Biography of A. M. Brookes

A. M. BROOKES. – A portrait of Mr. Brookes is placed in this work. The present efficient postmaster of the “Queen City” (Seattle) was born in Galena, Illinois, September 2, 1843, and is the son of Samuel M. and Julia B. (Jones) Brookes. His father was one of the early pioneers of Milwaukee. When our subject was but an infant his parents moved to Chicago, and two years later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where A.M. was educated at the Milwaukee Academy, and where he resided until August, 1862. When, on the call by President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men, … Read more

Biography of Hon. Elisha P. Ferry

HON. ELISHA P. FERRY. – Mr. Ferry was born at Monroe, Michigan, August 9, 1825. He studied law there and at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar in 1845 at the age of twenty years. In 1846 he removed to Waukegan, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. He resided at Waukegan until July, 1869, when he removed to the territory of Washington. He was the first mayor of the city of Waukegan. In 1852 and in 1856 he was presidential elector for the district in which he resided. He was a member of … Read more

Smith, Irene W. – Obituary

Irene W. Smith, 85, of La Grande, died Feb. 23 at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, at the Union Cemetery. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. Irene was born July 2, 1922, to Archie and Eunice (Griffith) Williamson in Brookhaven, Miss. She lived in Seattle for some time before moving to the Los Angeles area of California where she lived for 30 years. In June 1984, she moved to La Grande to be near family. In the early 1990s her daughter, Judith Ann DeLeebeck lost her … Read more

Biography of Thomas Mercer

THOMAS MERCER. – This well-known and highly respected resident of Seattle, Washington, whose portrait, together with a view of his beautiful home, is appropriately placed in this volume, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, March 11, 1813, and was the eldest son of Aaron and Jane Dickerson Mercer, – the latter a native of Pennsylvania and the former from an old Virginia family. Thomas resided at his birthplace until twenty-one years of age, and after his school days entered his father’s woolen factory and learned the trade thoroughly. In 1834 he moved with his parents to Bureau County, Illinois, and … Read more

Davis, Patricia Bernadette Darling Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Patricia Bernadette Davis, 69, of Baker City, died March 2, 2004, at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 2235 First St., followed by a graveside service at Mount Hope Cemetery. Father Rob Irwin will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family after the services for coffee in the St. Francis Parish Hall. Visitations will be held at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., on Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Patricia was born to Eric … Read more

Ackley, Charles – Obituary

Charles (Chuck) Ackley, Enterprise, died at his home on Williamson Road on Feb. 7. 1991. He was born on Sept. 25, 1923 in California. He was a graduate of Whitman College and worked in Seattle, Portland , the bay area, and in Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities as a bookseller, technical writer and editor, and as an administrator. He first came to Wallowa County to teach and then to direct the Chief Joseph Summer Seminar. Over the past several years, Chuck has been active in community arts events and especially in local theater. He is survived by two sons, Todd … Read more

Nealis, Martha Shelton – Obituary

B. M. Shelton of Ellensburg has received word of the death of his sister, Mrs. Martha Nealis, 92, Saturday morning in Seattle [October 25, 1941], at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. T. Gott. Mrs. Nealis and Mr. and Mrs. Gott will be remembered by may friends in Ellensburg, where they lived for 17 years before moving to Seattle in 1923. Funeral services will be held Tuesday in Seattle. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Wright, Alfred – Obituary

Alfred W. Wright, 70, died Wednesday at Seattle [died May 24, 1972]. He was born in Ellensburg, June 15, 1901, and worked for many years for Cabin Creek Lumber Co., which was owned by his father. He was married to Bertha Ferguson December 18, 1922, at Ellensburg. For the past 30 years they have lived in Seattle, where he continued to work as a millwright until retirement. He was a member of Shipwrights Local N. 1184 of Seattle. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Alfred Wright, III, of Seattle; four grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Doris … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles C. Terry

HON. CHARLES C. TERRY.- The name and labors of this gentleman fill an important part in the history of the North Pacific coast. He was not only one of the first settlers here in point of time, but has ever been foremost among those who have had the foundations of our society and business. He was born in new York State when that was itself the frontier, and received his education in his native town. The fame of the soil and climate of the North Pacific coast had already reached the Atlantic slope. Adventurers and daring men in various parts … Read more

Biography of Hon. John P. Hoyt

HON. JOHN P. HOYT. – “Every man has two educations, – one which he receives from others, and one more important, which he gives himself.” Very early in life the subject of this sketch learned this important lesson; and the fruits of its strict observance are being enjoyed by him at present. He owes his advancement to no accident of birth or fortune, but has earned success through the toilsome avenue of study and hard work. His early education was acquired at a country district school during the winter months, when the plow used on his father’s farm stood idle … Read more

Bratton, Sophia R. – Obituary

Bratton Rites Set Saturday Funeral services for Sophia R. Bratton, 56, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellensburg. Mrs. Bratton, a former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday in Seattle. She was born January 16, 1909 in Tacoma and spent her childhood years in Ellensburg. She had lived in Seattle and Tacoma the past 43 years. She is survived by a son, Frank Frost of Chicago, Ill., a brother, W. R. Johnston, Tacoma; a sister, Mrs. Fred Lundstrom of Ellensburg; two half sister, Mrs. Margaret Hinkle of grand Coulee and Mrs. Dorothy Buroker, Renton; a granddaughter, Miss Deborah Frost, Seattle; and … Read more

