Polk County OR

Biography of Hon. Charles P. Cooke

HON. CHARLES P. COOKE – The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Erie county, Ohio, in 1824. His early life was spent in his native place. In 1846 he went as a volunteer to the Mexican war, and served as second lieutenant in the first regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He was in the army a full year, and participated in the engagements at Monterey, Buena Vista and other bloody battles of that war. He then returned home, but in the spring of 1849 left for the Pacific coast, crossing the plains with ox-teams … Read more

Ediger, Marlin Irvin – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Marlin Irvin Ediger died April 21, 2003, from heart failure. At Marlin’s request, there was no service. After cremation, a private burial was performed by his son at North Powder. He was born Jan. 16, 1931, to Martha Stannel and John D. Ediger of Dallas. He married Mildred Louise Ediger, also of Dallas, on Aug. 22, 1952. In 1960, the couple moved to North Powder, where he would spend his life between ranching and mill work. He finally had enough of pulling calves at 1 a.m. and feeding cattle at 20 degrees below and went to work … Read more

Kisaberth, Althea Eleanor Lee – Obituary

Funeral for Althea Kisaberth who died Tuesday [January 23, 1979] in a Portland nursing home, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Pleasant Valley Community Baptist Church. She was 95. Mrs. Kisaberth was born in Dallas, Ore. She was a founder and past president of the Creston PTA. She was associated with the Centenary Wilbur Methodist Church and the Portland YWCA. She is survived by her sons, Vernon of Santa Rosa, Calif. and Lee of Portland. The family suggests remembrances be contributions to the building fund at Pleasant Valley Community Baptist Church. [Interment Lincoln Memorial Park] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

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

Biographical Sketch of James T. Davis

One of the worthy pioneers of this County, a man of ability and executive force and unswerving integrity, the subject of this sketch is now one of the leading citizens of Nyssa, and a prominent man in Malheur County. He lives one mile northwest from the town of Nyssa, having a ‘farm of one hundred and twenty acres, well improved and handled in a skillful manner, which is a good dividend producer. James T. was born in Unionville, Putnam County, Missouri, on October 25, 185o, being the son of Hamilton and Saline Davis. In 1862, the father and the oldest … Read more

Biography of Col. Cornelius Gilliam

COL. CORNELIUS GILLIAM. – Colonel Gilliam was a native of North Carolina, and was born in 1798. But his recollection of that state in after years was like a dream; for when but a youth he accompanied his parents to Missouri, where he lived for many years. August 31, 1820, he married Miss Mary Crawford of that state. Ten years later he was elected sheriff of Clay county for a term of two years; and at the expiration of that time he joined the Black Hawk war. In 1837 he served as captain of the company which fought all through … Read more

Biography of George Bartholomew Cook

George Bartholomew Cook, who has been engaged in the operation of the ranch on which he now resides in the Wallowa valley for nearly thirty years, is one of the well known pioneers in the vicinity of Lostine. He was born in Polk County, Oregon, on the 27th of February 1862, and is the son of Thomas L. and Harriet (Jacobs) Cook. The parents came to the Willamette valley in 1854 and there the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1879 when together with his family he removed to Wallowa County. Here he passed away the same year, but the … Read more

Biography of John H. O’Bryant

JOHN H. O’BRYANT. – We esteem it a privilege to be permitted to chronicle for the history of our county a brief review of the substantial and prominent citizen, whose name is at the head of this article, and who has wrought in the pioneer’s life so well and faithfully for the opening of this and adjacent counties and for their development and advancement for over one-third of a century, while his life of constant adherence to right and the principles of truth and uprightness, together with manifestation of sagacity and sound judgment, has placed him in a most enviable … Read more

Smith, Tony Howard, Jr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Tony Howard Smith Jr., 61, of Baker City died June 17, 2004, at his home. There will be an informal celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co. Interment will be at the Sumpter Cemetery. Tony was born on Aug. 31, 1942, at Weatherford, Okla., to Howard and Exxie Hughes Smith. As a child, he came to Oregon to live with his father and stepmother, Ruby. He grew up in Eastern Oregon. He … Read more

Biography of Cornelius G. Morehead

A native of the Web foot State, the son of about the earliest pioneers of this state, raised amid its environments, both eastern and western Oregon, the subject of this article is thoroughly an Oregonian and a typical representative of its energetic and progressive citizens. Cornelius G. was born in Linn County, Oregon, on June 26, 1865, being the son of Robert M. and Martha (Curl) Morehead. The parents came with ox teams to Oregon in 1848 and settled in the Willamette valley and the father being a millwright, built the first mill of the state. It was located at … Read more

Biography of Hon. Joseph D. Lee

HON. JOSEPH D. LEE. – It is natural for the observing student of mankind to speculate upon the effect which radical changes and new environments have upon a coming generation; and consequently the inquiry has arisen in thinking minds as to what type of manhood and womanhood will spring from the hardy and bold pioneers who peopled these shores in the forties and early fifties. Surely with such heroic and sturdy parentage, growing up under the influence of our grand and magnificent scenery, and breathing in youth the pure air from the balsamic pines, we might expect a fine mental … Read more

