Portland Oregon

Value of the Labor of the Oregon Pioneers

In the work of the pioneers, whose efforts we have been tracing up to this period, we have seen that already the country was practically the territory of the United States by the highest and best title in existence, the actual occupation and control of it by her citizens. This question was, therefore, virtually settled by the inauguration of the provisional government in 1843, but from that time until the treaty of 1846 was signed it was a prominent issue in American political life. Mr. Polk, the democratic candidate for President, made his campaign on a party platform, which declared … Read more

DeBel, Stella VanBeveren Mrs. – Obituary

Stella DeBel, 92, of Portland, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 28, 2006, at Portland. There will be no funeral. Private family interment will be scheduled later at Mount Angel Calvary Cemetery. Stella was born on June 22, 1914, at Empire, Mich., to Adolf and Elodie VanBeveren. She moved to Baker City in 1922 with her parents, three sisters, Mary, Jerry and Florene, and a brother, Albert. She attended schools at Baker City and graduated from St. Francis Academy. Stella met her future husband, Frank Henry DeBel, in Baker City. At the age of 22, she married him and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Arethusa E. Smith

MRS. ARETHUSA E. SMITH. – Arethusa E., the daughter of Daniel Lynn, was born near Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, June 12, 1834. As a child of six years she removed with her parents to Platte county, in the same state, remaining until 1844, the year memorable for the great flood. Mr. Lynn, being very fond of a pioneer life, determined to settle in Texas, but was unable to proceed farther than the White river country, and, being ill suited with that country, returned to Platte county. He had long heard of Oregon, and decided to cross the plains thither and … Read more

Getty, Delbery Lynn – Obituary

Delbert Lynn Getty, 42-year-old Newberg resident and a former resident of Baker City, died Tuesday, November 14, 2000, in Newberg. Funeral services for Mr. Getty will be held Monday, November 20, at 2 p.m. in the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home. Bishop Greg Baxter of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, First Ward, will conduct the services. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Getty was born May 14, 1958, in Portland to Delbert Getty and Louise (Glover) Maness. He attended schools in Baker City, Bates and Bellingham, Wash., graduating from Baker High School with the class of 1976. … Read more

Biography of Harrison B. Oatman

Harrison B. Oatman, of Portland, was born in Courtland county, New York, February 25, 1826. His father, Harvey B. Oatman, died one year after the birth of our subject. One year later he accompanied his mother to Bellevue, Huron county, Ohio, where the family remained ten years and then settled in West Liberty, Ohio. Here they remained four years, after which they removed to Elgin, Illinois, and a few years later to Ogle county, in the same State. The latter place was at this time a new country and here Mr. Oatman commenced life on his own account as a … Read more

Biography of S. G. Reed

S. G. Reed, of Portland, one of the city’s most useful and progressive citizens, was born at East Abington, Massachusetts, April 23d, 1830. His early education was received in the public school of his native town, but he afterwards attended a private school and academy. He came to San Francisco, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, in the spring of 1852, and in the following autumn came to Oregon, where he has ever since resided. He was a clerk in the mercantile house of W. S. Ladd & . Co., from the fall of 1855 until the 2d day … Read more

Biography of H. McDonald

H. McDONALD – Mr. McDonald, who arrived in San Francisco in August, 1849, in the ship Hopewell of Warren, Rhode Island, and reached Portland the first time in August, 1850, on the brig Joaquina of San Francisco, was one of the earliest residents of Portland and of our state, and in the capacity of architect and stair-builder has done some of the most creditable work on our coast. One of his more recent successes, and something of a test of his skill, were the plans and specifications for the buildings for the Indian school at Chemawa, which were preferred to … Read more

Whiteley, Ann Marie Endicott Mrs. – Obituary

Ann Marie Whiteley, 70, died July 5, 2003, at her home after a long illness. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Sister Kay Marie Duncan will conduct the service. Private interment is at Mount Hope Cemetery. Ann was born March 31, 1933, at Portland to Edward and Shirley Combs Endicott. Her childhood years were spent at Austin until her family moved to Baker City, where she completed her schooling. Ann was in one of the last classes to graduate from the old Baker High School. On February 16, 1954, Ann … Read more

Kryger, Cornelius John Jr. – Obituary

June 24 [1948], Cornelius J. (Charlie), late of 8334 SE 11th; beloved father of Mrs. Arthur Jones, city; brother of Mrs. Jenne Merrse, Cincinnati, Ohio; grandfather of Arthur Jones Jr. Friends invited to attend funeral services Saturday, June 26, 10 a.m., Chapel of McGinnis & Wilhelm, Moreland Funeral Home, 6637 SE Milwaukie Ave. Interment Mt. Calvary. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Hess, Gertrude Jean – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Gertrude Jean Hess, 59, of 123 Union St., Walla Walla, died June 21, 1981 at Portland’s St. Vincent Hospital. Mrs. Hess was born July 19, 1921, in Criterion, Oregon to Peter and Birtha Herling Kirsch. She attended Criterion and Maupin schools and graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis. She married W. John Hess June 9, 1946. She was a teacher in Enterprise and a homemaker. She was a member of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Christian Womens Club and Engineers Wives. Mrs. Hess is survived by her husband, at home; three sons, Dan and Mark … Read more

