Polk County OR

Cooke, Morand – Obituary

Mode Cooke, 88, Valley Pioneer, Taken By Death Widely Known Fairview Farmer Resided Here 75 Years Death yesterday took Morand D. (Mode) Cooke, 88, in the Kittitas valley’s oldest pioneer in point of years and the last remaining member of one of the Northwest’s pioneer families. He died at his home in the Fairview district, where he had lived for 74 years, yesterday afternoon [died September 2, 1945]. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cooke, Oregon and Washington pioneers, he came to the Kittitas valley with his parents in 1871. At his death he made his … Read more

Lee, Nicholas, Rev. – Obituary

On last Friday evening [July 11, 1879] Nicholas Lee, a gentleman known to every old-time resident of Polk County, departed this life at his home near Dallas. Mr. Lee was born in Pike County, Ohio, February 11, 1818, and in 1847 crossed the plains to Oregon. In 1848 he came to Polk County and in the year following settled on the place near Dallas, at which place he died. In 1862 he removed with his family to Dallas, where he engaged in merchandising until 1876, when he was succeeded in business by his son J. D. and returned to his … 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

Cook, George Bartholomew McClellen – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon “Mack” Cook Answers Call George B. McClellen Cook passed away at the Enterprise hospital Feb. 1 after a short illness. “Mack” Cook was born Feb. 27, 1862, near Dallas, Polk County, Oregon to Thomas l. and Harriet Cook who crossed the plains by ox team in 1854. He was one of ten children born to this union. The family resided in Polk County until 1878 when the father and his sons, Jerile, William, Tom (Dick) and N.J. came to Wallowa County and all located homesteads on the South fork of the Wallowa river except N.J. who … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Savage

HON. WILLIAM SAVAGE. – This pioneer of 1845, one of the most successful men of Polk county, was born at Mexico, New York, in 1826. He was left an orphan at the age of five, and when sixteen went to Ohio, and three years later joined Colonel Taylor’s party for Oregon. His first work was taking the Colonel’s stock by water – the Ohio and Missouri rivers – to St. Louis, and driving them thence to Independence. Perhaps this early training in the handling of livestock gave him a taste for the work. At least he has been in that … Read more

Biography of Hon. T. C. Shaw

HON. T.C. SHAW. – This honored pioneer of 1844 was born in Clay County, Missouri, near Liberty, the county-seat, February 23, 1823. On his father’s side the stock was Scotch-Irish, and on his mother’s Welsh and English. His father, Captain William Shaw, was born in Eastern Tennessee, and belonged to a large family of that name who settled in Maryland at an early date, whence they removed into Tennessee, North Carolina and Missouri; and from the latter state the Oregon branch of the family came in the year 1844. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Gilliam, was the sister … Read more

Biography of Milton Canterbury, M. D.

Milton Canterbury, M. D., of Redlands, was born in Greenup County, Kentucky. His father, Reuben Canterbury, a farmer, was born in North Carolina. The name originated in Kent County, England, from the estate of a man by that name, and for whom the city of Canterbury was named. Reuben Canterbury married Miss Elizabeth Lycaas, a native of Kentucky. The union was blessed with thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eighth. He first attended the common schools of his native county and afterward attended a short time the college at Marietta, Ohio. From there he went … Read more

Slack, Bert – Obituary

Last Rites Thursday For Rodeo Performer Funeral services for Bert Slack, Dalles resident who died here Monday, will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. from the Zell funeral home. Rev. R. A. Hutchinson of the Congregational church will officiate and interment will be in the local I. O. O. F. cemetery. Surviving relatives include two daughters, Mrs. Feleta Barnhill, Mason City, Wash., and Mrs. W. H. Graham, Pendleton, and one brother James Slack, Elgin. Mr. Slack came to The Dalles from Summerville, Ore., more than 20 years ago. He was a cowboy all his life and participated in the Pendleton … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Raleigh E. Rochester

The subject of this sketch is a native of the occident, and beneath its stars he has labored and gained the success that is now his to enjoy, while he is now one of the prosperous and substantial agriculturists and stockmen of Wallowa county, and has made for himself a name and place in the midst of the progressive and intelligent population of our county. Raleigh E. was born in the Willamette valley, at Salem, on July 11, 1955, being the so of James and Deliah L.E. (Warren) Rochester. Of his boyhood days, but little is noted, but we are … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Jones

