Biography of George A. Davis

GEORGE A. DAVIS. – This pioneer in the lumber and flouring business of Portland, and indeed of other points throughout the union, is a native of Maine, having been born in Hallowell in 1832. In 1851 he was one of the argonauts, sailing to the Golden state via Nicaragua, and remaining there until 1865 occupied in mining, lumbering and other sorts of business. Returning home in that year, he soon left for Iowa, making his home there for ten years, engaged in stock-raising and farming. He was married there to Miss Hannah C. Dudley. In 1875 he came again to … Read more

Biography of Van B. Delashmutt

Delashmutt, Van B., the present Mayor of Portland, was born in Burlington, Iowa, July 27, 1842. Ten years later the family came to the infant territory of Oregon, and settled on a farm in Polk county, in the Willamette Valley. The monotonous life of a farmer’s boy illy suited the naturally adventuresome disposition of young DeLashmutt, and at the age of fifteen he went to Salem, where he secured employment in the office of the Salem Statesman, as an apprentice to learn the printers’ trade. With characteristic earnestness and energy the apprentice served three years, and at the end of … Read more

Bean, Jean Audrey Withington Down – Obituary

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 6, 2000, in the chapel in River View Cemetery for Jean Audrey Bean, who died June 29 of emphysema at age 77. Mrs. Bean was born Aug. 5, 1922, in Portland, where she lived all her life. Her maiden name was Withington. She graduated from Lincoln High School and attended Oregon State College. She was a homemaker. In 1965, she married Ormond R. Bean Jr.; he died in 1994. Survivors include her sons, Terrence P., Richard M. and Timothy B. Down; daughter, Rebecca A. Wade; two grandchildren; and two great … Read more

Biography of M. R. Hathaway

M.R. HATHAWAY. – Among the brightest and most popular men on our coast is M.R. Hathaway, adjutant-general of Washington. His character, frank and genial, is strengthened also by a manly reserve and modesty which cause every honor bestowed upon him to repose with double dignity. He was born in Kerkimer county, New York, in 1823. Fitting himself as teacher, he found employment in Wayne county. While still but a youth, he removed with his father to Michigan, where his labors alternated between teaching, and opening out a farm. In 1848 occurred his marriage, Miss Maria Smith, of La Porte county, … Read more

Herold, Reao Richard – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Reao Richard Herold, 91, of Summerville, died Nov. 10 at a local care center. At his request there will be no public services. Those who wish may sign the guest book at www.danielsknopp.com. Reao was born on July 11, 1916, to Thomas and Elsie (Grabley) Herold in Montrose, Colo. During World War II he served with the U.S. Navy. After his honorable discharge he worked in the home construction business in Longview, Wash., and Portland. He loved his work and enjoyed gambling. He moved to Summerville from Lake Oswego four years ago to be near family. Survivors include … Read more

Gilkison, Marguerit C. Wirth Mrs. – Obituary

Medical Springs, Baker County, Oregon Marguerite C. Wirth Gilkison, 92, of Portland, died Jan. 13, 2006. There will be no service She was born on May 17, 1913, at Medical Springs. She was a homemaker and dressmaker and had lived in the Portland area for the past 12 years. Survivors include a son, Bernard Gilkison; sisters, Nona Duby and Connie Nelson; a brother, Gordon Wirth; and three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Pamela Demetriou, died in 1996. Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 20, 2006 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Biography of George H. Williams

Judge Williams, alone among the citizens of Oregon, has had the distinction of occupying a place in the highest councils of the nation-in the cabinet of a president. He was also regarded by President Grant as the man most fit and able to hold the position of Chief Justice of the United States. The bitter struggle following his nomination to this supreme position is well remembered for the sectional feeling displayed and the dissent of certain members of the senate which led the Judge to withdraw his name. It is not the intention, however, to recall the personal contests of … Read more

Ellis, Christopher John – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Christopher John Ellis, 38, of Silverton, a former Baker City resident, died April 25, 2004. A small family memorial service will be scheduled later. Chris was born on Aug. 21, 1966, at Portland and spent his early years in Medford. In 1978, the family moved to Silverton where he completed high school and was active in athletics, particularly baseball. He graduated from Eastern Oregon University at La Grande with a degree in accounting. He married Sami Baisley of Baker City, and moved to Burns to work as an accountant. He became a certified public accountant CPA, remained … 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

