Portland Oregon

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

History of Portland Railroads

  Portland is now well supplied with railway connection, not only with all parts of the Northwest, but with the whole of North America. She is the terminus of three transcontinental lines-the Northern Pacific, by the O. R. & N. and the Oregon Short Line, and the Union Pacific systems, respectively, and of the Southern Pacific by the Oregon and California Railway. She is also a terminus of the Northern Pacific on its own rails across the Cascade mountains and by way of Tacoma and Kalama, and, by the routes on Puget Sound, communicates directly with the Canadian Pacific. The … Read more

Biography of Paul Helmer Young

Paul Helmer Young, representative of the bond department of the National Bank of Commerce at St. Louis and president of the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce, is one of the most alert, wide-awake and progressive of the young business men of the city. He was born in Lander, Wyoming, July 26, 1896. He is therefore a western man by birth, training and experience and has always been possessed by the spirit of western enterprise and progress which has been the dominant element in the upbuilding of the great empire beyond the Mississippi. His father, the Rev. Benjamin Young, is … Read more

Schuchardt, Anna Dolores Davis Mrs. – Obituary

David T. Pattee Jr., 54, a former Baker City resident, died March 13, 2006, at Roseburg. Mr. Pattee was born July 16, 1951, in Portland, and he was raised and educated in the Portland area, graduating from Centennial High School. In recent years he lived in Bend, Baker City and most recently in Roseburg. The loves of his life were fishing and golfing. He is survived by his sister, Kathleen Pattee of Portland; a daughter, Ashley Bessey, and two grandchildren, Caiden and Choloe Bessey, all of Redmond; his mother, Donna Pattee, sister, Polly Pattee and niece, Summer, all of Gresham; … Read more

Portland Excursions, Public Festivities and Celebrations

The gorge of the Columbia, with its Latourelle, Multnomah, and Horse-tail Falls, and its Oneonta canyon, with the Cascade mountains themselves, are most inviting, and to the artist no less than to the common excursionist, prove wonderful. Mount St. Helens has been an object of attraction to the Alpine Club of this city, the members of which recently played snow-ball upon its mosque-like top. Mount Adams and Rainier, although the finest and most curious of all, are too much removed to be frequented by the men of Portland; they will ultimately, however, come into due appreciation. For those bent on … Read more

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

History of Portland Oregon Presbyterian Churches

In November, 1849, Rev. Horace Lyman and wife arrived. Mr. Lyman had been sent out by the Home Missionary Society in 1847, but remained at San Jose, California, one year engaged in teaching. After his arrival in Portland he at once began the work of building up a church. In 1850, one of the town proprietors, D. H. Lownsdale, gave the ground and the citizens made liberal donations to carry out the project. With this assistance Mr. Lyman began the erection of a church building at the South end of Second street. Much of the manual labor connected with the … Read more

Dethloff, William Joseph “Joe”, Jr. – Obituary

William Joseph “Joe” Dethloff Jr., 57, died Oct. 18, 2002, after a year-long illness with cancer. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the cathedral. The Most Rev. Thomas J. Connolly and the Revs. Robert C. Irwin and James P. Logan will concelebrate the Mass. The Rev. Mr. James R. Watt will assist. Honor guard … Read more

Jones, Phyllis Ann Bennehoff Mrs. – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon Phyllis Ann Jones, 80, of Baker City, died Aug. 1, 2005, at her home. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. A graveside service will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Pastor Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Phyllis was born on Dec. 7, 1924, at Richland to Christia Miller and Eagle Bennehoff. She was a 1942 graduate of Eagle Valley High School at Richland … Read more

Levy, Lillie Miss – Obituary

Miss Lillie Levy’s Death The city was cast in a gloom Monday morning by the sudden announcement of the death of Miss Lillie Levy. Lillie was highly esteemed by all who know her and will be sadly missed by our people whose sympathies are with the relatives in their very sad bereavement. The remains were taken to Portland Monday night for burial accompanied by Mr. Leon Levy and Mr. D. Sommner. Eastern Oregon Republican Wednesday, September 25, 1894

