Payette Idaho

Lyon, Johannah Madora “Jo” Griffin Mrs. – Obituary

Johannah Madora “Jo” Lyon, 96, of New Plymouth, Idaho, died Dec. 12, 2007, at Royal Villa Care Center in Payette, Idaho. Mass of the Christian Burial was at 10 a.m. today at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fruitland. The Rev. Calvin Blankinship officiated. The committal service was at 1 p.m. PST at Mount Hope Cemetery with the Rev. Julian Cassar officiating. Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel of Payette was in charge of arrangements. Jo was born on Nov. 6, 1911, at Baker City to James and Mary Lonzway Griffin. She was a graduate of the Intermountain Institute at Weiser, Idaho. She married … Read more

Smith, Robert Darrel – Obituary

Robert Darrel Smith passed away peacefully early October 16, 2004, at Ivy Place in Boise, Idaho. Darrel was born in the Crane Creek, Idaho area, April 20, 1904, to Alex and Effie Anne Cochran Smith, the youngest of three children. The family lived on their father’s homestead until Darrel was 2 years old, when they moved to Payette, Idaho. When he was 7, the family moved to the ranch his father purchased near Durkee where he rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse and completed the eighth grade. After attending his high school freshman year in Brownsville, Ore., he returned … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roswell W. Clement

Among the leading agriculturists of Malheur county is to be mentioned the subject of this sketch, whose life has manifested a worthy record of honest and rigorous endeavor, dominated with sagacity and tempered with prudence and display of affability and genial bearing toward all. In Middleville, Barry county, Michigan, on January 5, 1862, occurred the happy event of the birth of Roswell W. Clement, his parents being Judge James T. and Lucy (Hayes) Clement. The family came to Usage, Iowa, while our subject was a small child, and thence they removed to the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1868. In … Read more

Biography of Peter Pence

The life record of this honored pioneer, and his connection with many of the leading events in the history of Idaho, form no unimportant chapter in the annals of the state. He has been identified with its early development through the period when existence in the northwest was attended by many difficulties and dangers, and with its latter-day progress and advancement which have placed Idaho on a par with many of the older states of the east. His early years were spent far from this “Gem of the Mountains.” He was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in October 1837, and … Read more

Williams, Russell Davis – Obituary

Muddy Creek, Oregon Russell Davis Williams, 91, who grew up on his family’s ranch in Muddy Creek, died Dec. 13, 2004, in Sun City, Calif., of emphysema. He is a descendent of two early pioneer families of North Powder: his grandparents, Lemuel and Amanda Ellen Stewart Williams, and John Samuel and Susan Dealy Davis. Mr. Williams was born Sept. 16, 1913, at Muddy Creek to Harry Chatterton and Ida Belle Davis Williams. He was the youngest of seven children and graduated from Muddy Creek High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1935 and served on the USS … Read more

Biography of James A. Lauer

One of the popular and enterprising young merchants of Payette is James A. Lauer, who is numbered among Idaho’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Idaho City, on the 26th of February 1872. His father, William Lauer, is numbered among the early settlers of the state, having located here in 1861, and is the pioneer hardware merchant of Payette. The subject of this review was educated in the public schools of Idaho City, and with his parents came to Payette in 1885. Here he accepted a position as clerk in the general mercantile store of Marquardsen & Lamme, acceptably … Read more

Biography of Joseph F. Griffin

For more than a half century Joseph F. Griffin, of Ketchum, has resided in the northwest. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Cumberland County, December 10, 1831. The family is of Scotch origin, and the first American progenitors were early settlers of South Carolina and participants in many of the events which form the colonial history of the south. Jesse Griffin, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the pioneers of Kentucky, where occurred the birth of Burrell Bell Griffin, the father of Joseph. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Sally Thogmorton a native … Read more

Biography of David C. Chase

David C. Chase, the secretary and treasurer of the great Payette Valley Mercantile Company, Limited, doing business in Payette, Idaho, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Johnsonville, Trumbull County, on the 26th of April 1853. He traces his descent from English ancestors who were early settlers of Connecticut, and participated in many of the leading events which go to make up the history of that state. His father, David Chase, was a New England farmer, and died when his son and namesake was only a small boy. The latter was educated in the public schools of … 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