Huffman, C. D. – Obituary

C. D. Huffman Passes Away Death Comes at Termination of Short Illness; Community Mourns His Demise Charles D. Huffman aged approximately 72 years, passed on this morning at 2:30 o’clock at the termination of a short illness. Residents of this city and Mr. Huffman’s many friends throughout Eastern Oregon are sincerely mourning his demise, for with his passing on goes a man who played an important role in the building of Eastern Oregon. The remains are at the Snodgrass and Zimmerman funeral service parlors. Charles D. Huffman was born in Portland, on December 24, 1852, and then the parents soon … Read more

Biography of A. H. Reynolds

A.H. REYNOLDS. – This pioneer of Walla Walla, Washington, is a bank director, a large real-estate owner, and has been active in many of the early enterprises, not only of that city, but of Oregon and California. He was born in 1808, in St. Lawrence county, New York; and his memories of early life are deeply tinged with the exciting events of the war of 1812, in which his parents had an active part. Receiving the rigid and economical training of the old times, he added to his education by efforts of his own, and qualified himself for active life … Read more

Kennedy, Mordecal – Obituary

On Friday last, Mayor Kennedy received the sad news from Monmouth, Polk county, that his father, Mordecal Kennedy, had died after a short illness. Mayor Kennedy was absent when the telegram announcing the serious illness of his father reached here, and on returning home from Elgin, telegraphed to ascertain his condition. The answer came conveying the sad news of the death of the stricken man. Deceased was an old resident of Oregon, coming here in 1853 and for many years resided in Salem and was 63 of age at the time of his death. He leaves an aged wife and … Read more

Wood, Francis S. – Obituary

The sudden demise of Mr. John Wells was sad and a gloom was cast over the community by it but Sat. morning we had another sad death in town. Mr. Francis S. Wood, one of the old citizens of La Grande, highly esteemed by all honest, and a valuable man for our town, was stricken down by death ‘ere he had attained his three score and ten years. Mr. Wood had been sick only a few days and the news of his death was a sad surprise. He was a native of Ohio, having been born in that state on … Read more

Dougherty, Shannon James – Obituary

Shannon James Dougherty, 32, formerly of Baker City, died Oct. 25, 2002, at Independence after a three-year battle with A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). His funeral was today at 2 p.m. at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. Arrangements were handled by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors in Salem. Shannon was born April 13, 1970, to Kiowa James and Roberta Lynn Dougherty. He was diagnosed with A.L.S. in November 1999, and was told he had six months to live. He refused to accept that fate and said he would live to see his son turn 4. On Oct. 22 he kept that … Read more

Biography of Rockey P. Earhart

The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin County, Ohio, on the 23td day of June, 1837, and came to Oregon by way of the Isthmus of Panama, in 1855. Educational advantages were offered him in select schools in his native State, where he gained a thoroughly practical business training. Upon arriving in Oregon, and incidentally meeting with some of the public officials of the day, his superior clerical abilities were very soon recognized, and he received the appointment of clerk under Captain (now General), Robert McFeely, U. S. A., and Quartermaster P. H. Sheridan, then a comparatively unknown … Read more

Cook, Jerile W. – Obituary

Lostine, Wallowa County, Oregon The Pioneers are going one by one and slowly we are all moving toward that realm from which no traveler ever returns to the scenes of earth. Jerile W. Cook, the subject of this sketch passed away at his home just south of Lostine, January 8th, 1918, after several weeks’ illness. He was born January 14, 1851, thus being 66 years, 11 months and 14 days of age at the time of death. In 1845 his parents came from Cass County, Illinois, his birth place, and settled in Polk County, Oregon. In 1879 he came to … Read more

Biography of Joseph Schoewaiter Smith

Joseph Schoewaiter Smith, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1824. His ancestors at an early day emigrated from England and Wales and settled in New Jersey and their descendants are now scattered all over the United States. At the age of eight years he accompanied his parents to Clermont County, Ohio, and three years later to Vermilion County, Indiana. He received such education as a farmer’s boy of ambition could receive at that day in a pioneer neighborhood. During the summer he worked on the farm and in the winter attended such schools as the county afforded. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jay P. Lucas

JAY P. LUCAS. – This enterprising gentleman, whose early grip on public affairs augurs well for still greater things in the future, in a “native son,” having been born in June, 1856, at Monmouth, Oregon the son of the well-known and able A.W. Lucas. He grew up on a farm, developing his fine physique, and receiving his education at the Christian College in his native town, graduating in 1880. He remained with his parents, having a partial business interest with his father, until 8n 1882 he undertook operations for himself, securing and conducting a farm on his own account. He … Read more