York, George Wesley – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon George Wesley York, 59, of La Grande, died Oct. 3 at his home. Private family services will be held at a later date. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. George was born June 20, 1950, to Max Marshall and Bernice Frances (Smith) York in Portland. He enjoyed all types of art – photography, woodworking, painting, etc. He moved to the La Grande area from Hermiston in 1977. He is survived by his sister Margaret and her husband, Kenneth Brown, of Hermiston; and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents. La Grande Observer … Read more

Cummings, Clardon B. “Pete” – Obituary

Clardon B. “Pete” Cummings, 82, also known as “Tuffy,” a former Baker County resident, died Feb. 24, 2002, at Portland. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Lincoln Memorial Park and Funeral Home. Burial will be at noon Friday at the Willamette National Cemetery. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the funeral home. Mr. Cummings was born on Aug. 28, 1919, at Huntington. He served in the U.S. Army and in 1945 married Agnes Henderson. She died in 1992. He had lived in the Portland area since 1946 where he … Read more

Biography of S. P. Marsh

S.P. MARSH. – This leading citizen of Vancouver, Washington, was born in Ohio in 1826. At Cleveland he received his education and learned the trade of a blacksmith. At the age of twenty-four the stories of fabulous wealth on the Pacific, and an invitation from a special friend, started him across the continent for Oregon. He was in the great emigration of 1850, when it is said one hundred and eighty thousand persons were on the plains. Heavy luck struck his party on the Platte. Not far out they were surrounded by a thousand Pawnee Indians, and were given ten … Read more

Michels, Mabel Anita Yocom – Obituary

Oregon Funeral Notice -Michels–At Milwaukie, Or., Feb. 23, Mabel Anita Michels, aged 26 years, beloved wife of Martin L. Michels, mother of Beatrice Louise Michels. The remains will be forwarded this Tuesday morning by the F. S. Dunning, Inc., 414 East Alder, to Ellensburg, Wash., for services and interment. [IOOF Cemetery] Mrs. Martin Mitchell [Michels] died at her home in Portland [Clackamas Co. not Multnomah Co.] Monday morning. The remains were shipped to Ellensburg and funeral services were held at the home of her uncle, B. A. Gault, yesterday afternoon, Rev. Lux officiating. Mrs. Mitchell was born and raised in … Read more

Biography of Rev. George W. Gue

A man who, while never a permanent resident of Rock Island, yet lived in the city long enough to leave a permanent impress there and to be remembered with gratitude by many, was Reverend George W. Gue, for several years pastor of the First. Methodist Church, and builder of the present house of worship of that congregation. Honored in various ways by his church he bore his preferment well and earned the love and respect everywhere of those with whom he came in contact. Mr. Gue was born in Neville, Clermont County, Ohio, February 27, 1840, and died at Portland, … Read more

Adkins, Mrs. James E. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Mrs. James E. Adkins died at Portland March 4 and funeral services were held in that city Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Adkins lived in Enterprise several years and went from here to Portland. Mrs. Adkins was 41 years old and was survived by her husband and three children, Harold, now living at Astoria, and John and Glenn, of Portland. Enterprise Record Chieftain, November 17, 1927 Page 5 Contributed By: Sue Wells, Elgin, Union County, Oregon

Biography of Walter Hoge

Walter Hoge is one of the most prominent representatives of the industrial interests of southeastern Idaho. He makes his home in Paris, where he is connected with the lumber business, both manufacturing and selling lumber. The volume of his trade enables him to furnish employment to a large force of workmen and thus he adds to the general prosperity of the community and to the welfare of the town. Mr. Hoge was born on the 18th of November 1844, and is of English lineage. His parents, Walter and Elizabeth Hoge, were also natives of the same land, and the father … 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

Geer, Fred H. – Obituary

Funeral services for Fred H. Geer, 51, ex-Portland resident, who died in Tacoma Thursday, will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock at the Lincoln Memorial cemetery. Services were held at Tacoma yesterday. Mr. Geer was a son of ex-Governor T. T. Geer. He was born at Cove, Or. He lived here many years. For the last 16 years he was connected with the American Express company. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Martha Geer, and a sister, Mrs. Theodore Little of San Francisco. The Sunday Oregonian June 26, 1927 Page 19

Biographical Sketch of Governor George Abernethy

GOVERNOR GEORGE ABERNETHY . – Oregon’s first governor will of necessity occupy an important place in her annals. This is due both to the intrinsic character of the man and to his official position. So frequently, however, does he appear in the narration of the body of events described in this work that it is not necessary to do more here than give the mere outlines of his career. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1807. The family moved to the United States soon after; and the future governor spent the first thirty-two years of his life in New … Read more