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

Swearingen, Vernise Augustus – Obituary

Vernise A. Swearingen, 43, former Ellensburg resident, died Friday in a Tacoma Hospital from injuries received earlier last week in an accident at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards where he was employed as a rigger. Plant officials reported that he was crushed while unloading steel plates when he slacked off on a safety line too soon and the plates tipped over on him. A veteran of World War I, Swearingen had enlisted for service in this war WWII, but was discharged because of a physical disability. He was awarded the Silver Star, Order of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and … Read more

Kinkade, Martha Cerena Hutson – Obituary

Mattie G. Kinkade, 87, former resident of Ellensburg, died Tuesday April 11, 1967 in a Puyallup Nursing Home. Before moving to Puyallup four years ago, Mrs. Kinkade had resided for many years in Ellensburg. She was a native of Texas, born April 13, 1879. The body was returned to Ellensburg by the Evenson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be announced from Evenson’s. Martha was the daughter of David Hutson and Mary Crane. She was buried in the IOOF Cemetery.

Brunn, Marie Hertz – Obituary

Mrs. Marie Brunn, the wife of Dr. C. Brunn, died at her home, 3124 South Seventh Street, early Sunday morning [June 3]. Mrs. Brunn has suffered from asthma for a number of years, and about two months ago the disease developed alarmingly, causing her death yesterday. She was 45 years of age and had come to Tacoma from Seattle two years ago. Mrs. Brunn is survived by her husband and eight children. The funeral services will be held at her late residence on Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Walker of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church conducting the services. Interment will … Read more

Taylor, Margaret Catherine Mrs. – Obituary

Margaret Catherine Taylor, 85, of Tacoma, Wash., died June 12, 2002, at Tacoma. There will be no funeral. Mrs. Taylor was born at Santa Cruz, Calif. She lived there for 59 years before moving to Oregon in 1977. She moved to Tacoma in 1998. Mrs. Taylor worked at the John Ingalls Cannery in Santa Cruz for 10 years. She enjoyed crocheting and reading. Survivors include her daughter, Margaret Blackledge of Lakewood, Wash., Judy Abma of Scotts Valley and Peggy Caso of Rainier; a son, George E. Taylor of Baker City; 19 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death … Read more

Stalcup, Susie L. Clay – Obituary

Mrs. Susie L. Stalcup, 86, of 1012 So. 4th St., died Monday in a local hospital. She was born in Shelbina, Mo., moved to Cle Elum, Wash., in 1901 and resided here 29 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Winnie Feyko, Seattle; one son, S. R. Stalcup, Tacoma; five sisters, Mrs. Mittie Barry, Los Angeles, Mrs. Grace Daniels, and Mrs. Callie Bryan, both of Shelbina, Mrs. Lucy Cunningham, Austin, Ind., and Mrs. Jessie Scearce, Tacoma; four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Funeral services will be announced by Tuell’s. Contributed by: Shelli … 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

Leid, Anna Emma Penner Bernhardt Hansen – Obituary

Former Dayton resident Anna Emma Leid, 96, died November 18, 1993 at Our Lady of Lourdes Health Center. The graveside service will be 11 a.m. Monday at the family plot in Dayton City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice through the funeral home. Mrs. Leid was born February 6, 1897 in Tacoma to Henry and Emma Hagen Penner. She married James Hansen on October 8, 1924, they were later divorced. On October 20, 1936 she married Robert Leid. He died January 11, 1971. She lived for many years in Dayton; and the last … Read more

Coggan, Emma L. Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Died at Tacoma A telegram received on last Tuesday from Tacoma announced the death of Miss Emma L. Coggan, a young lady well known to many in this county. The news of her demise was sorrowfully received by many friends here in Union. Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday October 24, 1889

Biography of Nelson Bennett

NELSON BENNETT. – Though Toronto, Canada, must be accredited as the birthplace of the distinguished personage whose name heads this brief sketch of a most active, useful and busy life, yet were his parentage and ancestry thoroughly American. On the paternal side the Bennetts were natives of Virginia, three generations back; and his mother was of the ancient and time-honored family of the Spragues of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was born October 14,1843; and his father died when he was seven years of age, leaving a widow and six children. The family resided upon a farm; and Nelson was … Read more

Eaden, Myrtle Dixon – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at the Honeycutt Chapel here at 3:00 Wednesday afternoon for Myrtle Dixon Eaden, former valley resident, who died in Tacoma on Sunday [April 21, 1946] Born in Ellensburg on February 16, 1899, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dixon, valley pioneers. She attended local grade schools and high school and spent the most of her life here until she moved to Tacoma 15 years ago In 1922 she was married to William Eaden, who survives her. She is also survived by a brother, Archie Dixon of Vancouver, Wash.; a half brother, … Read more

