the mass of mankind in the varied occupations of life, the conclusion is forced upon the observer that in the vast majority of cases men have sought employment not in the line of their peculiar fitness but in those fields where caprice or circumstances have placed them, thus explaining the reason of the failure of ninety-five per cent, of those who enter commercial and professional circles. In a few cases it seems that men with a peculiar fitness for a certain line have taken it up, and marked success has followed. Such is the fact in the case … Read more

Biography of William Lauer

Since the establishment of Payette William Lauer has been identified with its development and upbuilding, and his labors have been most effective in promoting its welfare. He is the pioneer hardware merchant of the town, and still continues in that line of business, his well directed efforts bringing him success. He is among the worthy citizens that the Fatherland has furnished to the New World, his birth having occurred in Germany on the nth of November 1833. In his youth he crossed the Atlantic to New York with his father, Isaac Lauer, who made his home in the eastern metropolis … Read more

Bodyfelt, Edith – Obituary

La Grande and Union 1913-2004 Edith M. Bodyfelt, 91, of La Grande and formerly of Union, died May 22 at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. June 5 at the Tillamook Odd Fellows’ Cemetery with the Rev. Ron Carter of the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church officiating. Mrs. Bodyfelt was born March 30, 1913, to Homer and Nora Marian Cheney in New Plymouth, Idaho. She graduated from Union High School in 1931, and married Guy E. Watts in September of that year in Union. In 1959 the couple moved to Pacific City where they had … Read more

Schock, Berniece Parker Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Berniece Schock, 71, of Hermiston, died Nov. 10, 2004, at the Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Klamath Falls. She was born on Oct. 11, 1933, at Baker City to Clifford and Cecelia Bowman Parker. She married Harold H. Schock on May 23, 1952, at Payette, Idaho. The couple lived at Pondosa and later in the Baker City area for more than 30 years. They moved to Ashland in 1990. Harold died in 1992. Berniece returned to Baker City in 1994 and lived … Read more

Newman, Margaret E. Shira Mrs. – Obituary

Margaret E. Newman-Homemaker, 86, passed away after a short illness in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, June 13, 2003. Services were June 19, 2003, 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 520 Clark St., Yuba City, Calif. Internment at Sutter Cemetery, Sutter, Calif. Margaret E. Newman was the eldest of seven children born to Olen and Belle Shira in Lineville, Mo. Nov. 4, 1916. The family moved west to Fruitland, Idaho, when she was 5-years-old. In 1928 the family homesteaded in Harper. Margaret met Boyd Newman and after a short courtship they were married April 24, 1939, … Read more

McLeish, George D. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon George D. McLeish, 77, of Baker City, died Feb. 23, 2003. His memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Private interment will be Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. McLeish was born Feb. 20, 1926, at Wiggins, Colo. He was a son of James Andrew and Gertrude Amy Baker McLeish. He received his education at Wiggins, Colo., Payette, Idaho, and Baker City. In 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy to serve his country during World War II in the South Pacific. … Read more

Biography of Z. C. Mills

Z.C. MILLS. – Z.C. Mills of Seattle, Washington is a native of the Empire state, and was born in 1834. While yet in his boyhood, his parents moved to Illinois, where he grew to manhood and received his education. After he had reached his majority, he engaged in business with his father. He was successful; but, when an American has once felt the excitement of moving, it is almost impossible for him to be contented, so long as there are new countries to be found beyond the Western horizon. Accordingly, in 1859, when the Pike’s Peak gold excitement reached his … Read more

Kidder, William Ross “Bill” – Obituary

William Ross “Bill” Kidder, 85, of Lewiston, Idaho, died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005, from complications related to age at the Lewiston Veterans Home, where he had been a resident for the last five years. Bill was born Dec. 26, 1919, in Ridgefield, Wash., to David and Olive Kidder. He attended grade school in Oregon and graduated in 1937 from Pendleton High School. He joined the U.S. Navy the same year and served for more than seven years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant (jg) with many decorations for his efforts. … Read more

Hickerson, Mabel Boyce Mrs. Obituary

Mabel (Boyce) Hickerson, 98, a former resident of Payette, Idaho, died at her Salem home Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Mabel’s family were pioneers in the Baker Valley. A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. Survivors include daughters, Beverly Perkins of Fruitland, Idaho, and LaVelle Lasher and her husband, Frank of Salem; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Brown of California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Art (1959); daughters, Genevieve Brown (1999) and Evelyn Cainan (2002); and three sons-in-law. Memorial contributions may be made to Payette … Read more

