Portland Oregon

Biography of Rev. James Harvey Wilbur

REV. JAMES HARVEY WILBUR, D.D. – It will not be claimed that the plain people, whose lives are briefly recorded in this volume, merit the title of greatness. They were simple honest men who did their duty. They merit a niche in the halls of our history, since it was they who hewed out the stones with which this stately structure has been built. It requires very great qualities to be called great. In many regards, such as self-reliance, ability to live alone with little or no inspiration or motive except such as they found within themselves, the power to … Read more

Cloud, Carl Wesley – Obituary

Carl Wesley Cloud, a longtime resident and businessman of Baker City, passed away Feb. 12, 1992 at St. Elizabeth health Care Center. He was born February 22, 1900 in Carterville, Missouri. As a teenager, he moved with his parents William Lee and Myrtle E. Cloud to Pine Valley and Baker City where he received his schooling. He learned the barbering trade at Portland Barber College, in Portland, Oregon. Upon his return to Eastern Oregon, he worked at his trade in Sumpter, Haines, and Baker. He owned and operated the first barber shop in the Baker Hotel when it was completed … Read more

Williams, Franklyn Spence – Obituary

Franklyn Spence Williams, 70, a former Baker resident, died July 10, 2008, at Providence Medical Center in Portland, Ore. A service was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Omega Funeral & Cremation Service in Portland. Franklyn was born July 1, 1938, in Baker, to Jay and Marjorie Williams. He graduated from high school in Baker. He worked during his early years in Baker, and in 1959 moved to Portland where he worked for Johnston Bros. contract carriers providing services at the Oregon Journal, which later sold to The Oregonian. In 1968 he bought the Husky Service Station … Read more

Vollmer, Thomas Wesley – Obituary

Thomas Wesley Vollmer, 25, of Portland, died May 19, 2002. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. Mr. Vollmer was born on June 1, 1976, at Baker City to Andrea Nicholson Wiggins and Wesley Vollmer. He moved with his family to McMinnville in 1980 where he lived until 1985 when they moved to Corvallis. He lived there until 1989 and then moved to Eugene where he lived before moving to Portland in 2001. He worked at Starbucks and Renner’s Grill in the Multnomah Village of Portland. He also worked at the … Read more

Snodgrass, Janice A. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon 1942-2007 Janice Ann Snodgrass, 64, of La Grande and formerly of Union, died March 8 at the Oregon Health and Science University hospital in Portland. A graveside service is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Island City Cemetery. A celebration of life dinner will follow at the La Grande First Christian Church, 901 Penn Ave. Viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande. Janice was born May 30, 1942, to Richard and Ruth (Gruis) Young in La Grande. She was raised in La Grande and … Read more

Graven, Terry Evan – Obituary

Terry Evan Graven, 58, of Nampa, Idaho, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, after a brave and valiant 21-month battle with cancer. His funeral was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the Nampa 10th Ward Chapel, 7908 Deer Flat Road. Terry was honored by police color guard and the military. A viewing was held on Tuesday at the church from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment was at the Veterans Cemetery in Boise. Terry died peacefully at his home in Nampa, with his family at his side. He died with the same calm collected nature … Read more

Crawford, June M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon June M. Gerry Crawford, 86, of La Grande, died June 11 at her home. A celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center. A full obituary will be available later. La Grande Observer – June 12, 2008 ________________________________________ June M. Gerry-Crawford, 86, of La Grande, died peacefully June 11 at her home after a long illness. A celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center with Doug Edmonds, minister of the La Grande Church of Christ, officiating. … Read more

Van Hoomissen, Condon J. “Jerry” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Condon J. “Jerry” Van Hoomissen, 76, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 4, 2003, at his home. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will conduct the service. After the committal, family and friends are invited to the Van Hoomissen home at 320 Foothill Drive to swap stories and visit. Food and drink will be provided, but if you wish to bring a dish to share, please do so, it will be appreciated. Jerry was born on Jan. 24, … Read more

Hepburn, Ruby – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Ruby Hepburn, 82, of Beaverton and formerly of La Grande, died July 22. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at Christ United Methodist Church in Portland. Autumn Funerals and Cremations was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Hepburn was born Ruby Garnet Wallander July 1, 1924, in Stockville, Neb. The family moved to the greater Portland area and she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1941. In 1946 she married Donald B. Hepburn and worked for the Beaverton School District as a cook for 15 years. The couple lived in La Grande from 1955 … Read more

Blize, John R. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon John R. Blize, a prominent citizen of Union for a number years deputy sheriff of the county, died at his home in Union, Tuesday morning of last week. Mr. Blize had been seriously afflicted for several months and had been in a Portland hospital since last November, until two days before his death. Mr. Hize was a member of the Knights of Pythias and his funeral was conducted by that order. Elgin Recorder Friday February 27, 1903

