Richard L. Sweet, 76, of Elgin, died Sept. 15 at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – Obituaries For The Week Ending September 22, 2007 – Published: September 18, 2007
Private family services for William Morrow Sutherland, 76, of Charleston, will be held in Heppner where he will be laid to rest in the Morrow family plot beside his father and mother. Mr. Sutherland died in Roseburg of complications of age on Jan. 19, 1995. He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin VanBuren Sutherland on Oct. 11, 1918. He attended Lincoln High School in Portland, then attended Reed College and majored in economics, graduated in 1941. Immediately following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, becoming a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. After separation … Read more
The Western Star, of Milwaukie, after running a few months, was brought down to Portland and published under the name of The Oregon Weekly Times. The Methodist church, on the corner of Third and Taylor streets, was dedicated in the autumn of 1850; the Congregational church, on Second and Jefferson, in 1851; the Catholic church on Third and Stark, was begun in 1851, but not dedicated until February, 1852. A public occasion of much interest was the celebration of St. John’s day, in 1850, by the Masons. The people assembled at the Masonic Hall, which was still surrounded by logs … Read more
It is with pleasure that we are enabled to write concerning the estimable gentleman whose name is at the head of this article, since he has been one of the potent factors in the development of Harney county, has manifested wisdom and enterprise in all his ways here, has labored as a true pioneer in many other sections of the country and has always manifested the same unswerving integrity, moral uprightness and sound principles, having sustained a reputation as an exceptionally reliable man, and ever arraigned on the side of right. Mr. Duncan was born in Williamson county, Illinois, on March … Read more
Baker City, Oregon Dorothy Frances Brandt Hallstrom, 80, of Baker City died at her home on May 27, 2004. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the cabin near Sumpter, which Dorothy dearly loved. Dorothy was born on July 9, 1923, at Seattle, Wash., to George and Doris Brandt. She moved with her parents to Portland, where she completed her education. Dorothy always appreciated a good day’s work and never shirked responsibility. She worked as a bookkeeper and owned a successful yarn shop in Baker City. She also helped build a log cabin with her husband, James … Read more
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
HON. L.F. GROVER. – Governor La Fayette Grover was born in Bethel, Maine, November 29, 1823, of ancestry on both sides distinguished in the early and late history of Massachusetts. He is a brother of Major Abernethy Grover, a man of distinction in the politics of Maine and in the war of the Rebellion; of Professor Talleyrand Grover, an eminent classist; and of General Cuvier Grover, a skillful commander in the war of the Rebellion. He was educated at the Classical Academy of Bethel, and at Bowdoin College, Maine. He studied law in Philadelphia under the instruction of the late … Read more
La Grande, Oregon Steve Matthew Svetich, 89, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 16. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Portland. Arrangements are under the direction of Riverview Abbey Funeral Home of Portland. Mr. Svetich was born April 27, 1917, in Bingham Canyon, Utah. He moved to La Grande at age 12 and graduated from La Grande High School. He attended Eastern Oregon State College then served in the Army during World War II. He moved to Portland in 1946 and married Mary Ann Mehalovich … Read more
The advent of religious teachers in this portion of the West had an important bearing upon its history and destiny. Those of the Protestant faith became prominent factors in securing American settlement and occupation of the country which resulted in the acquisition of the Territory of Oregon to the United States. The part they bore in the long struggle for possession of this great domain-an empire within itself-has been treated of in preceding pages and needs here no further elaboration. They came at first solely moved by religious motives, but the conditions that surrounded them induced them to play … Read more
PHILIP F. CASTLEMAN. – Those who now make the trip in the palatial car across the continent from the populous cities and thickly settled districts of the union, and view the Pacific Northwest in its present development, can but faintly realize the dangers and privations the sturdy pioneers experienced in reaching here, nor yet understand the troubles they had with the red man who then roamed its confines at will, and knew no law save what pleased the savage heart the best. They often meet among its residents not a few upon whom the snows of many winters have fallen, … Read more