Biography of William H. Fife

WILLIAM H. FIFE. – This gentleman is a native of Otonabee, Petersburg county, Ontario, and is the third child of William and Mary Beckett Fife. He was born on the first of October, 1833. His father was a native of Kincardine, and came to Canada in 1820, following farming in that country. His mother was born January 20, 1811, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and came with her parents to Canada about 1820, and is still living with her youngest son on the old homestead in Petersburg county. Our subject resided on his father’s farm until he became sixteen years of age, … Read more

Ferguson, Lula D. – Obituary

Lulu D. ‘Lu’ Ferguson, 81, of Selah died Tuesday July 3, 1984 in St. Elizabeth Medical Center. She was born Nov. 12, 1902, in Surgoinsville, Tenn., but was raised and educated in Ellensburg. Mrs. Ferguson graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1921. She married Lester J. Ferguson in 1924 in Prosser. In 1932, the couple moved to Yakima, where Mrs. Ferguson worked as a bookkeeper for several years. In 1965, the family moved to Lynnwood, but returned to Yakima in 1978. Mrs. Ferguson was a past president of the Yakima and Edalyn business and Professional Women’s Clubs. She is survived … Read more

Champ, Clifford – Obituary

Clifford H. Champ, 79, of 9924 Waller Road, died Saturday [February 7, 1976]. Born in Winlock, he came to Tacoma in 1921 from Hoquiam. Mr. Champ was a crane operator for St. Paul Lumber Co. until his retirement in 1962. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Edna; a son, Stanley of Tacoma; a brother, Jay of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Retha Longuet of Portland and Mrs. Brace (Florence) Leland of Seattle; two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Mountain View Funeral Home is in charge. [Clifford was born September 12, 1896. His parents were … Read more

O’Farrell, James R. – Obituary

James R. O’Farrell, 80, a native of Orting and a former Pierce County commissioner, died Friday night [September 25, 1953] at his home in Orting. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert O’Farrell, were pioneers in area, taking up a 120-acre homestead in the Puyallup Valley in 1870. Mr. O’Farrell was the last of four sons of the pioneers. He married Lena Bruce of Tacoma in 1898 and they set up housekeeping in Orting. For many years he was active in community and political affairs. He served at various times as mayor, councilman and school director in Orting and from 1916 … Read more

Biography of Rev. Cushing Eels, D. D.

REV. CUSHING EELS, D.D. – Dr. Eells was born at Blandford, Massachusetts, February 16, 1810, and was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Warner) Eells. He was descended from Samuel Eells, who was a major in Cromwell’s army, and who came to America in 1661. Cushing Eells was brought up at Blandford, became a Christian when fifteen years old, prepared for college at Monson Academy, Massachusetts, entered Williams College in 1830, and graduated four years later. The distance from his home to college was forty-five miles. Twice he rode the entire distance, – when he entered and after he graduated, … Read more

Lee, Robert Edward – Obituary

Robert Edward (Bob) Lee, manager of the Tacoma office of the General Electric Company and prominent in business, civic, and sports circles, died late Wednesday night [October 23, 1940] at his home, 825 North Yakima Avenue, of a heart attack. He appeared to be in good health during the afternoon and ate a hearty dinner Wednesday night. Following dinner, he sat down in his living room and fell into a sleep from which he never awakened. He had been at his office as usual Wednesday. About three years ago he suffered a slight stroke, from which he seemed to have … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles Eisenbeis

HON. CHARLES EISENBEIS. – This wealthy resident of Port of Washington gained his eminence by sturdy industry and sagacious investment during the pioneer days. He is a native of Prussia, was born in 1832, and the fifth in a family of ten children. Of his father he learned the trade of a baker, and was prepared upon his arrival in America in 1856 to earn thereby, in company with his brother, an independent livelihood at Rochester, New York. In 1858 he came via Panama to San Francisco, and in the fall of the same year arrived at Port Townsend. He … Read more

Biography of Capt. Warren Gove

CAPT. WARREN GOVE. – The gentleman whose name heads this brief biography has been a resident of the Pacific Northwest for over thirty-five years, having settled on Puget Sound in 1853, during which time he has been closely connected with all enterprises that would lend stability and success to its growth and welfare. He was born in Edgecomb, Massachusetts, July 27, 1816. the early years of his life were passed with his parents on a farm. In 1839, while yet a youth of thirteen years, he went to sea. His close application to duty, and his gentlemanly bearing, attracted the … Read more

Fix, Elizabeth Ward – Obituary

Mrs. Russell (Elizabeth Ward) Fix, 76, a 53-year Graham resident died Friday [September 7, 1984]. Mrs. Fix, a native of Wenatchee, was a retired school teacher. She taught at Bethel Junior High School, Bethel High School, and Eatonville High School. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Carolyn Blount of Seattle, Pamela Mesick of Federal Way, and Harriott Balmer of Graham; a son, Phillip of Puyallup; two brothers, Dillis Ward of Manson, Chelan County, and Walter Ward of Tigard, Ore.; a sister, Olive Joy of Tigard; and seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Powers Funeral Home, … Read more