Snohomish County WA

Wiester, Emily Irene Street Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Emily Irene Wiester, 88, of Issaquah, Wash., a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 24, 2003, at her home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Madeleine Sophie Roman Catholic Church in Bellevue, Wash. Irene was born on Jan. 26, 1915, in Prineville to Mary and Edward Street. Her parents moved to California shortly after she was born. Irene attended the University of Washington at Seattle as a freshman. There she met Harold Wiester. After graduation from the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, she returned … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Michael McNamara

MICHAEL McNAMARA. – This prominent resident of Skagit county was born in Woodstock, Canada, in 1848. His early years, however, were spent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at Chicago, where he completed his growth and education at Chatham, Canada. In 1865 he came overland to California, and the next year reached Puget Sound, finding employment ten years in the logging camps. In 1876 he was able to set up a business of his own, keeping a hotel at Stanwood, and three years later building his present commodious hotel, the Ruby House, which is first class in every respect. His own residence … Read more

Biography of Bedford L. Martin

BEDFORD L. MARTIN – In the features of Mr. Martin we see another of those who passed through the fire and hardships of our Civil war. Born in Arkansas in 1847, he was bereft of both parents at the age of four years, and was taken to Indiana and brought up by an uncle. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Indiana Cavalry, and served in the hard campaigns subsequent to 1863. At Hollow Gap he was in the charge where two hundred and fifty men were shot down from his regiment. At Nashville, he was … Read more

Backlund, Richard A. “Dick” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Richard A. “Dick” Backlund, 71, of Baker City, died June 1, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be a celebration of his life from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 7, at the Eagles Lodge, 2935 H St. Richard, or “Poppy,” as his grandchildren called him, was born on Feb. 26, 1931, at Everett, Wash., to Leonard and Berniece Backlund. He attended schools at Everett, Wash. He served in the U.S. Army in 1949, and was in the Korean War. He then was stationed at Fort Belvore, Va. He worked as a mechanic at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Myron W. Packard

MYRON W. PACKARD. – This leading citizen of the lower Sound was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence County, New York, in 1830. At the age of twenty-three he left his native place, where he was in the mercantile business, coming as far west as Illinois, and in the same year journeyed on to River Falls, Wisconsin. That was his home for seventeen years, three of which were spent in the Union army, from which he was mustered out as a quartermaster-sergeant. In 1870 he came to Washington Territory, bringing his wife and family of five children, and located on White … Read more

Acton, G. Adrian – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Adrian G. Acton, 87, died Jan. 9, 2005, at his home. A private memorial service will be held later this year. Adrian moved to Baker City one and one-half years ago with his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Larry Craft. He was born in Marysville, Wash., and grew up in Granite Falls, Wash., with his nine brothers and sisters. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and served in the South Pacific. He lived in San Diego, Calif., for 40 years and retired in 1986 as a Fire Chief at North Island … Read more

Biography of Daniel O. Pearson

DANIEL O. PEARSON. – One of the most respected and honored of all of Washington’s citizens is the pioneer of Stanwood whose face looks at us from the opposite page. He is one of those whose integrity and universal kindness, as well as public spirit and business enterprise, are of the truest need in laying the foundations of a community. Mr. Pearson was born at Lowell, Massachusetts, April 11, 1846. His parents were Daniel and Susan (Brown) Pearson, who now reside near Coupville, Washington. The first removal of the family was to Salmon Falls, while Daniel was yet an infant. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Arthur M. Blackman

ARTHUR M. BLACKMAN. – This young gentleman, a flourishing grocer of Snohomish, is a native of Penobscot county, Maine, and was born in 1865. While he was but a boy his parents went to Michigan, living at Bay City, and four years later brought him with them to California, making their residence at Oakland, and giving their son the benefit of the excellent educational advantages of that city. In 1885 he began to seek business of his own, and found employment with Blackman Brothers, at Snohomish. He made such good use of his earnings thus acquired as to be able, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Levi H. Cyphers

LEVI H. CYPHERS. – Mr. Cyphers, who occupies a very prominent position in Snohomish county, having served as sheriff by the choice of the Republicans as well as democrats, is a native of the Keystone state, having been born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, in 1849. He engaged in business at his early home, but at the age of twenty-six acted upon the belief that there were better opportunities for young men at the West. He accordingly set out for the Black Hills in the fall of 1875, with the expectation of digging gold, but, upon arriving at Cheyenne, found that … Read more

Welter, Karen E. Knee Mrs. – Obituary

Funeral services for Karen Elizabeth Welter, 23, were conducted at 3 p.m. today at the Presbyterian Church in Baker. Mrs. Welter died July 23, 1970 at Physicians and Surgeons Hospital in Portland. A native of Weiser, Idaho, Mrs. Welter moved to Baker in 1957 and graduated from Baker High School. In 1965, she moved to Portland and lived in Monroe, Wash., for the last two years. She is survived by her husband, Dale Welter, Monroe, Wash.; a daughter, Debbie Welter; her mother Janis Warren, Portland; her father, Clifford Knee, Baker; her grandfather, William Turnipseed, Weiser, Idaho; Three sisters, Dorothy Osborne … Read more