HENRY JONES. – The subject of this sketch is a native of Dodgerville, Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he lived until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Regiment, and served until November, 1864. He then moved to Iowa, remaining there until October, 1873, when he came to the Pacific coast, landing in Portland, Oregon, the same month. Mr. Jones married Miss Rosetta Sexton, granddaughter of the late James B. Stephens, of East Portland, on December 15, 1880, and has one son, Harry, who was born March 16, 1885. Mr. Jones was business manager of … Read more
HON. A.M. CANNON. – Mr. Cannon, like so many of our prominent men and large capitalists, began life on a farm, where his energies were devoted until he was twenty-one years old. His father was a farmer and a man of fine qualities, but had very limited means to devote to the education of his son. In 1858 he left Illinois, and started with two yoke of oxen for Pike’s Peak. At St. Joseph he was elected captain of a company of emigrants consisting of fifty-two souls, and succeeded in leading them safely across the plains through a dangerous Indian … Read more
Baker City, Oregon James Chancey Conaway passed away at his Portland home on April 16, 2004. He liked to be called “Jimbo” by his friends and family. He lived in Portland for a number of years. He also lived in La Grande and Baker City. He was born in Baker, now Baker City. In his early years he worked at construction jobs and also did janitor work for the school districts. He had lots of friends at his favorite place, Carrow’s Restaurant. He liked to chat with the waitresses and his friends. He’d spend lots of hours there. Everyone enjoyed … Read more
La Grande, Oregon Georgia LaVelle Butler, 95, of La Grande died Sept. 11 at Jody’s Country Care in La Grande. A celebration of life will be held on at 2 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. A graveside Service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. She was born in La Grande on Sept. 27, 1910, to Herman and Florence Richey. She grew up in La Grande except for five years when her family lived on a ranch in Cove. She graduated from … Read more
Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon W. W. Fowler’s Father Passes Away Suddenly J.J. Fowler, father of W.W. Fowler of Enterprise, died suddenly of heart disease last week in his room in a Spokane hotel. W.W. Fowler was greatly shocked to hear the news on Friday and left at once for Portland, where his father’s body was taken for burial. The father was here in November, leaving on the tenth. He was robust and appeared in the best of health and did not look more than 55 years of age although he was 62. The senior Mr. Fowler was a salesman for … Read more
Delbert Ernest Coon, 81, of Odell, a former Baker City resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at his home. Private cremation was held at The Dalles Win-quatt Crematory. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements. There will be a private family service and inurnment later at Baker City. He was born on Sept. 30, 1921, at Portland, the only child of Oliver and Edna Craig Coon. Delbert was raised at Baker City where he attended schools. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed at North Africa and … Read more
JAMES P. STEPHENS. – This original owner of a large portion of the townsite of East Portland, Oregon, was born in 1806 in Virginia, and removed to Indiana when but a boy of eight, and came still farther west to Hancock County, Illinois, in1832. In 1830 he married Miss Elizabeth Walker of Ohio, and passed on to Missouri, and in 1843 made preparations to come to Oregon. Failing, however, to reach the rendezvous in time, the journey was postponed until the next year. Crossing the plains in 1844, he endured the hardships of that toilsome year, and reached Oregon City … Read more
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
Glenn Duncan Dies After Long Illness Former Haines Grain Dealer Passes, Portland Former Haines businessman, Glenn Duncan, who lived at 3925 S.W. Humphrey Blvd., Portland, passed away Sunday morning, May 12, at Good Samaritan Hospital following an extended illness. Born in Haines October 1, 1907, Mr. Duncan moved to Portland in 1955, but continued property ownership in this valley. He was general manager associated with his father Lee Duncan of the Haines Commercial Company of Haines, and served on the board of director of the U.S. National Bank of Baker before moving to Portland. He was semi-retired from the grain … Read more
Homer G. Patterson is a leading member of the Idaho legislature, representing Blaine County, and is a prominent practitioner of dentistry in Hailey. Dentistry may be said to be almost unique among other occupations, as it is at once a profession, a trade and a business. Such being the case, it follows that in order to attain the highest success in it one must be thoroughly conversant with the theory of the art, must be expert with the many tools and appliances incidental to the practice of modern dentistry, and must possess business qualifications adequate to dealing with the financial … Read more