Tacoma Washington

Biography of Edward S. Smith

EDWARD S. SMITH. – The death of Edward Slade Smith, at San Francisco, California, on December 31, 1885, and incidents relating to his life gathered from recollections of Judge Charles H. Berry, Honorable John A. Mathews and Doctor James M. Cole. Edward Slade Smith was born in what was then Chemung, now Schuyler county, in the State of New York, February 28, 1827; and hence at his decease he was nearly fifty-nine years old. His parents were Joel and Anna Smith, both early settlers in Winona, Minnesota, and both of whom are now dead. There were born to them six … Read more

Ragsdale, A. B. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs.. Anna H. Ragsdale Passes In Tacoma, Wash. Word that Mrs.. Anna Hadley Ragsdale, a daughter of one of the early pioneer families of this community, is dead in Tacoma, Wash., where she was making her home with a son has been received here. The body is to be shipped to La Grande for burial beside the decedent’s father and mother and her son, Leo Hearing, of an earlier marriage. Other details were not included in the message received by friends here. La Grande Evening Observer, Thursday, 28 January 1926, Page 1. Funeral services for the late Mrs. Anna B. … Read more

Fix, Earl George – Obituary

Earl George Fix, 50, of 1417 So. 44th St., died Friday [March 25] en route to a local hospital. He was born in Steilacoom and had lived in Tacoma for 23 years. He was a carpenter and a member of Carpenters’ Union No. 470. In addition to his wife Alice R., he is survived by a daughter, Linda Jane; three sons, Leslie W., Randal R. and Dennis W., all of the home, and his mother, Mrs. Olive A. Fix, Sumner. Services will be held Monday at 1 p.m. in the C. C. Melinger memorial Funeral Church, Charles Summers officiating. Burial … Read more

O’Farrell, Margaret – Obituary

Mrs. Margaret O’Farrell, aged 56 years, died at one of the city hospitals last evening [March 7, 1904]. She had been a well-known resident of Orting, coming there from Australia with her husband 34 years ago. A husband and five sons and a daughter survive her. The cause of her death was cancer, from which she had been suffering for more than a year. The funeral arrangements are not yet complete. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Boyd Elias Pollom

The men who came to Shawnee County in 1871 were of necessity patient plodders, content to await the rewards of a developing civilization. There were no short cuts to fortune such as fired the zeal of the argonauts of ’49, but there existed sane and practical opportunities for the man to whom labor was a beneflcent and necessary festure of his existence. To such a class belonged William Pollom, father of Boyd Elias Pollom, the latter one of the successful agrienlturists and substantial citizens of the vicinity of North Topeka. William Pollom was born in Ohio, in 1838, a son … Read more

Biography of Robert Wingate

ROBERT WINGATE. – Among the many enterprising and successful representative men to whom the city of Tacoma owes so much for her present advanced position among Pacific cities, and for the assurance of future success, Robert Wingate deserves an exalted place. He is a Scotsman by birth, but is thoroughly identified with the land of his adoption, and is warmly attached to her popular institutions. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, on the 17th of March, 1840. He received a thorough common-school education at the Western Academy in Glasgow. His father was a coal expert, a mining engineer, and the … Read more

Swayze, Wesley – Obituary

Wesley Swayze, 66, for some years a resident of Tacoma and living on South L Street, did Saturday [August 9, 1930] at Hamilton, Canada, where he had gone on a visit. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Flora Duffy of Tacoma and a daughter, Mrs. Karl Smith of Muroc, Cal.; sons, Dee of Portland, Roy of San Diego and Hubert of Alaska, and four grandchildren. Mr. Swayze was a floor man in a garage in Tacoma for some time, and was a member of the IOOF in Hamilton. His body will reach the Lynn mortuary Monday and the funeral services will … Read more

Robertson, Mary Virginia Morrison – Obituary

Mrs. J. W. Robertson departed this life May 1, 1903, aged 23 years, 11 months, and 19 days. Mrs. Robertson was born in Ellensburg, May 11, 1879, and lived there till June 2, 1899, when she went to Tacoma, and after a short time was married to J. W. Robertson and resided there until her death. She was a loving wife and a devoted mother, and was beloved by all who knew her. She leaves a husband, one child, four brothers, a sister, a mother and father an many friends, and relatives to mourn their loss. When our earthly life … Read more

Grimm, Jacob – Obituary

Jake Grimm, former Kittitas Valley farmer, died at his home in South Tacoma last night July 2, 1973, according to word received by relatives here today. He lived in the valley all of his life before moving to Tacoma 15 years ago. He farmed in the Broadview District. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose Carver Grimm; two sons, William and Archie Grimm; three brothers, Bird and John Grimm of Ellensburg and Harry Grimm of California, and two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Poland of Sumner and Mrs. Charles Walker of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but are tentatively … Read more