Biography of Jonas W. Brown

Jonas W. Brown, of Boise, is an honored pioneer both of California and of Idaho. He crossed the plains with ox teams to Shasta county, California, in 1853, and since that time his life record has been inseparably interwoven with the history of this section of the country. At all times he has been the advocate of those measures tending to-ward the advancement and development of the region, and his influence is that of an honorable, upright man, whose force of character stamps itself indelibly for good upon the public life. This work would be incomplete without mention of Jonas … Read more

Biography of Hon. Emory C. Ferguson

HON. EMORY C. FERGUSON. – Mr. Ferguson, whose portrait is placed in this history, was born on a farm in Westchester county, New York, March 5, 1833, and is the son of Samuel S. and Maria (Haight) Ferguson. He resided in his native county and learned the trade of a carpenter until reaching his majority. April 5, 1854, he with his brother Yates (who came to California in 1849 and had returned East) started via the Isthmus of Panama for the Golden State, arriving in San Francisco in May. Our subject immediately proceeded to the mines on the middle fork … Read more

Fischer, Kimberly Dawn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kimberly Dawn Fischer, 47, of Marysville, Wash., and formerly of La Grande died Sept. 9 at her home of natural causes. A service will be begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Marysville Senior Community Center, 514 Delta St. A memorial in Oregon will be conducted at a later date. Mrs. Fischer was born April 22, 1959, to Donna and Jerry Martin in Pendleton. She attended school in La Grande, and married Randy McKinnis. On April 28, 2002, she married Craig Fischer. She worked in food and beverage management for many years. She enjoyed rock and gem … Read more

Dern, I. Delbert – Obituary

I. Delbert Dern, 74, of Lynnwood, Wash., died Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, following a brief five month battle with cancer. Private interment was held at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle, and a family celebration was held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Lynnwood. The celebration was well attending and a fitting goodbye, with cousins from Baker City, Arlene Fulton and Delores Kissire present. Also attending were nephew and wife, Kerry and Kathy Kissire, nieces, Suzie, Cherry and hubby Dave from Forest Grove, and Flores Phelps of Tumwater, Wash. He was born December 24, 1928 in his grandparents’ home in Pendleton, and … Read more

Schroder, August – Obituary

August Schroder, 89, well-known Ellensburg resident and retired Snohomish County farmer, died yesterday [April 11, 1947] afternoon at his home here. Had he lived until next Sunday, he would have been 90 years old. Born at Hamburg, Germany, April 20, 1857, he came to the United States when he was 27 years old and to Washington State in 1888. He farmed for many years at Granite Falls, moving to the Kittitas Valley 7 ½ years ago. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ada Schroder; three daughters, Mrs. J. A. Mansfield of Spokane, and Mrs. T. A. Harrell and Mrs. A. O. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sewall M. Knapp

SEWELL M. KNAPP. – Mr. Knapp is a native of Penobscot County, Maine, where he was born July 19, 1853. He was raised on a farm, and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. In August, 1875, he came to California, where he remained but a short time, when he left for Puget Sound, coming direct to Snohomish, finding employment at first in driving a team. Next he worked for about six years in the general merchandise stores of Blackman Brothers, after which he entered into the teaming business on his own account, starting a livery stable … Read more

Conner, Lela Maude Ingersoll Cooke – Obituary

Lela M. Conner, 87, a resident of McCleary for 18 years and a previous resident of O’Brien, Oregon, died February 13 [1975] at a local hospital. She was born December 2, 1887, at Lowell, Washington, and was a member of the McCleary Grange and the American Legion Auxiliary at Kerby, Oregon. Her husband, Clyde L. Conner died August 20, 1974. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Fattig of McCleary; four sons, Edwin Cooke of Cave Junction, Ore., Gordon Cooke of Port Angeles, Ellsworth Cooke of Grants Pass, Ore., and Jim Cooke of O’Brien; three sisters, Mary Atkenson, Gladys Carter and … Read more

Ingersoll, Clara Gordon – Obituary

Mrs. E. D. Ingersoll, one of the oldest pioneers in this district and a long-time resident of the Colockum, died in Seattle this morning after an illness of several weeks. Clara Albertine Ingersoll, 78, was born March 16, 1863, at Island Gandmaner Province of New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada. She was married to E. D. Ingersoll in November of 1880, and came to the Pacific Coast , traveling by rail to San Francisco, and thence by boat to Seattle. They located at Snohomish and for many years farmed above Everett in the Snohomish Valley, and in 1895 located in Chelan … Read more

McMillen, Carl Richard – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Carl Richard McMillen, 71, of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, died April 7 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Celebration of life services begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Clark Fork Senior Center in Idaho. A private family interment will follow at the Clark Fork Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Carl was born June 26, 1936, to Maxine Petrina Skillingstad and William Hyrum McMillen in Salt Lake City. During WWII the family moved to San Francisco to work in the war effort. Carl attended grade school in San Francisco at … Read more

Ferree, Albert J. – Obituary

Albert J. Ferree, 82, died Jan. 6, 2007, at Arlington, Wash. His private graveside service was Jan. 13 at Seattle, Wash. Albert was born at Union April 5, 1924, to George and Anna Ferree. He was raised in Baker City where he attended schools. Albert was just 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was sent to San Diego for boot camp for eight weeks and as he finished, Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was assigned to the USS Nautilus submarine and sent directly to Pearl Harbor to help with cleanup. He spent 12 years in the Navy. … Read more