Portland Oregon

Natural Advantages of Portland Oregon

The term “advantages” is relative, being always used with reference to the purpose in view. The advantages of a city relate to its adaptation to the uses of commerce, manufacturing and residence. Under the head of commerce, facility for both water and land communication is to be regarded, together with the extent and variety of commodities available for exchange. Under manufacturing advantages, power, labor, and availability of raw material, fall into the account. As to residence one must consider salubrity, beauty of natural surroundings and contiguity to his business operations, together with social, educational and religious privileges. The geographical position … 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

Avery, Walt J. – Obituary

Lostine, Oregon Walt J. Avery Walt J. Avery died July 25, 2004, as the result of cancer. He was born June 29, 1927, in Lostine, to John Henry and Celia Frances (Moore) Avery. Before marrying Joy Frances Bennett of Joseph in 1948, Avery worked on several area ranches. The newlyweds moved to Portland, where Walt worked on farms and in the shipyards. They returned to Joseph in 1972 before moving to Irrigon in 1988. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, working with horses, teaching his grandchildren about his hobbies and working on cars. Survivors include his wife, Joy, of Irrigon; daughters Violet … Read more

Biography of Samuel Hadlock

SAMUEL HADLOCK. – The people of the Pacific coast at present belong to that time in the history of their states and society when they do the things that the after-time lovers to look back upon and scrutinize. They are full of restless energy, and experience all that falls to the lot of man. The old free days, when the country was new and towns were built, will ever be regarded by the populous and crowded future as the golden days of our history, – mixed with severe toil and deprivation alternating with abundance. Samuel Hadlock, who founded Port Hadlock, … Read more

Adams, Ernest Edgar – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Ernest Edgar Adams, 93, of Elgin died June 9 at a local care center. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Elgin Christian Church. Burial will follow at the Elgin Cemetery. Mr. Adams was born April 12, 1913, to John William and Emily Jane Law Adams in Elgin. He graduated from Elgin High School and attended Eastern Oregon Normal School for a year. He worked for the box factory when he was young and played on a minor league baseball team. On Nov. 11, 1933, he married Frances Elizabeth Gilkison in Union. During World War … Read more

Fox, Mannie – Obituary

Sudden Death of Mannie Fox Seized With Acute Indigestion Dies at Home of Sister Mannie Fox, a pioneer of Baker coming here when a mere boy, died suddenly last evening at 4:30 o’clock at the home of his sister, Mrs. Mose Fuchs, 2500 Main street from acute indigestion, the first symptoms being manifest about 2 o’clock and his death when it became known was received with expressions of sorrow throughout the community, for the deceased was a very loveable character, kindly, sympathetic and charitable. Mannie Fox was born in Portland, March 22, 1862, and came to Baker in 1876, entering … Read more

Schumacher, Harriett Elizabeth Turner – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harriet Elizabeth Turner (HET) Schumacher, 82, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died June 20 surrounded by family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. A rosary will begin at 7 tonight at Mount Scott Funeral Home, 4205 SE 59th St. A mass and a reception celebrating her life will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 3618 SE 79th St., in Portland. Burial will follow at Gethsemani Cemetery. Harriet Elizabeth was born Sept. 13, 1925, to Henry and Eileen Turner in La Grande. As an only child and with her dark, curly locks … Read more

Tucker, Marie Fisher Mrs. – Obituary

Marie Tucker 97, of Portland, Ore., and a former Haines resident, passed away Oct. 10, 2005, at her home in Portland. Funeral services were held in Portland on Oct. 15. She was born in Haines Oct. 4, 1908, to George and Esther Fisher. She graduated from Muddy Creek High School and the Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Portland. She worked at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Baker City, and later at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland until her retirement. She was married to Loren Tucker in 1932 and had three children. She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Fagerberg of … Read more

Hammack,Ross Robert

Ross Robert Hammack, 85, died on Nov. 27, 2004 He was born on Aug. 22, 1919 in Lostine to Floyd and Zelma Hammack, the youngest of six children. Ross graduated from Enterprise High School as president of his class and went to college at Oregon State University where he studied engineering. He married his wife of 63 years, Donna Mae Brown, on Aug. 2, 1941. He is survived by four children, Jonathan Ross Hammack (Linda) of Portland; Jeffrey Charles Hammack (Sandra) of Buhl, Idaho; Linda Hammack Giles (Don) of Portland; and Matthew Lyle Hammack of Danville, Calif.; nine grandchildren; nine … Read more

