Benson, Daniel – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Daniel Benson, 42, a Baker City resident, died Nov. 4, 2001, at Salt Lake City. There will be a celebration of his life Nov. 24 at the Eagles Lodge, 2935 H St. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m. Main dishes will be provided. Those attending are asked to bring a side dish. Mr. Benson was born at Provo, Utah, on May 3, 1959. He lived most of his life in Southern California and spent the last two years at Salt Lake City where he was waiting for a new heart. He loved to go camping, fishing … Read more

Biography of Hon. Edwin N. Cooke

HON. EDWIN N. COOKE. – The subject of this sketch is a lineal descendant of the Puritans, who came to America in the ship Mayflower, and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, December 21, 1620. Among the passengers of that historical band were Francisco Cook and his son, John Cooke, who settled and the families of whom for many generations lived in that and other colonies, up to the time of the Revolutionary war. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war, Mr. Cooke’s great-grandfather, Asaph Cooke lived near Boston, Massachusetts, and had four sons who espoused the American cause and enlisted in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Stewart

James Stewart, a prominent citizen near San Bernardino, was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in 1837, the youngest of seven sons of Archie Stewart. He left his native state at the age of eighteen, for Nebraska, where he homesteaded and proved up on 160 acres of Government land, and to this added eighty acres more. He was in Omaha when there were but twelve houses in the place. He sold out his interest in Nebraska and operated on the plains with headquarters at St. Joe, Leavenworth, then at Denver, and later at Salt Lake City, Georgetown, Colorado, and Idaho. He … Read more

Biography of Samuel C. Parkinson

The name of Parkinson is so inseparably interwoven with the history of southeastern Idaho and its development that those who bear it need no special introduction to the readers of this volume. He of whom we write has long been accorded a place among the leading businessmen and progressive citizens of Franklin and Oneida County, where he has made his home since his boyhood days. His father is the honored Samuel Rose Parkinson, one of the founders of the town and a leader in the Church of the Latter Day Saints. A history of his life is given elsewhere in … Read more

Biography of Charles S. Ferry

CHARLES S. FERRY – The firm of Charles S. Ferry & Son, lumber dealers of Pittsfield, which has been conducting one of the largest concerns of its kind in Western Massachusetts, was established by the late Charles S. Ferry, in 1886. In the rapid growth of Pittsfield during the past years this firm played a most important part, because it supplied the lumber and the builders’ materials for much of the construction work that has been done in Pittsfield and the surrounding country. It is over three and a half decades since Charles S. Ferry took over the business from … Read more

Wilson, Sylvia – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Sylvia Wilson, 88, of La Grande died June 20 at a local care center. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mrs. Wilson was born Sept. 10, 1917, to Mathew and Christina Elizabeth McNew Nooner in Salt Lake City. She married Robert Blacker who died an automobile accident. She later married Arthur R. Wilson in Sisters. She was a member of the Church of the Open Bible and later the New Hope Church. She enjoyed embroidery, gardening, baking and playing bunko. Survivors include children, Shirley Cox and … Read more

Dixon, Bill

Bill Dixon, 62, of Baker City died June 19, 2005, after a 15-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loved ones. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home. Greg Baxter will conduct the service. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with Oregon State Police honors. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Bill was the second child of Eldred Dixon and Virginia Ione Miller born at Salt Lake City on Feb. 18, 1943. His only sibling was his sister, Betty Lee Stone. His childhood years were … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George N. Ifft

George N. Ifft, of the firm of Ifft & Wallin, proprietors and managers of the Pocatello Tribune, is a native of Butler County, Pennsylvania, born January 27, 1865. He began newspaper work, as a reporter, in Pittsburg, that state, and continued in that capacity and in various editorial relations in other cities, as Washington, D. C, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, until January 1, 1893, when he came to Idaho, locating at Pocatello, and since that time he has been connected with the Pocatello Tribune, as more fully described in our sketch of that paper. Mr. Ifft … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph David Gilbert, Sr.

Joseph David Gilbert, Sr., a prominent farmer near San Bernardino, is a native of Cattaraugus County, New York, born in 1827. His grandfather ran away from London, England, and was a soldier in the French and Indian war, also in the Revolution. His father, Truman Gilbert, married Rebecca Fay, a native of England, and immediately after his marriage he moved to the Western Reserve in Ohio, where he remained until 1842, when he moved to the Mississippi river, and from there to Montana, where he died in 1882. The subject of this sketch kept a ferry at Montrose, across the … Read more

Biography of Lorenzo R. Thomas

There are some men in every community who appear to have been born to succeed, but their success is not by any means a matter of chance. They are born with those qualities of mind and heart which, if cultivated and applied to the affairs of life, will produce success as surely as wheat well sowed and fertilized will produce its kind. Men who make vigorous and judicious use of these talents are the successful ones. Lorenzo R. Thomas, one of the enterprising men of Idaho who has continually advanced in the affairs of life, was born in Hanley, Staffordshire, … Read more