Biography of Col. Granville O. Haller

COL. GRANVILLE O. HALLER, U.S.A., Retired. – Granville Owen Haller was born in York, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1819. His father, George Haller, died when he was but two years of age, leaving a pious and most devoted mother in charge of four young children, who, with limited means, but with industry and thrift, had the satisfaction of seeing her eldest son graduate at the Jefferson Medical College of the University of Pennsylvania. She was very desirous of sending Granville to the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to be fitted for the ministry, but conscientious doubts on his part prevented him … Read more

Keller, Robert George – Obituary

Robert George Keller, 71, of 2939 Redwood Ave. died Wednesday, April 4, 1984, at Josephine Memorial Hospital. Graveside services were held today at Hillcrest Memorial Park with the Rev. Walter Ferris of the First Baptist Church officiating. Slawson’s Chapel of the Valley Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. He was born December 30, 1912 in Seattle. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked for the U. S. Forest Service in timber and resources management for 37 years before retiring in 1972. He began work in the Siskiyou National Forest office before being transferred to … Read more

McEwen, Carl Lester – Obituary

Toppenish—Carl Lester McEwen, 85, of Toppenish, died Sunday, January 31, 1988 at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Yakima. Carl was born on April 3, 1902 in Ellensburg, Wash., the son of Harvey an Martha (Grewell) McEwen. Mr. McEwen attended schools in Toppenish, coming to the Valley in 1910. He worked for the Wheeler Electric Co. until 1936 at which time he joined the Yakima Sheriff’s Department and worked for the County until 1939. After leaving the Sheriff’s Department he went to work for Wheeler Electric again and moved to Seattle, where he worked for the Boeing Company and also … Read more

Gray, Barbara Jean – Obituary

Union, Oregon Barbara Joan Gray, 70, of Union, died March 20 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. At her request, there will not be a formal service, but all are welcome to attend a gathering in remembrance at 11 a.m. Saturday at the VFW Hall in Union. The family requests no gifts or food. Barbara was born Nov. 21, 1936, in Enterprise. She was educated in La Grande, graduating from La Grande High School and attending what is now Eastern Oregon University. Barbara married Wade Crook in Portland; they later divorced. She lived in Seattle for many years and worked as … Read more

McEwen, Mary Ellen Grunden – Obituary

The body of Mrs. E. J. McEwen who died in Seattle on Monday [May 23, 1916] after a long illness with pulmonary tuberculosis, arrived in Ellensburg last night and was taken to the parlor of M. L. Bridgham where it will lie until funeral arrangements can be made. Mr. McEwen is in Montreal, and will not be able to get here until Sunday or Monday. Mrs. McEwen, formerly Miss Mary Grunden, was born in Ellensburg and had lived here nearly all of her life, having attended the public schools here. She was 20 years of age, and was married in … Read more

McLaughlin, Hiram – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon A Very Sudden Death The death of Hiram McLaughlin, a jewler, occurred very suddenly at his place of business in Hays Variety store, Saturday evening says the La Grande Gazette. He had started to walk to the rear of the building and advancing a few steps, sank witha groan into a chair. Parties who were present ran to his assistance, but he failed to rally, and in a few minutes life, was extinct. The cause of death is supposed to have been the rupture of a blood vessel, or some similiar difficulty. Eastern Oregon Republican, … Read more

Schroder, Ada Tinkham Poskey – Obituary

Mrs. Ada Viola Schroder, 83, of Ellensburg, died at 8:30 a.m. Friday [May 2, 1952] in Ellensburg General Hospital. She was taken to the hospital 12 hours before following a stroke. Mrs. Schroder was born in Kansas and came to Seattle from there 64 years ago. She moved from Seattle to Ellensburg 11 years ago with her husband, August Schroder, who died here April 11, 1947. They were married in Seattle, Sept. 16, 1910. The Schroders lived most of the time here since 1941. Recently, Mrs. Schroder had made her home with a daughter, Mrs. A. O. (Mary) Page. Mrs. … Read more

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe

Shoalwater Reserve, Nisqually Agency

The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is located in southwestern Washington State, primarily in Pacific County. Their reservation is situated near the shores of Willapa Bay, a significant estuarine bay on the Pacific Ocean. The closest towns include Tokeland and Raymond. This area is characterized by its coastal environment, including beaches, wetlands, and dense forests, providing a rich natural habitat that has supported the tribe for generations. The Shoalwater Reservation was first established by Presidential Executive Order on September 22, 1866. A 355-acre piece of land was set aside by President Johnson for “miscellaneous Indian purposes.” Includes those Shoalwater Bay tribe members included in both the 1900 census and 1919 unenrolled schedule of Washington Indians.

McLaughlin, Mary Alice Josephine Lee Findley – Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Josephine McLaughlin, Seattle resident 51 years, who died Tuesday [March 14, 1944] in a hospital, will be held at 3 o’clock tomorrow in the White Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles Williams will officiate. Mrs. McLaughlin, 84 years old, was born in Iowa. She was the widow of Edward D. McLaughlin. She lived with her daughter, Mrs. Leslie Keller, 2121 – 41st Ave. SW. [First husband was Robert Findley who died 1885] Surviving also are a grandson, Sergeant. Robert G. Keller, United States Army; a granddaughter, Mrs. Frances Steedman, and a great grandson, Gary Steedman, all of … Read more