Biography of Henry D. Green

Green, Henry D., for many years a prominent figure in the commercial affairs of Portland, was born in Tompkins county, New York, October 16, 1825. Shortly after attaining his majority, in 1853, he came to Oregon and established himself at Astoria, in partnership with W. Irving Leonard. This firm purchased the mercantile business house of Leonard & Green, which was established at that point in 1850, by John Green and H. C. Leonard, at that date the only mercantile house, except the Hudson Bay Company’s trading post, at the mouth of the Columbia river. He remained at Astoria until 1856, … 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

Efforts to Build a Road to the Atlantic States

It was a memorable conflict, that conducted by the first rival railroad companies of Oregon; with matter in it for a novelist. It would be rash to intimate that Elliott with all his mythical capitalists was an agent of Holladay all the time, the general opinion being that he was at first acting only for himself, or that the East Side Company knew the extent of his romances, which they used so well to their advantage. It would on the other hand be difficult to believe that Holladay, or the original East Side Company, were actually imposed upon by representations … 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

Williams, Adele R. Lewis Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Adele R. Williams, 79, a longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 17, 2000, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Father John R. Jasper of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Interment will be Thursday at 3 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Williams was born April 27, 1921, in Baker County to Percy and Thelma (Peterson) Lewis. She received her education in Baker County, and married Chester O. Williams on May … Read more

Carlson, Helen Irene Quinlan Mrs. – Obituary

Helen Irene Quinlan Carlson, 75, a former Baker City resident who had lived in the Portland area for more than 40 years, died June 5, 2002. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Warner Pacific College, McGuire Auditorium. Helen was born on Sept. 19, 1926, at Lindsay, Calif., the oldest child of Louis Harry and Vera Lorene Quinlan. She was raised in the middle of an orange grove and graduated from Richmond High School in 1944. That same year, she moved to Portland to attend Pacific Bible College, which later became Warner Pacific College. There … Read more

Biography of Erasmus D. Shattuck

Judge E. D. Shattuck was born in Bakersfield, Franklin County, Vermont, December 31, 1824. He spent his boyhood and youth on a farm and was prepared for a collegiate course at Bakersfield Academy. In 1844 he entered Vermont University, pursued the full classical course and graduated in 1848. While in college he was dependent upon his own resources for means to prosecute his studies, and during vacations and some part of term time he taught school in the country or had private classes in the village. Notwithstanding these disadvantages and interruptions he completed the college course in the prescribed time … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Arethusa E. Smith

MRS. ARETHUSA E. SMITH. – Arethusa E., the daughter of Daniel Lynn, was born near Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, June 12, 1834. As a child of six years she removed with her parents to Platte county, in the same state, remaining until 1844, the year memorable for the great flood. Mr. Lynn, being very fond of a pioneer life, determined to settle in Texas, but was unable to proceed farther than the White river country, and, being ill suited with that country, returned to Platte county. He had long heard of Oregon, and decided to cross the plains thither and … Read more

Martens, Lois Fay – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lois Fay Martens, 89, of Portland and formerly of Enterprise and La Grande, died Aug. 15. Services will begin at 2 p.m. today at the Lincoln Memorial Park Funeral Home, 110801 S.E. Mt. Scott Blvd. in Portland. Lois was born on April 27, 1918, to Lulu Maude (Ackley) Burnett and Oliver Franklin Burnett in Enterprise, the eighth of nine children. At 6, the family moved to La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1936. Lois married Wayne Gooderham and had sons Michael and Steven. She later married Alfred Martens and had Bill, Susan and … Read more

Allen, Joan Martha Mrs. – Obituary

Joan Martha Allen, 73, of Portland, a former longtime Baker City resident, died May 16, 2003, of cancer at her son’s home in Portland. Her funeral was at 3 p.m. today at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Portland. Her graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. She was born on June 23, 1929, at Portland. She married Silas Allen in 1971. He died in 1998. She moved to Portland two years ago. She had lived at St. Anthony’s Village assisted living center the first year and then moved to the home of her son, Jim … Read more

Biography of Franz L. Koehler

The sturdy German element in our national commonwealth has been one of the most important factors in furthering the substantial and normal advancement of the country, for this is an element signally appreciative of practical values and also of the higher intellectuality which transcends all provincial confines. Well may any person take pride in tracing his lineage to such a source. As one of the able and enterprising citizens whom the German Fatherland has contributed to the United States, and as one of the prominent and progressive citizens of the flourishing town of Moscow, Latah County, Idaho, Franz Louis Koehler … Read more