Smith, John Andrew – Obituary

John Andrew Smith, 87, of Ontario, a former Baker City resident, died July 11, 2003, at his daughter’s home, surrounded by his family His graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. John was born Sept. 9, 1915, at Salt Lake City to Ellen and Robert Smith. He was raised there until he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps at the age of 19. For the next several years he was employed as a general laborer. John served during World War II in the Merchant Marines (Coast Guard) and was honorably discharged in June of 1944. John … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew Lytle

Andrew Lytle, deceased, was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in 1812. His parents moved to Akron, Ohio, when he was a small boy. At the age of twenty-one years he went back to Pennsylvania and married Hannah Hull. This lady was the daughter of Abner and Martha (Skinner) Hull, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. In 1834, two years after his marriage, he moved to Portage County, Ohio. Next he moved to Bidwell County, Missouri, and two years later to Nauvoo, Illinois. From the latter place he removed to Salt Lake, where he remained several years. In 1850 he came … Read more

Richins, Holladay Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Mary Holladay Richins, wife of Osburn Richins, died of uremic poisoning at her home in Union Oregon, Saturday, March 12, 1910, at 9:15 p.m. The funeral took place Monday at 2 p.m., from the L.D.S. church which was crowded to the doors, not only with people of the Mormon faith but also with business men and the people generally of the city. The service was opened with music by the L.D.S. choir, led by J.W. Baxter,Jr., the meeting being presided over by Bishop W.D. Hanks. The speakers were: Patriarch James England, of Union, A.S. Geddes, Stake … Read more

Rasmussen, Lyle Lillian Shelton Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Lyle Lillian Shelton Rasmussen, 90, of Salt Lake City, died Oct. 17, 2004, at her home. Her funeral will be at noon Thursday at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, in Salt Lake City. There will be a viewing from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. just prior to the service. There also will be a viewing from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Halfway. There will be a graveside service at noon Saturday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Dale Bingham of the Valley Ward will officiate. … Read more

Biography of Henry Babel

Henry Babel, deceased, formerly proprietor of the celebrated springs which bear his name, and which are now the property of his widow, was born near Hanover, Germany, on August 2, 1826. In 1845 he immigrated with his parents to America, and settled in Lebanon, Illinois, where his father and mother both died within a year. After their decease Henry went to St. Louis, Missouri, and on October 8, 1849, he married Miss Elizabeth Holadway, a native of Tennessee, a descendant of Scotch ancestry on her father’s side, and English on her mother’s. Early in May, 1850, Mr. Babel and his … Read more

Biography of John C. Fox

Eighteen years have come and gone since John C. Fox arrived in Hailey. The town was then in its infancy, and throughout the intervening period he has been a prominent factor in the advancement of the commercial interests upon which the growth and prosperity of a village always depend. Widely known, his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to his many friends, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present this record of his career to our readers. Mr. Fox was born July 2, 1847, in Pennsylvania, a son of Daniel Fox, who was of German descent. … Read more

Biography of Bishop Wilford W. Clark

Wilford Woodruff Clark, bishop of the Montpelier ward in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has risen by successive steps from deacon to elder, from elder to one of the seventy, thence to the office of high priest and finally to that of bishop. As a member of the seventy he performed a mission in the south, principally in North Carolina, where he met with great success in establishing churches. In civil life he is known as Hon. Wilford Woodruff Clark. He was elected, as a Republican, to the third Idaho state legislature, of which he was … Read more

Westenskow, Carol – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Carol Westenskow, 83, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 6. A funeral service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Island City. Dedication of the grave will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Mrs. Westenskow was born Dec. 28, 1923, in Provo, Utah, to Newbern Isaac Butt and Ethel Cutler. She graduated from high school in Provo and went on to attend Brigham Young University. On Mar. 10, 1944, she married Ronald Westenskow of Imbler. Following World War II, they returned to Union … Read more

Harkey, Helen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Local Funerals and Visitations Oct. 16 – Helen Harkey, celebration of life, 2 p.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center La Grande Observer – October 14, 2009 Helen E. Harkey La Grande 1940-2009 Helen Elaine Harkey, 69, of La Grande, died Oct. 10 in Boise. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Helen was born April 22, 1940, to Henry B. and Donna (Paulfurman) Mortensen in Salt Lake City. She was the youngest of 14 children. The family later … Read more

Biography of Erwin A. Rieger

The subject of this sketch is one of the younger men who have achieved brilliant success in the business world of the west, being located in Ontario, where he has an important interest in the Oregon Forwarding Company. one of the largest general merchandise establishments of the eastern part of Oregon, which owes much of its unbounded success to the keen business ability- and fine executive force of Mr. Rieger. The birth of Erwin A. occurred in Ludwigburg, Germany, on January 28, 1873, being the son of Frederick J. and Mary (Kiesel) Rieger. The father was a leading attorney of … Read more