Biography of William Billings

WM. BILLINGS. – The name Billings at once suggests the picturesque hills and valleys of Vermont; and we find that the subject of this sketch is indeed a Green Mountain boy, having been born in Ripton in 1827. He lived upon his father’s place until 1846, and in that year went down to New Bedford and shipped before the mast. This step brought him to Washington Territory; for, in 1849, he was left at Honolulu, from whence, in the bark Mary, he came to California, the gold of the Yuba mines detaining him but a few months. Indeed, the best … Read more

Sipp, Gentria Taliaferro Mrs. – Obituary

Gentria Taliaferro Sipp, 85, of Portland and Sumpter, died Aug. 1, 2007, at her home in Sumpter. Graveside inurnment will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at Mount Hope Cemetery. Gentria was born on Sept. 25, 1921, to Gentry and Pearl Gibson Taliaferro. She spent her early childhood at Sumpter where she attended school for the first several years. She then attended school at Baker and was a 1939 Baker High School graduate. Her summers were special times when she returned to Sumpter and later to the Independence Mine near Granite where her father was the manager. She always … Read more

Harris, Harold Reed – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harold Reed Harris, 82, of Sacramento, Calif., and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 26 from complications of pneumonia. There will be a reception for friends to visit with his family Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A private family memorial service will follow on Saturday. Mr. Harris was born Nov. 9, 1923, in Fort Duchesne, Utah, to Leonard Reed Harris and Martha Kitchen Harris, the seventh of eight sons. He spent his entire childhood in the Uintah Basin region and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940. He served in the Navy … 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

Biography of W. S. Ladd

It is seldom throughout the incipient stages of growth, down to a period covering many years in the development of a progressive commonwealth, that to any one man is accorded a foremost place by general consent. New countries, in these latter days of steam and electricity, develop often with rapidity; new issues are met by new leaders, while those who laid the foundation of society rarely retain their hold on affairs for any extended period of time. In this, however, Oregon has been an exception to the rule, and the career of William Sargent Ladd is a conspicuous example of … Read more

Olds, George R. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon George R. Olds died on January 22, 1988 at the Veterans Medical Center in Portland. He was born February 15, 1924 at Buffalo, Wyo., son of George and Agnes (Anderson) Olds. On May 7, 1950 he was married to Helen Hollas at Billings, Montana. He was a lineman for Pacific Power and Light. Survivors include his wife, Helen of Enterprise; on son, Donald Olds of Fountain Green , Utah; four daughters, Sharon Price of Milton-Freewater, Patsy Reynolds of Anchorage, Alaska, Nancy Lathrop of La Grande and Shelley Curtis of Baker; and 12 grandchildren. Memorial services were … 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

Chastain, Joel Orange – Obituary

Joel O. Chastain, 67, a life-long resident of Tygh Valley where he was a dairyman and farmer, died Wednesday [May 17, 1961] in Portland after a long illness. Mr. Chastain was a member of the Tygh Valley Methodist Church and the Old Wasco County Pioneer Association. Surviving are his widow, Laura, of Tygh Valley; a daughter, Mrs. Nina Teschner, and two grandchildren, Tonya and Jola Teschner of Portland; three brothers, Frank of Yakima, John of Newport and Liberty Chastain of Harper, Ore.; and two sisters, Mrs. Effie Knighten and Mrs. Nina New, both of Harper. Funeral services under direction of … Read more

Martin, John Gregory – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon John Gregory Martin, 32, of Portland, a former Baker City resident, died June 22, 2004, in a fatal car accident in Portland. His memorial service was Saturday in Portland. John was born and raised in Baker City. He moved to Portland in 1988. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved to fish and camp. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him. Survivors include his mother, Phyllis Martin; brothers, Randy Martin, Earl Martin, Richard Martin and Jeffrey Martin; and a sister, Theresa Cole. Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 2, 2004 … Read more

Incidents in the Administrations of Justice During Territorial Period

J. K. Kelly was appointed District Attorney for the United States,  and Walter Forward, of Marion County, was appointed Marshal. The first term of this Court was opened at No. 63 Front street, near Stark, on the third floor of the building, in 1859, and for many years the government afforded no better quarters for it, although the place was poorly adapted for its purpose. In 1871 the present government building was completed and the Federal Courts were assigned commodious and convenient quarters. During the years that have followed the organization of this Court, the strong individuality of Judge Deady … Read more