Pierce County WA

Biography of Edward S. Smith

EDWARD S. SMITH. – The death of Edward Slade Smith, at San Francisco, California, on December 31, 1885, and incidents relating to his life gathered from recollections of Judge Charles H. Berry, Honorable John A. Mathews and Doctor James M. Cole. Edward Slade Smith was born in what was then Chemung, now Schuyler county, in the State of New York, February 28, 1827; and hence at his decease he was nearly fifty-nine years old. His parents were Joel and Anna Smith, both early settlers in Winona, Minnesota, and both of whom are now dead. There were born to them six … Read more

Sturm, Robert Charles, “Bob” – Obituary

Flora, Oregon Bob passed away at his home in Puyallup, Washington on January 2, 2002, held by his wife and soul mate Susan and surrounded by his 4 furred children. He was born in Walla Walla, Washington on 12/20/49 to Jack and Wanda Sturm. Growing up on a farm in Flora, Oregon and involved in 4-H, he met a young lady by the name of Susan Benson when he was 14 and did some serious flirting for a week at 4-H summer school. Bob attended Enterprise High School and then dated his young 4-H friend for a summer. After high … Read more

Biography of Hon. Jesse B. Ball

HON. JESSE B. BALL. – Twenty miles up the Skagit river, in the heart of one of the richest timber sections of Washington, is Sterling, a thriving young city, with high hopes for the future. The founder of the place is the man whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Mr. Ball is a pioneer of 1853, having crossed the plains in that year and stopped at Downieville, where he worked a short time for a company of miners, – his only work for anybody but himself on this coast. His career has had the restless activity and … Read more

Grimm, George William – Obituary

George Will Grimm, 83, a resident of Puyallup since 1922, died Monday [March 2, 1981]. He was born in Ellensburg. He was a cabinetmaker and a member of the Tacoma Eagles Lodge. He also was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Mabel of Puyallup; two sons, George Jr. of Fife and John of Hermiston, Ore.; two daughters, Mrs. Jack (Dorothy) Hendry of Roslyn and Mrs. Robert (Betty) Jordan of Tacoma; a brother, Archie of Ephrata; 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Hill Funeral Home of Puyallup is in charge. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Meagher, Agnes – Obituary

Agnes Meagher, 85, formerly of 608 E. 5th Ave., Ellensburg, died Sunday [August 31, 1980] in Cheyenne Mountain Nursing Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was born in Ellensburg, Aug. 8, 1895, a daughter of the late Michael and Mary Heraty. She attended Ellensburg Normal School for one year, business college in Tacoma for two years, and worked as a legal secretary in Seattle for a number of years. She married Martin Meagher in Seattle, Aug. 21, 1929. He preceded her in death June 29, 1951. Mrs. Meagher was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. She is survived by … Read more

Champ, Edna Johnson – Obituary

Mrs. Edna W. Champ, 82, a long-time Tacoma resident, died Saturday [April 5, 1980]. Mrs. Champ, of 7235 Pacific Ave., was born in Winlock and resided in Tacoma almost 60 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include her son, Stanley of Tacoma, two grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Mountain View Funeral Home was in charge. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Ellenberger, Caroline Mary – Obituary

Mrs. Caroline M. Ellenberger, 74 years old, died Tuesday [June 15, 1926] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Perry of Milton, she having been her daughter’s guest for several weeks. Mrs. Ellenberger leaves also one son, Albert of Pilot Rock, Ore., with whom she made her home; two other daughters, Mrs. Bertha Lightfoot, Sacramento, Cal.; Mrs. Jane Blanchard, Pendleton, Ore.; 27 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The body was removed to the C. O. Lynn Mortuary for shipment to Pilot Rock for burial Wednesday. Tacoma News Tribune, June 15, 1926 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Wright, Janet Arteburn Mrs. – Obituary

Janet Arteburn Wright, 72, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 10, 2008. A family service will be scheduled later. Janet was born on June 24, 1935, at La Grande. She was raised at Baker City and attended Eastern Oregon State College at La Grande. (now Eastern Oregon University). During college she met Warren G. “Dub” Wright. The couple were married and became lifelong friends. Janet later earned a master’s degree from Western Washington University. She spent most of her career working as a classroom teacher, outdoor educator, school administrator and elementary principal in the Highline School District in the … Read more

Fix, Stella Yates – Obituary

Mrs. Stella Fix, 64, of Rt. 6, Box 262, Dash Point, died Wednesday [July 17, 1946] in a local hospital. She had lived at Dash Point 40 years and was a native of Oregon. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Genevieve C. Baker of Tacoma, and one grandson. Private services were held Friday at Mountain View with cremation following. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Vest, Sarah Mrs. – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon News of the death of Mrs. Sarah Vest of Puyallup, Wash., was received in Joseph, Tuesday. Mrs. Vest was a pioneer resident of Joseph and suffered a paralytic stroke recently and never recovered. Funeral will be held in Joseph and burial in Prarie Creek cemetery. Obituary next week. Wallowa Record Chieftain-Thursday December 12, 1940 Contributed by Sue Wells Transcribed by Dixie Ricker