Biography of Charles T. Uhlman

CHARLES T. UHLMAN. – Mr. Uhlman, a portrait of whom is placed in this history, although a young man, is an example of what the possibilities are for a young man when guided by honesty, industry and business ability. Coming to Tacoma but a few years ago, our subject entered a meat market as an apprentice at a salary of fifteen dollars per month. To-day he is a member of the council that guides the interests of the City of Destiny, the proprietor of a large and increasing trade, with branch houses at different points on the Sound, and is … Read more

DeRoest, Barbara P. DeRoest – Obituary

Prairie City, Oregon Barbara P. DeRoest, 85, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died March 27, 2004, at her home on Pine Creek Road at Prairie City. Her graveside memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Tom Brock of the Baker City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mrs. Kim Eardley will officiate. There will be a reception afterward. Barbara was born on Aug. 6, 1918, to John W. and Magdaline P. Hass Williams at Baker City at the old Baker hospital. She was raised at Sparta where she attended … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William A. Wetzell

WILLIAM A. WETZELL. – The gentleman of whom we write was born in Washington, Virginia, on October 3, 1852. His parents are Jefferson and Catherine Wetzell, of good old Virginia stock. He lived with his parents in Virginia until 1861, when they moved to Farmer City, where William A. attended the public schools. At the early age of seventeen years he began teaching in the same. In 1876 he was admitted to the Illinois Wesleyan University, where he took an eclectic course, and was regarded as one of the brightest and most promising students of that institution. After finishing the … Read more

Portland Commercial Growth and Development During Recent Years

The purely domestic commerce in the Willamette Valley was conducted with the old-time energy, employing forty steamers, with an aggregate tonnage of thirteen thousand, seven hundred and ninety-one, and twenty-one sailing vessels of various descriptions aggregating two thousand and thirteen tons. The Oregon and California Railway was now in active operation and the Oregon Central had tapped the agricultural portion of Washington county. In 1873 there appears a great rise in exports. For the fiscal year ending in September the following showing is made: To foreign ports there were employed three steamers, the California, George S. Wright and Gussie Telfair, … Read more

History of Portland Oregon’s Fire Department

In 1866 the offices were Thos. G. Young, W. H. Weed and Win. T. Patterson. In 1867, Thos. G. Young, W. H. Weed, Wm. W. Witsell. The latter Chiefs are found in the list of the city officers, given above. As the city grew larger and the years passed, it was deemed better not to depend upon volunteer companies, but to maintain a regular paid fire department. In 1882 this was organized, and in 1883 H. D. Morgan, who still serves, was appointed Chief. Under this management the loss by fire has been greatly reduced, as shown by the following: … Read more

Bierman, Joel Aaron – Obituary

Joel Aaron Bierman, 34, a former Baker City resident, died May 11, 2001, at his home in Portland. There will be a memorial service for him at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2177 First St. There also will be a gathering of his friends and family at his favorite beach in La Jolla, Calif., in early June. After graduating from Helix High School at La Mesa, Calif., in 1985, Mr. Bierman traveled in Europe and upon his return moved to San Francisco, where he worked as a professional waiter. In 1993, he moved to Baker City, and … Read more

McCuen, Karen Lee Hudecek Mrs. – Obituary

Karen Lee McCuen, 41, of Baker City died Jan. 15, 2005, at her home. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Mountain Foursquare Gospel Church, 1837 Third St. Pastor Gene Saunders will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family after the service for a luncheon at the church. Karen was born on Aug. 7, 1963, in Baker City to Benjamin Thomas and Ida Marie Beers Hudecek. Karen was raised in Baker City and attended Baker High School. After completing her GED in 1984, Karen moved to Portland and attended college to further her education. … Read more

Bowman, Ruth Lorraine Georgeoff Mrs. – Obituary

Lorraine Bowman, 80, a former Baker Valley resident, died Dec. 10, 2001. At her request, there will be no services. Disposition was by cremation. Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise was in charge of arrangements. Ruth Lorraine Georgeoff was born March 13, 1921, the only daughter of Anna and Vasil Georgeoff. After growing up in Portland, she married Elbert Bowman and raised three sons, John, Paul, and Gary (Joe). The family lived for many years in Baker Valley. She was active in the VFW auxiliary in Baker City, and in Heppner. She is survived by three sons and numerous grandchildren. Used … Read more

Biography of Dr. Wilson Bowlby

DR. WILSON BOWLBY. The office of the physician is one of such primary importance in society, that one who worthily sustains that character for a long time in one place becomes one of the fundamental pillars of the community. If the character of a wise and influential public officer and politician and public-spirited citizen be added to the requirements of the skilled physician, we have a life of the highest usefulness. Such in a general way has been the career of this pioneer physician of Washington county. Though now well advanced in a very busy and wearing life, Doctor Bowlby, … Read more

Present Development and Importance of Portland

From the foundation to the top of the fire wall it measured eighty-one feet and was three stories in height; the cost was fifty thousand dollars and the finish was elegant. This building was destroyed by fire in December, 1872. The Court House was finished in 1866. A correspondent of the San Francisco Bulletin, whose grace and humor of style as a newspaper writer would hardly betray his devotion to the knotty problems of applied law, writes of a view from the cupola of this building. After describing the scenery of the mountains and lands surrounding, he says: ” But … Read more