Schell, John, Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon The community was shocked to hear of the death of Mrs. John Schell Monday morning at her home in the Burnaugh apartments. She had been a sufferer from ill health for over two years and during the past year had been in Portland at a sanitarium in hopes of receiving benefit. She returned home a week ago. The funeral services were held at the residence of her only daughter, Mrs. W.F. Craig, Wednesday at 2 p.m., Rev. Cullison officiating. Interment was at the Enterprise cemetery. Mrs. Schell was born in Missouri and was aged 59 years, … Read more

Alton Arno Schmidt – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Alton Arno Schmidt, 87, of Richland died Jan. 15, 2002 at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At his request there will be no formal service. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be scheduled in the spring when the wildflowers bloom on the Bear (Bare) Walla (Waller) Hills. Alton, known as “Skip,” “Skipper,” “Alt” or “Smitty,” was born June 7, 1914, in Pine Valley. He was the only son of Louis and Maude Schmidt. He attended school at Clear Creek and Pine Valley High School at Halfway. He was proud of his “cradle roll” in the Presbyterian Church … Read more

River Navigation

In approaching this subject one finds that, as in all other lines, Portland has gradually become the center of all the navigation companies of Oregon. To indicate the sources of her present facilities it will therefore be proper to mention the efforts made in other places in our State which ultimated upon Portland. This can be done in no manner so satisfactorily as by inserting here two extracts; one of them being from a speech of Senator J. W. Nesmith, and the other from Hon. Win. Strong, before the Oregon Pioneer Association. The former is a racy narrative of the … Read more

Portland Oregon’s Ships and Commerce

Many vessels crossed the bar of the Columbia in 1849 and a number came up to Portland. Of these none was more serviceable than the Madonna, from New York, under Captain Couch. This was his third trip out, and by far the most successful. His cargo of mixed goods was disposed of in part at San Francisco, his lumber selling for $600 per thousand. On board were W. S. Ogden, a prominent merchant of early times, and G. H. Flanders, a sea captain, before this in the employ of John and Caleb Cushing. Capt. Flanders is a man whose energy and enterprise … Read more

Lee, Catherine Alexander – Obituary

A funeral for Catherine A. Lee of Pendleton, a former Portland resident, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. Lee died of causes related to age Tuesday in a Pendleton care center [December 15]. She was 96. She was born April 5, 1896, in San Francisco but moved to Portland as a youngster. Her maiden name was Alexander. She was a graduate of Washington High School and married C. M. [Chester Milton] Lee on Dec. 25, 1937, in Portland. Mrs. Lee worked for the city of Portland’s Bureau of Health … Read more

Biography of Henry Failing

Failing, Henry, banker, and one of the leading business men of the Northwest, was born in the city of New York, January 17, 1834. His father, Josiah Failing, for many years an honored citizen of Portland, was born in Montgomery county, New York. Early in life he went to Albany, to learn the trade of paper stainer, and in 1824, accompanied his employer upon his removal to New York City. He served his apprenticeship and followed his trade until forced to abandon it on account of ill health. He then engaged in the trucking business, following this line of work … Read more

Biography of Dr. Kenneth A. J. Mackenzie

Dr. Kenneth A. J. Mackenzie was born in Cumberland House, a Hudson Bay Company post in Manitoba, Canada, Jan. 13, 1859, and is a son of Roderick and Jane Mackenzie. He is of Scotch descent and representative of a well known family of Ross Shire, Scotland, the old families of Langwell and Aldy, earls of Croemartie and Brahan, being a branch of the Mackenzies. Roderick Mackenzie, his father, was for many years Chief Fadtor in the Hudson’s Bay Company service and is now one of its retired officers, living at Melbourne in Eastern township, Canada. He is a man of … Read more

Schaupp, Addie – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Addie Schaupp wife of Arthur Schaupp of Joseph died Tuesday night June 17, 1919 at St. Vincent hospital in Portland. Her death came as a great shock to her friends here as she had gone with Mr. Schaupp to Portland on a pleasure trip a week ago Monday. They went to take in the Rose Festival and to enjoy a vacation. Thursday evening Mrs. Schaupp was taken ill and her condition quickly grew so serious that she was removed to the hospital where and operation was performed. This failed to afford relief and on Tuesday … Read more

Gentry, Wanda L. Coffinberry Mrs. – Obituary

Wanda L. Gentry, 83, of Ontario, who with her husband established the Gentry Ford Sales dealership, died July 27, 2005, at her home in the Meadow Brook Retirement Center. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Ontario. Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Wanda was born on March 18, 1922, at Portland to Walter B. and Verna D. Coffinberry. The family lived at Portland until 1926 when they relocated to Hot Lake and subsequently moved to Halfway in 1928. Wanda was a 1940 Halfway High School graduate. She moved to Portland … Read more