Biography of Allen C. Mason

ALLEN C. MASON. – The well-known fact that a city presents, as a whole, the characteristics of the individuals who compose it, finds no better illustration than in the city of Tacoma, Washington. It is wide-awake, enterprising and progressive, and is such not only because of its unrivaled location and its commanding position as the terminus of the great Northern Pacific Railroad, but because its business men are themselves possessed of a spirit of progressive enterprise, are thoroughly imbued with confidence in the great destiny of their city, and are united in their efforts to promote its welfare. Prominent among … Read more

Briggs, Edwin J. – Obituary

Edwin J. Briggs passed away on October 2, 2001. He was born in Perry, Oregon on August 23, 1912, the son of Willie J. and Harriet Watson Briggs, both deceased now. He was raised in LaGrande, Oregon, and it was at college there that he met and married his first wife, Helen Teed. They were married 56 years. Helen died in 1990. Ed entered active military service in September, 1940 as a 2nd Lt. with Co. E., 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Division. He served in New Guinea during the first Papuan Campaign. He then volunteered for service in Burma with … Read more

Stockdale, Steven L. – Obituary

Steven L. Stockdale, 61, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 5, 2006, at Roy, Wash. His memorial service will be scheduled later. Funeral Alternatives, 1410 Main St., Sumner, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Steve was born on May 5, 1945, at Portland. He moved to Baker with his father R.J. “Red” Stockdale and his mother, Phyllis Stockdale. He attended Baker schools up to the 10th grade. The family then moved to Walla Walla, Wash., where Steve graduated in 1963. He attended Oregon Technical Institute (now Oregon Institute of Technology) at Klamath Falls and Boise State College (now Boise … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Franklin Minton

It is with pleasure that we essay the task of epitomizing the salient points in the interesting career of the estimable and enterprising gentleman whose name is at the head of this article, and it is very fitting that such be granted space in the history of Malheur County, since he has labored here for the up building of the county and has wrought with wisdom and energy for this end, while also he has spent much time on the frontier and in other places, always, however, manifesting that same energy and capability in furthering the chariot of progress and … Read more

Grimm, Jacob – Obituary

Jake Grimm, former Kittitas Valley farmer, died at his home in South Tacoma last night July 2, 1973, according to word received by relatives here today. He lived in the valley all of his life before moving to Tacoma 15 years ago. He farmed in the Broadview District. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose Carver Grimm; two sons, William and Archie Grimm; three brothers, Bird and John Grimm of Ellensburg and Harry Grimm of California, and two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Poland of Sumner and Mrs. Charles Walker of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but are tentatively … Read more

Rogers, Norma Ellen – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Norma Ellen (Erickson) Rogers, 85, died March 25 at her home in Elgin. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Church of the Nazarene, 11th and Birch. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Rogers was born Jan. 17, 1922, to Lawrence and Emma I. (Bickford) Hawes in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and in 1941 married Manuel Erickson in Idaho. The marriage ended in divorce, and in 1947 she married Ernest Rogers in La Grande. He preceded her in death in 1992. Mrs. … Read more

Poland, Arthur Melvin – Obituary

Stricken by a heart attack on the local bus, Arthur Melvin Poland, 43, Collins school teacher, died Friday [June 8, 1945] in a shipyard hospital where he had been taken for emergency attention. Poland was a native of Ellensburg and had resided in Tacoma 10 years. He is survived at the home, 2356 South G Street, by his wife, Esther, and daughter, Patricia Poland; mother, Mrs. Cora [Grimm] Poland, Sumner; brothers, Elmer and Lynn Poland, Ellensburg; five sisters, Miss Ann Poland, Montana, Mrs. Clinton Morrow and Mrs. Edna Kenyon, Seattle; Mrs. Dollie Brown, Portland, and Mrs. Leta Doyle, Spanaway. C. … Read more

Karp, Sister Clare Inez – Obituary

Sister Clare Inez Karp, 88, a resident of St. Ann Convent at Tacoma, Wash., and a former longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 12, 2007. Father Julian Cassar will offer a Memorial Mass at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center Chapel. A rosary will be said at 8:45 a.m. Sister Clare Inez had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 69 years. She was born in Baker City. Although she left Baker City for about 20 years, she returned to the community for ministry and was a Baker City … Read more

Biography of Hon. Emory C. Ferguson

HON. EMORY C. FERGUSON. – Mr. Ferguson, whose portrait is placed in this history, was born on a farm in Westchester county, New York, March 5, 1833, and is the son of Samuel S. and Maria (Haight) Ferguson. He resided in his native county and learned the trade of a carpenter until reaching his majority. April 5, 1854, he with his brother Yates (who came to California in 1849 and had returned East) started via the Isthmus of Panama for the Golden State, arriving in San Francisco in May. Our subject immediately proceeded to the mines on the middle fork … Read more

Biography of Gen. Morton Mathew McCarver

GEN. MORTON MATHEW McCARVER. THE FOUNDER OF BURLINGTON, IOWA, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA AND TACOMA, WASHINGTON,- General McCarver was born near Lexington Kentucky, January 14, 1807. Of an independent, roving spirit, determination, courage and enterprise that knew no bounds, he quit his home at the age of eighteen years and went to Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and not finding anything congenial to his tastes returned and settled in 1830 at Galena, Illinois, where he was married to a Miss Mary Ann Jennings. He served in the Black Hawk war, and after the surrender of the great chief of the Sacs and Foxes, … Read more