Portland Oregon

History of Portland Oregon’s Settlement

It is to be borne in mind that there was in Oregon an ancient circles of cities whose rise and growth belong to a day earlier than that of Portland. By reference to the chapter upon the earliest times and the provisional government, one will see that Astoria, down near the Ocean, had already been flourishing, amid its gigantic spruce trees and sea breezes, for more than thirty years, and for a part of the time figured as the sole American city on the Pacific Coast. It had furthermore so far attracted the attention as to have become the subject … 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 Hon. James Kerr Kelly

HON. JAMES KERR KELLY. – Among the men of distinction in our state, none have held a position of eminence for a longer time than Senator Kelly. It requires stamina to stand for thirty years upon “the hard and wintry peaks of fame.” We are the more assured of eminent qualities of the Colonel when we consider that he came to this coast and started upon bed-rock. Family ties, name, favoritism, may elevate men of no ability to high positions in older communities; but in the Oregon of an early day artificial conditions did not exist. A man came near … Read more

Courtney, Doris Letha – Obituary

Doris Letha Courtney, 78, of Burns and formerly of Union and Wallowa counties died March 28. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday April 1 at LaFollette Chapel, 332 W. Monroe St., Burns. Burial in the Burns Cemetery will be private. Mrs. Courtney was born Sept. 5, 1927, to John and Marjorie Miller in La Grande. She grew up in Cove on a dairy farm, and was a princess at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show and the Elgin Stampede. She graduated from Cove High School in 1944, and attended Eastern Oregon College of Education before moving to Portland to … Read more

Rynearson, Marvin – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Child Passes Away Marvin Rynearson, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Rynearson, died at Doernbecker hospital in Portland Monday, Jan. 29, 1940. The parents went with the baby to Portland a couple of days earlier in the hope of finding treatment to meet the needs of the child. They arrived back in Joseph yesterday for funeral and burial services. The baby was born at Joseph March 5, 1939, and was survived by its parents and one sister. Source: Enterprise Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, Thursday, February 1, 1940 Contributed by: Sue Wells

Fry, James – Obituary

James Fry, aged about 53, of Portland, died suddenly at Huntington Wednesday afternoon just as he arrived from the east with two motor trucks which were transporting freight toward Portland. The body is being held pending receipt of instructions from Portland. Oregon Trail Weekly North Powder News Saturday, October 29, 1927

Duncan, Glenn – Obituary

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

Cruzan, Pauline – Obituary

Pauline Cruzan Dies at Portland Word has been received of the passing on Monday, Oct. 10, 1960, of Mrs. Pauline Cruzan, about 49, of Portland, after an illness of several months. Funeral services were yesterday (Wednesday) at 3 p.m. at the Vernon Presbyterian church in Portland and burial was in Sunset Hills Memorial Park. Mrs. Cruzan was the daughter of Boone F. and Maude Childers and had lived in the Lostine area several years. She leaves her husband, James Cruzan, of Portland; a daughter, Mary Warfield; two foster sons, Dan and Michael Bolme, three grandchildren; four sisters: Mrs. Lulu Dimmick, … Read more

DeHart, Betty Rosa Evans Mrs. – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Betty Rosa DeHart was born in Richland to Alvin and Rosa Evans in April 16, 1926. She passed away peacefully at her current residence Quail Hollow, on Sept. 28, 2004. Memorial services were held Monday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. at Northwest United Protestant Church. Interment followed in sunset Memorial Gardens. She graduated from Eagle Valley High School and moved to Portland to work as a telegraph operator. She then moved to Oakland, Calif., where she met her future husband. She married Lloyd DeHart on Sept. 3, 1946. They moved to Richland, Wash., in 1947. She was employed by … Read more

Millering, Frances

Frances M. Millering, 93, Hillsboro, died Nov. 15, 1989, at Forest View Care Center in Forest Grove. Graveside services were to be held at 1:30 p.m. today (Monday) in Island City Cemetery near La Grande, with the Rev. Norman Shrumm of First Presbyterian Church of La Grande officiating. Interment in the cemetery was to follow. Mrs. Millering was born April 16, 1896, in Five Points, Ore., a daughter of John and Minnie Banks Hills. Her family members were pioneer residents of the La Grande area. On Dec. 9, 1917, she married Jay M. Millering in La Grande. He died in … Read more