Bowerman, Sally – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Though Sally Bowerman of Joseph recently celebrated her 81st birthday she was “at the top of her game” when she died in a car crash in a dangerous intersection in Portland last week, according to both her daughters. Bowerman enjoyed many lives during 81 years and, in some ways, was many different people. She was a mother and nurse, a writer and sports fan, a patron of the arts and community booster, a world traveler. During her high school years Bowerman was a prize winning equestrian, a show jumper in an English saddle. Though later she became the … 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 Edward Long

EDWARD LONG. – Edward Long was born June 3, 1817, in Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio. His ancestors were Puritans, and emigrated from Londonderry (now Derry), New Hampshire, in 1721. The emigrants who settled that town were Presbyterians of the John Knox school, and are called Scotch-Irish, being descendants of a colony which migrated from Argyleshire, Scotland, and settled in the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland about the year 1612. Soon after the evacuation of Nova Scotia by the French, about the year 1763, a large number of families, among whom were the grandparents of Edward Long, moved … Read more

Biography of Hon. Henry W. Corbett

HON. HENRY W. CORBETT. – The reminiscences of the early pioneers of the Pacific Northwest must ever posses a peculiar interest for all who can look back to the days when the wigwam of the Indian was seen on every hand, and when the old log cabins of the founders of this great section of the union were few and far between. Pioneers of civilization constitute no ordinary class of adventurers. Resolute, ambitious and enduring, looking into a great and possible future of the undeveloped country, and possessing the sagacious mind to grasp true conclusions, and the indomitable will to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Cawlfield

This worthy gentleman is to be numbered with the younger men of Harney county who have attained a good success in the stock business here and who bid fair to gain much better in the future, judging by their faithful and wisely bestowed labors of the past. George W. was born in Johnson county, Kansas, on October 21, 1870, being the son of David A. and Abigil (Evans) Cawlfield. The father was a native of Tennessee, and went across the plains to California in an early day and then returned via Panama, after which for some time he acted as … Read more

Mulhall, Robert – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Mulhall, 86, of La Grande and formerly of Seattle, died March 5. At his request there will be no public services. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Mulhall was born June 3, 1920, to Leo and Jenny (Price) Smith in Yakima, Wash. He lived in Yakima, Portland and Seattle and served in the Army during World War II. After an honorable discharge, he worked as a manufacturing engineer for Boeing for 25 years. In the 1970s he moved to La Grande, where he was employed as a consultant for the … Read more

Biography of Rev. Clinton Kelly

REV. CLINTON KELLY. – Reverend Clinton Kelly, one of the early pioneers of the Pacific Northwest, was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, June 15, 1808. In January, 1827, he was converted, and commenced his life-work as a minister in the Methodist-Episcopal church, and ha since devoted his talents and energies for the benefit of his fellowmen, always denying himself the comforts and enjoyments of this life that he might the better assist others. In 1827 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Baston, by whom he had five children, three of whom are still living, – good citizens of … Read more

Poulson, P. S. – Obituary

P. S. Poulson Died In Portland Home Baker county lost another, one of her old and esteemed pioneers in the passing of Peter S. Poulson in Portland, Saturday, March 24th. Mr. Poulson was born May 5th, 1843 in Osterborg, Denmark. As a young school teacher, he immigrated to the United States, at about twenty years of age and came into Baker valley from Silver City in the spring of 1869. He homesteaded the Poulson ranch on Muddy Creek in 1871 and for several years freighted between Umatilla Landing and Silver City. On September 24, 1884 he was married to Miss … Read more

Petersen, Tina – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Tina Petersen, 48, of Cove died Sept. 22 at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland of complications of autoimmune inner ear disease and diabetes. The family is holding a gathering of her friends and their companion animals at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Birnie Park in La Grande. Tina was born March 7, 1959, in Park Rapids, Minn., to Jim and Carol Groth. Despite contracting Type 1 diabetes at age 2, she had a happy childhood in Walker, Minn., “up north” in lake country, and graduated from Walker High School in 1977. She attended Iowa State University and … Read more

Wicks, Albert G. – Obituary

Albert G. Wicks, 100, of Warren, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 24, 2005, at Warren. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 6 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co. Albert was born on Sept. 21, 1904, at Hereford. He was the third child of Arrie Jane Osborn and Jasper E. Wicks. Albert’s father and grandfather, Henry M. Wicks, traveled to Oregon by covered wagon and homesteaded property in the Hereford area. Albert lived for many … Read more

Holman, David William – Obituary

David William Holman, 82, a Baker City native, died July 10, 2003. There will be a celebration of his life at Santa Maria, Calif. A memorial service and interment will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. A picnic for family and friends is scheduled after the service at 3 p.m. at the home of his nephew, Gary Holman. David was born in Baker City on Oct. 3, 1920, to Harriett Carter and Fred Holman. He was a 1939 Baker High School graduate. While in school, he enjoyed participating in many sports and was honored as Athlete of … Read more