Portland Oregon

Prominent Railroad Managers of Portland

There have been but very few important changes among those officials who have had to personally superintend the actual and practical operations of the road during the past twelve or fourteen years. Mr. E. P. Rogers enjoys the distinction of being the ” Pioneer of the road.” Most of those prominently connected with the early organization of the road are dead. Among those may be mentioned J. H. Moores, I. R. Moores, E. N. Cooke, Joel Palmer, J. S. Smith, S. Ellsworth, James Douthitt, J. H. D. Henderson, Greenberry Smith, A. L. Lovejoy, A. F. Hedges, W. S. Newby, J. … 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

Petersen, Tina – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Tina Petersen, 48, of Cove died Sept. 22 at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland of complications of autoimmune inner ear disease and diabetes. The family is holding a gathering of her friends and their companion animals at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Birnie Park in La Grande. Tina was born March 7, 1959, in Park Rapids, Minn., to Jim and Carol Groth. Despite contracting Type 1 diabetes at age 2, she had a happy childhood in Walker, Minn., “up north” in lake country, and graduated from Walker High School in 1977. She attended Iowa State University and … Read more

History of Portland Oregon

Harvey Scott’s classic work on the History of Portland Oregon is this basis behind this collection. Written at the turn of the century while Oregon was still young, Harvey heard figurative bands of progressive people marching through Oregon and moving it toward modernity, but also wanted to hold onto that old pioneer flavor that had made the region unique. In this manuscript you will find the history of this city of Portland, written by somebody who has been deemed one of the most qualified writers of Pacific Northwest historical material. For the genealogist, check out the biographies found in the Men … Read more

Harrison, Joe E. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Joe E. Harrison, 85, died at his home in Baker City on Jan. 22, 2003. At his request, there will be no funeral. An urn burial will take place later at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene. Joe E. Harrison was born on Dec. 24, 1917, at Wallowa to John Baker Harrison and Lula Jane Markham Harrison. He attended school at McEwen in Sumpter Valley until the age of 16 when he moved to New Bridge in Pine Valley to finish his education and to work in the Cornucopia Gold Mine. He later moved to Portland where he … Read more

Mattson, Andrew – Obituary

Andrew Mattson Drowned in Grande Ronde River Andrew Mattson, who came to this city last Thursday from Portland to work on the new railroad, was drowned in Grande Ronde river about 13 miles below this city Wednesday afternoon. When Mattson reached the railroad camps, after leaving Elgin, he was crazed from the effects of liquor. He did not recover as expected he would, from that condition and became totally insane. Two messengers came to town about noon Wednesday and reported the matter to the authorities, who dispatched a special officer to bring the unfortunate man to town. At 5:30 p.m. … Read more

Biography of George S. Brooke

GEORGE S. BROOKE. – This gentleman is the cashier of the First National Bank of Sprague, and is also a director and one of the largest shareholders. Mr. Brooke comes of cavalier stock. On his father’s side, he is a descendant of the Brookes of Maryland. In the year 1650, Robert Brooke, of England, having brought out a colony consisting of his wife, ten children and servants, forty persons in all, settled on the east shore of the Patuxent river. The settlement was called De La Brooke. The founder had a patent direct from Lord Baltimore. He was a member … Read more

Sumpter, Nellie Long – Obituary

Nellie Sumpter of North Portland died Tuesday in a Portland hospital of complications arising from hypoxemia. She was 79. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Chapel of St. John’s Funeral Home. She was born July 22, 1911, in Baker. Her maiden name was Long. She married Claude Sumpter on Sept. 28, 1930, in Albany. Mrs. Sumpter was a homemaker. She and her husband lived in Portland for about 20 years before moving to the Oregon coast about 1970. She moved back to Portland last year. Survivors besides her husband include her son, John of Portland; … Read more

History of Portland Oregon’s Press

Portland has always had an industrious and vigorous press. The fathers of the city were not slow to perceive that among the things necessary to build up the city and make it known to the world was an active and enterprising press, and very soon after the city was started there was an effort to establish a newspaper here. The project was talked of for a considerable time before means were found of carrying it into execution. It was no easy matter to find a man who would undertake the publication of a newspaper in so young and small a … Read more

Dawes Laurin T. – Obituary

Laurin T. Dawes, 70, died at his Fairview District ranch on Sunday [December 5, 1976]. He was born February 21, 1906 at Silverton, Ore. He came to Ellensburg from Portland in 1930. He was married to Edna Cooke in 1933 and was a carpenter for many years prior to moving to his ranch in 1945. He is survived by his wife Edna and one brother, Walter Dawes of Portland, Ore. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Evenson Chapel. The Rev. Don Meekhof will officiate. Entombment will follow at the IOOF Mausoleum. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Henry H. Northup