Purvis, Rusty Gene – Obituary

Rusty Gene Purvis, 39, of Portland, died Oct. 27, 2002. A graveside service will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at Ironside Cemetery. Floyd Cooper will officiate. Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is handling the arrangements. Mr. Purvis was born Nov. 17, 1962, at Baker City to Don and Carol (Hill) Purvis. He attended Harper and Unity schools, and graduated from Riddle High School in 1981. He also attended Boise State University. He was employed by Zilog in Boise and Fujitsu in Portland as a computer technician. He enjoyed fishing, football and NASCAR racing. Mr. Purvis is survived by … Read more

Andrew, George Emmet – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon George Emmet Andrew, 82, of Baker City died Nov. 2, 2001 in a Boise hospital of complications resulting from a traffic accident Sept. 28 in downtown Baker City. Disposition was by cremation. His ashes will be dispersed at his favorite locality. Mr. Andrew was born in Portland on Sept. 2, 1919. He graduated from Kelso High School in 1938. He worked at The Long Bell Lumber Co. in Longview, Wash., from 1940 until he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps after Pearl Harbor and attained the rank of sergeant. After World War II service he returned to … Read more

Schreeck, Fred – Obituary

Fred Schreeck Of Baker Dies Well – Known Business Man Succumbs After Illness Fred H. Schreeck, Baker business man, died this morning at 8:30 at his home after an illness extending over a period of three years. Mr. Schreeck was born in Bloomington, Illinois February 25, 1882. He came to Baker in 1899 and engaged in mining until 1901. In 1901 he married Emma Adams and they lived in Portland until 1909 when they moved back to Baker and Mr. Schreeck established the foundation of the Schreeck Ice and Cold Storage Company. He made a start by peddling hominy and … 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

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

Golden, Margaret Francis – Obituary

Margaret Francis Golden, 2201 Orodell Blvd., died Friday at Valley View manor. She was 90. Mrs. Golden was born Oct. 31, 1892, at Summerville to Charles and Mary (Childers) Duggan. On Oct. 31, 1915 she married John Golden at Summerville. He preceded her in death in July 1945. In 1919, Mrs. Golden and her family moved to Portland and lived there until they returned to La Grande in 1975. She was a homemaker and a member of the La Grande United Methodist Church. Survivors include her son, Virgil Golden, San Antonio, Texas; two sisters, Ardra Behrens and Ruth A. Rollins, … Read more

Biography of Captain Z. C. Norton

CAPTAIN Z.C. NORTON. – Of the early pioneers to Oregon who were natives of the Pine Tree state, the subject of this sketch occupied a prominent place during his life. He was born in Farmington, Maine, December 29, 1808, and when fourteen years of age was sent to sea by his father for the purpose of learning navigation, and gaining possible promotion to the captaincy of a vessel. His patron was an old friend of his parents, and was the commander of the vessel in which our subject began his travels on the briny deep. By close attention to the … Read more

Frazer, Robert Lawrence – Obituary

April 2, Robert L., late of 3723 SE 28th; husband of Marie M. Frazer; brother of Bert E. Frazer, Mrs. Earl F. [Catherine] Seney, this city; uncle of Clifford F. Frazer, this city. Friends invited to attend funeral services Friday, 1 p.m., at the Conservatory Chapel of A. J. Rose & Son, SE 6th and Alder. Vault Interment Lincoln Memorial Park. The Oregonian, April 4, 1947 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Smurthwaite, Paul Rey – Obituary

Paul Rey Smurthwaite, 72, a former Baker City resident, died peacefully at his home on April 5, 2006 after a battle with cancer. There will be a service celebrating his life at 11 a.m. Monday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15555 S.W. 98th St., in Tigard. Paul was born on Feb. 24, 1934, at Baker City to Jesse Abraham and Zina Smurthwaite. He was the youngest of eight children. He grew up in Baker City where he enjoyed gymnastics, bowling, camping, fishing and hunting. He served his country as a U.S. Marine in the Korean conflict. … Read more

Biography of Francis McGuire

FRANCIS McGUIRE. – Under the wheeling shadows of Lone Fir, where green vines clamber over the gently swelling mounds, where beautiful funeral flowers, at each glorious resurrection of the year, breathe sweet memorial incense, and gleaming marble guards the last bivouac of the loved and lost, lie the remains of Francis McGuire. Standing by his grave we have no need to invoke the tender Latin maxim, – De mortuis nil nisi bonum; for when his weary head drooped at last it was by the chosen path of duty. He left no stain on the bright escutcheon of his manhood, – … Read more