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

Courtney, Pinkney L. – Obituary

Mrs. B.T. Long received word Thursday evening of the death of her father, P. L. Courtney at Payette, Idaho and left for that place Friday. M. O. Courtney of Lostine accompanied her. P. L. Courtney was one of the earliest settlers of the valley and lived here until recent years when he was compelled to try a different climate to relieve asthma from which he was a sufferer. He spent the past year in California from there going to Payette only two weeks ago and on the trip contracted the influenza to which he succumbed. Pinkney L. Courtney was born … Read more

Lee, Eileen Cochrane Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Eileen Lee, 91, a longtime Baker City resident, died at her home on Jan. 27, 2003. Her memorial service will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes will officiate. At Mrs. Lee’s request, a private interment of her cremated remains will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Eileen was born June 24, 1911, in Baker City, the only child of Edgar and Susan Browning Cochrane of Haines. Eileen attended school in Haines until 1924, when her parents moved to Baker City. She was a 1929 Baker … Read more

Biography of William L. Ryder

Prominent among the businessmen of Payette is William Louis Ryder, who for eight years has been closely identified with the history of the city as a representative of one of its most important business interests. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concern with which he is connected a large degree of success. The safe, conservative policy which he inaugurated commends itself to the judgment of all, and has secured to the company a patronage which makes the volume of trade transacted over its counters of … Read more

Lansdon, Richard Thomas – Obituary

Richard Thomas Lansdon, 19, of Payette, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City, died May 28, 2005, as the result of a vehicle accident on Anthony Lakes Highway. A traditional funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Following the service, friends and family will gather near the Baker County Library, 2400 Resort St., where Richard will be taken in a horse-drawn hearse around Geiser Pollman Park with family and friends walking behind in tribute of all the fond memories he leaves behind. At the conclusion of the … Read more

Wilson, Shirley J. Tilcock Mrs. – Obituary

Shirley J. Wilson, 65, of Helena, Mont., died April 4, 2003, at St. Peter’s Hospital after a long illness. Mass of Christian burial was Saturday, April 12, at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church at East Helena, Mont. Interment was at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Shirley was born at Pampa, Texas, on May 17, 1937, to George and Helen Tilcock. She was later joined by a brother, Don, and a sister, Sherry. Her father drove truck in heavy hauling, so the family moved quite often. She attended several different schools in several states, graduating at Fillmore, Calif. She met her husband, … Read more

Medlin, Leona R. Keele Mrs. – Obituary

Leona R. Medlin, 83, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 4, 2003, at her daughter’s home. Mrs. Medlin’s funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Gene Saunders of the Blue Mountain Foursquare Gospel Church will officiate. Interment be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Medlin was born Sept. 21, 1919, at Payette, Idaho, to Charles Alfred and Beulah Mae Abernathy Keele. She was raised and educated at Payette, Idaho. Mrs. Medlin came to Baker City in 1946 and was married … 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

Williams, Maxine McGrath Mrs. – Obituary

Maxine Williams, 84, a native of North Powder, died Jan. 18, 2005, at Sun City, Calif. She had been disabled by arthritis the last two years of her life and had lived in a residential care center, where she died. Maxine was born at Union to Walter and Leila McGrath and grew up at North Powder. Her father, a coal dealer, served as mayor there and led a dance band. She grew up in a family of musicians and card players, and although not a musician herself, she did love good music and was a skillful card player all her … Read more

Palumbo, Leo – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Leo Palumbo, 89, a longtime Baker City resident, former elementary school principal and musician, died June 6, 2003, at Settler’s Park. Visitations will be until 6 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. There will be a vigil service at 7 p.m. Monday at Coles Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Interment will be at 3 p.m. MDT Tuesday at Park View Cemetery in New Plymouth, Idaho. Leo Joseph Palumbo was born Nov. 24, 1913, at Logansport, Ind., to … Read more

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