Weatherspoon, Evelyn Irene – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Evelyn Irene Weatherspoon, 67, of Elgin, died March 18 at her home. A celebration of life began at noon today at the Rockwall Grange. Mrs. Weatherspoon was born April 18, 1939, to Lloyd Rodney and Gladys Marie (Dodson) Brock in White Salmon, Wash. She graduated from high school in Portland. In 1984 she moved to Elgin from Portland and worked as a bartender. On April 7, 1988, she married Donald Weatherspoon in Elgin. He died Sept. 15, 2005. Mrs. Weatherspoon loved rock hunting and the outdoors. She enjoyed her home and family. Survivors include her brother, Dwayne Lee … Read more

Teel, Orlan Patten – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon May 24, 2007 Orlan Patten Teel died on May 16, 2007, at his home in Orofino, Idaho. He was 80. Mr. Teel was born on Nov. 20, 1926, to Wilma Ruth Patten Teel and Maurice Charles Teel in Portland. His mother died at his birth and he was raised in Enterprise by his grandmother, Cora Bell Baker Patten. He married LaNita Warnock in 1946. They later divorced. He married Mary Joyce Kattelas in 1958. They later divorced. He married Diana Lee Boire in Boise, Idaho on Aug. 14, 1974, and they made their home in Weston for 24 … Read more

Watson, Bert – Obituary

Watson Funeral To Be Tuesday The remains of Bert Watson who passed on at Portland a few days ago, arrived in La Grande this morning from Amity, where he made his home. The funeral services will take place from the Snodgrass and Zimmerman chapel on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The body will be interred in the Masonic cemetery. William Birton Watson was born at Fairfield, Iowa, April 2, 1870. He came to the Grande Ronde valley with his father and mother in 1872 and was one of the old timers of this valley. At one time he owned a … Read more

History of Portland Oregon Unitarian Churches

In the year 1878-79, the present edifice on the old site, was completed at a cost of $20,000. The former church building is now the chapel and Sunday School room. In addition to the Christian Union, above named, there are connected with the church a “Postoffice Mission” for disseminating religious literature, and the W. G. Eliot Fraternity of Young People. The society also supports a Mission Sunday School in South Portland with ten teachers and sixty scholars. The Unitarian Church of America, originating in the New England Controversy of 1820-30, is a small, loosely organized but powerful body, identified everywhere … Read more

Kolasinski, Gary – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Gary Kolasinski, 53, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande and Enterprise, died Aug. 24 at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 L Ave., in La Grande. Following the service, friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the church. Gary was born Oct. 12, 1953, four minutes before his twin brother to Ardath Snitgen and Donald Kolasinski in Alpena, Mich. He lived in Alpena, St. John’s, Mich., Portland and La Grande where he spent his high … Read more

Biography of Daniel H. Lownsdale

DANIEL H. LOWNSDALE. – Mr. Lownsdale, the son of one of the earliest settlers of Kentucky, was born in Mason county, of that state, April 8, 1803. As was the custom in those days, he was married quite young – at the age of twenty-three – to Miss Ruth, the youngest daughter of Paul Overfield, the head of one of the most prominent families of Northeastern Kentucky. In obedience to the venturesome spirit inherited form his father, who had abandoned the comforts of civilization in his youth to become one of the conquerors of Kentucky, young Lownsdale, with his young … 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 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

Sutton, Lurley A. Sass Mrs. – Obituary

Lurley A. Sutton, 78, of Gresham, a former Baker County resident, died March 2, 2005, at Fairlawn Good Samaritan Care Center in Gresham after a long illness. There will be a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Buckhorn Restaurant Banquet Room in Vernonia. Lurley Alveda Sass Sutton was born on Nov. 22, 1926, at Richland to Claus and Alveda Morrison Sass. She was raised and educated at Richland. After her high school graduation, Lurley moved to Portland. She worked for the Army Corps of Engineers where Lurley met her future sister-in-law, Madge Heman, who introduced her … Read more

Biographical Sketch of N. E. Duncan

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