Biography of Moses H. Goodwin

The history of mankind is replete with illustrations of the fact that it is only under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in men are brought out and developed. Perhaps the history of no people so forcibly impresses one with this truth as the annals of our own republic: and certainly in our own land the palm must be awarded to New England’s sturdy sons. If anything can inspire the youth of our country to persistent, honorable and laudable endeavor it should be the life record of such men as he of … Read more

McCarver, Rose Mary – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon Rose Mary McCarver, 82, of Ontario, a former Richland resident, died May 1, 2006, at her home. Her memorial graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will preside. Rose was born on June 24, 1923, at Ironside. She attended Vale schools. She married William McCarver on Sept. 21, 1940, at Payette, Idaho. They ran a sawmill and trucking company at Ironside. In 1954 the family moved to Ontario where they had a dairy on the Oregon Slope. Later they moved to Richland, where they had … Read more

Murdoch, John – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon John Murdoch, 81, of North Powder, died Jan. 19, 2004, at his son’s ranch in Oreana, Idaho. His funeral will be Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. at Haines Methodist Church. John was born Jan. 24, 1922, in Fruitland, Idaho, to John (Scotty) and Esther Hvidberg Murdoch. He graduated in 1940 from Haines High School. John married Barbara Daugherty on Feb. 13, 1943, in Weiser, Idaho. He joined the Navy in 1944, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, John ranched for several years, and then purchased the Chevron Service Station in … Read more

Burgess, Eliza Ann Horn – Obituary

Services for Mrs. Eliza A. Burgess, 66, Vale resident for the past 35 years who died in her home Sunday [January 7, 1968], was at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Chapel of the Roses at Payette, with Elder Harry Sunday Fry of Payette Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officiating. Mrs. Burgess was born in Ellensburg, Wash., Oct. 16, 1901. In 1915 she moved with her family to Oregon, settling in Curry County. She was married to Fred Burgess, December 19, 1922 in Coquille, Ore. They lived in Curry County 11 years and came to Vale in 1933. They … Read more

Watson, Gwendolyn Marise Hixson Mrs. – Obituary

Gwendolyn Marise Watson, 64, of New Plymouth, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 29, 2007, at her home. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. MDT Friday at the Highway Assembly of God Church in Fruitland, Idaho. Interment will be at Parkview Cemetery in New Plymouth. Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel of Payette, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. She was born Dec. 6, 1940, at Baker City to Ted and Ida Celestine Hixson. She married Richard Watson on Dec. 24, 1963, at Baker City. She attended Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton where she earned a degree in nursing … Read more

Witham, Hertha Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Hertha Witham, 85, of Baker City, died March 5, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church at Third and Broadway streets. Pastor Ed Niswender of the church will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Mrs. Witham was born on Jan. 30, 1918, at Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was raised by Eugene and Mattie Lee LaBrier. Her early education was received in Boise and at Middleton, Idaho. She graduated from high school at Ontario in 1935. After graduation, … Read more

Farson, Eileen Withrow Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Eileen Farson, 75, died Jan. 25, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services from complications of diabetes. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. MST Tuesday at the Haren-Wood Payette Chapel, 840 6th Ave. S. at Payette, Idaho. Vault interment will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Payette. Eileen Muriel Withrow Farson was born to Wallace and Viola May Hofeldt Withrow on March 7, 1926, at Cleveland, Mont. She spent her youth traveling with her family while her father worked construction. Eileen was a 1944 Baker High School graduate. On July 3, 1947, she married W.H. “Bill” Farson at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Walker

About five miles southwest from Ontario is the farm and home of the subject of this article. It is a place of eighty acres well improved, skillfully tilled, has line buildings, good orchards and a vine-yard, and in connection with the care of this estate, Mr. Walter is operating a dairy and manufacturing a good quality of butter, which is readily sold in the markets. In person Mr. Walter is a man of sound principles, stands well among his fellows, possesses good ability, and has made a success of his labor, starting with his bare hands and now has a … Read more

Payette County, Idaho Census Records

1870 Payette County, Idaho Census Free 1870 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free 1870 Payette County, Census (images and index) $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Hosted at Census Guide 1870 U.S. Census Guide 1880 Payette County, Idaho Census Free 1880 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free 1880 Payette County, Census (images and index) 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Hosted at Census Guide 1880 U.S. Census Guide 1890 Payette County, Idaho Census Free 1890 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free 1890 Veterans … Read more