Henry H. Northup, of Portland, was born in Berkshire, Massachusetts, February 27, 1839. His father was a farmer as were his ancestors for several generations. He attended the public schools, and when of sufficient age, which in those days was nine or ten years, was kept at home during the summer to assist in the work upon the farm. When he had reached the age of twelve years his father died, leaving, with slender property, a widow and three children of whom the subject of this sketch was the only son. From that time commenced a struggle for existence. His … Read more

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

Darr, Nora – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Nora Darr, age 83, of 16901 S. E. Division, Portland, a former resident of Elgin, died last Thursday in Portland. Mrs. Darr was born on November 18, 1895 at Bald Knob, West Virginia, the daughter of William and Ida (Perry) Brooks. She moved to Elgin in 1946 and to Portland two years ago. Her husband, George Darr, preceded her in death on March 16, 1965. Mrs. Darr was a member of the First Christian Church of Elgin; Elgin Rebecca Lodge and Elgin Pythian sisters. Survivors include her daughter, Jacque Zenger, Portland; granddaughters, Marlene Rahn, Kelso, Wash.; … Read more

Biography of Joseph Buchtel

JOSEPH BUCHTEL. – The peculiar composition and make-up of this man is that of only one in a million. He is noted for his daring deeds of adventure, if they may be so called; and his whole life is made up of daily events in rescuing others from their perilous positions; indeed, so much so that he is known far and wide as the “Oregon Life Saver.” Hundreds, if we may not say thousands, who are living to-day directly owe their lives to him. The natural daily routine of circumstances seems to have brought him upon the scene just in … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Lair Hill

HON. WILLIAM LAIR HILL. – The distinguished lawyer, author, versatile writer and thorough student whose name introduces this sketch was asked to furnish such data as might contribute in its production; and he diffidently and reluctantly responded. Among other hastily prepared notes, he answered: “Have lived an honest a life as my environments seemed to allow, mainly for the reason that, according to my hereditary creed, one who is not at least indifferently honest, cannot be very happy. In all my laborious life the one single fact in which I have the slightest pride is that, like Jim Bludsoe, I … Read more

Biography of Henry Failing

Failing, Henry, banker, and one of the leading business men of the Northwest, was born in the city of New York, January 17, 1834. His father, Josiah Failing, for many years an honored citizen of Portland, was born in Montgomery county, New York. Early in life he went to Albany, to learn the trade of paper stainer, and in 1824, accompanied his employer upon his removal to New York City. He served his apprenticeship and followed his trade until forced to abandon it on account of ill health. He then engaged in the trucking business, following this line of work … Read more

Vernam, Richard Dean – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Richard Dean Vernam, 78, of Enterprise died July 6 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland after open-heart surgery. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Friday July 14 at Mountain View Christian Church in Joseph. Burial will be at Prairie Creek Cemetery. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Vernam was born April 7, 1928, to Glenn and Irene Vernam in Colville, Wash. The family moved to Alvadore and he graduated from Junction City High School. On June 15, 1947, he married June Athey. They lived near Alvadore where he was a welder and steel fabricator, … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Gates

HON. JOHN GATES. – This gentleman was the chief engineer of the old Oregon Steam Navigation Company during its palmy days of navigation, and will always be remembered as one of the brightest minds of our state, as his inventive genius has earned for him the not inapt title of the Edison of the Pacific coast. He was born at Mercer, Maine, and as a youth learned the machinist’s trade, rising to the position of foreman of the shop in which he had been apprenticed. Coming to California in 1849, he was engaged in mining at Auburn and at Michigan … Read more

Biography of Hon. Peter Paquet

HON. PETER PAQUET – This pioneer of 1852, who is the son of F.X. Paquet and Marie Louise Lannadier de Langdeau, was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, on the 13th of January, 1839. He received an education in the private and public schools of St. Louis. In the spring of 1852 he left the city of St. Louis with his parents, who had determined to emigrate to Oregon, the family then consisting of father, mother and six children. They came up the Missouri river on the old steamer Timour No. 2, and in eight days reached the … Read more

Lambert, Arthur E. – Obituary

A. E. Lambert Passes Life Arthur E. Lambert, 52, cost accountant for the Portland bureau of water works, died Sunday at the United States veterans hospital in Portland. His parents were pioneers of Yamhill county, his mother having crossed the plains in 1852. Mr. Lambert was born near Dayton, February 13, 1876. He was educated at Corvallis and at the University of Oregon. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted in the Second Oregon regiment and was in numerous engagements in the Philippine islands, serving throughout the war as corporal of company A. For a number of years … Read more