NELSON JONES. – Mr. Jones, one of the largest stock-raisers of Eastern Oregon, having besides his interest at Heppner, Oregon, large holdings on the main Malheur, was born in 1840 in Fleming county, Kentucky. Remaining there until 1849, he moved with his parents to Iowa, where he lived until 1858. In that year he left the paternal roof, and made the journey to Pike’s Peak, but continued on to Shasta county, California. In that county he engaged in mining, but in 1860 sought a more tranquil life, coming to Polk county, Oregon, and engaging in farming until 1866. In the … Read more

Biography of John Wesley Kieff

John Wesley Kieff, widely known throughout Oklahoma as a journalist, is now serving as justice of the peace of Miami and is generally conceded to be the most capable incumbent in that office in the history of Ottawa County. A native of Indiana, he was born in Tippecanoe County on the 9th of March, 1857, his parents being John and Mary (Ryan) Kieff, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in the Hoosier state. The father followed the occupation of farming and both parents passed away during the childhood of the subject of this review. John … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Long

JACOB LONG. – This venerable pioneer, the first to settle in the north end of Indian valley, and whose seventy-four years have but little bent his frame, was born in 1815 in Pennsylvania. At the age of nine he became a pioneer of the West, moving with his parents to Ohio. At the age of seventeen he took his flint-lock rifle and made a tour of the woods and prairies of the old West, visiting the French and Indian trading-post of Chicago, and spending a winter on the Elkhart river in Indiana, with Schomack, the chief of the Pottawottamies. Returning … Read more

McClellen, George B. Cook – Obituary

“Mack” Cook Answers Call George B. McClellen Cook passed away at the Enterprise hospital Feb. 1 after a short illness. “Mack” Cook was born Feb. 27, 1862, near Dallas, Polk County, Oregon to Thomas l. and Harriet Cook who crossed the plains by ox team in 1854. He was one of ten children born to this union. The family resided in Polk County until 1878 when the father and his sons, Jerile, William, Tom (Dick) and N.J. came to Wallowa County and all located homesteads on the South fork of the Wallowa River except N.J. who was too young. He … Read more

Biography of Solomon Hirsch

There is something inspiring in the record of a busy and useful life; something stimulating in the details of a career that is marked by a generous and beneficent purpose; something worthy of emulation in the success that has been wrought by unselfish means. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name is the title of this biography, and so thoroughly have the varied lines of his efforts been blended with the agencies which have been conducive to the material progress of the Pacific Northwest during many years that no history of this portion of the Union, and … 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 Ira F. M. Butler

IRA F.M. BUTLER. – The honesty and wholeheartedness of a certain, and indeed, predominating, class of our early settlers is nowhere better exemplified than in Mr. Butler. Seventy-seven years of age, but still vigorous and kindly, adhering firmly to the temperance principles which have prevented the dissipation of his native course, and while well-to-do, indeed wealthy, spending much of his means in benevolent works, he is a striking example of the noble old gentleman. He was born in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1812, and was the son of Major Peter Butler, distinguished in the war of 1812. In 1829 the … Read more

Sargeant, E. F. Mrs. – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Sargeant Dies At Daughters Home Mrs. E.F. Sargeant, former resident of the county, died Jan. 10, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. H. Houck, Kenova Park, Cal., where she had lived in recent years. Burial was at Sheridan, Ore., after funeral services held at McMinnville. She had enjoyed good health until her brief last illness. Christia Anna Zumwalt was born in Polk, County December 30, 1851, and was married to Mr. Sargeant in the Willamette valley. They came to Wallowa County in 1903 and homesteaded at The Buttes, where they lived some 14 years, … Read more

Butler, Frank Ernest – Obituary

Dr. Frank E. Butler, Portland radiologist who retired three years ago, died Wednesday afternoon [January 1, 1949] at Emanuel Hospital after a brief illness. He had made his home at Neotsu on Devil’s Lake since retiring. Dr. Butler was the son of Orville and Mary Butler, pioneers in the Willamette Valley. He was born at Union Flat, Washington, February 17, 1888, and shortly thereafter moved with his parents to their former home at Monmouth. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Bilyeu, Delmer Thomas – Obituary

Funeral for Delmer Thomas Bilyeu, Crabtree, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Jost Funeral Home. Don Tosch will officiate and burial will be in Franklin Butte Cemetery near Scio. Mr. Bilyeu, born Oct. 20, 1909, at Dallas, Ore., moved to Crabtree from Cutbank, Mont., in 1947. He was a member of the Crabtree Christian Church. He died today [July 16, 1962] at Lebanon Hospital. Survivors are his widow, the former Mildred Bedord, whom he married Oct. 10, 1932, at Great Falls, Mont.; his daughters, Mrs. Donna Kemmling, Crabtree, and Miss Bonnie R. Bilyeu, at home; twin sons, Kenneth … 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