Saunders Phyllis Jane – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Phyllis Jane Saunders, 80, of Cove, died Aug. 12 at her home of natural causes. A funeral service will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande. Phyllis was born Sept. 9, 1926, to Clyde and Virgie (Bell) Robinson in Tacoma, Wash., one of eight children. She was raised and educated all over the Northwest. Her father worked for Pacific Fruit and traveled throughout the Northwest, so she attended several schools. She eloped with Grant Saunders on Oct. 23, 1944, to Weiser, Idaho. After Grant returned from the Air Force and got … Read more

Bork, Leonard – Obituary

Leonard Bork, 39, of 3571 East L St. died this morning in a local hospital after a week’s illness. Born in Flora, OR, Mr. Bork came to Tacoma 12 years ago. He was an operating engineer for the Lige Dickson Co. and a member of the Operating Engineers Local 612 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served with the Army Engineer Corps in World War II. Mr. Bork is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; three sons, David, Terry and Dennis of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Bork of Walla Walla; a sister, Mrs. Wanda Esposito of … Read more

Biamont, Robert Thomas – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Thomas Biamont, 54, of Portland and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 11. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday Aug. 18 at Grace Christian Fellowship, 7325 N. Bank Road in Portland. Mr. Biamont was born Dec. 17, 1951, in Tacoma, Wash. He lived in La Grande from 1974 to 1987, and married Carolyn June Livingston in 1991. He worked for Pizza Hut and Vinnie’s and lived in Portland most of his life. Survivors include his wife; his mother, Barbara Biamont; children, James P. Sarkis, Tracie Thompson and Kellie Hornych; a brother, Kenneth Biamont, … Read more

Biography of Esdras N. Ouimette

Explore the remarkable life of Esdras N. Ouimette (1838-), from his roots in St. Eustache, Quebec, to becoming a cornerstone of Tacoma, Washington’s early business community. This biography highlights Ouimette’s journey westward, his transformative contributions to Tacoma’s development, including the construction of the city’s first three-story brick building, and his success in real estate. Ouimette’s story is a testament to the enduring impact one individual can have on a city’s economic and social fabric, inviting readers to uncover the details of his legacy and Tacoma’s ascent as the City of Destiny.

Biography of Francis H. Cook

FRANCIS H. COOK, – Mr. Cook was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1851. He went with his parents to Iowa at the age of twelve. His father was a farmer, and have his attention to agriculture and to sawmilling; but it was decided to make a printer of the boy. He was accordingly apprenticed to work at the cases in the office of the Harrison County Union, a paper owned and edited by Judge Henry Ford, who was also sitting on the bench of the northwest district of Iowa. The journal changed proprietors quite frequently, young Cook remaining through the … Read more

Zelten, Walter Jr. – Obituary

Walt was born in Akron, OH on Feb. 5, 1930 to Bessie and Walt Zelten Sr. and passed away on May 26, 1997. Along with his family at age 12, he moved to the Tacoma area in the summer of 1942. He completed his elementary education in Akron, and attended Gault Jr. High and Lincoln High School here in Tacoma. After school, he was stationed in Korea with the Army during that war. He was a lifetime member with the Ray C. Roberts VFW Post #969. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Swearingen, Vernise Augustus – Obituary

Vernise A. Swearingen, 43, former Ellensburg resident, died Friday in a Tacoma Hospital from injuries received earlier last week in an accident at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards where he was employed as a rigger. Plant officials reported that he was crushed while unloading steel plates when he slacked off on a safety line too soon and the plates tipped over on him. A veteran of World War I, Swearingen had enlisted for service in this war WWII, but was discharged because of a physical disability. He was awarded the Silver Star, Order of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and … Read more

Biography of Hiram Doncaster

HIRAM DONCASTER. – No one seems to operate so much in the capacity of a creator as the shipbuilder. The products of his brain and hand have a life of their own, are given a name, and have their own personality. Shipbuilding on the Sound is, moreover, an important business; and the masters of this craft are men of distinction. One of these is the man whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Nova Scotia in 1838, and first came to this coast via Panama in the year 1856, mining in Plumas county two … Read more

Bryson, Howard – Obituary

Native Walla Wallan Howard Roscoe Bryson, 76, died July 18, 1989, at the Seattle Veterans Administration Medical Center. The funeral service was held today at Washington Soldiers’ Home Chapel in Orting, Wash., and the memorial service was at Sumner (Wash.) Presbyterian Church. Burial was at Veterans of all Wars Court in Mountain View Cemetery, Tacoma. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sumner Presbyterian Church through hill Funeral Home, 217 E. Pioneer Ave., Puyallup, Wash. 98372. Bryson was born July 21, 1912, in Walla Walla. He was a direct descendant of William I. Price of Orange. Bryson’s ancestors settled at … Read more

Long, Rose Siejack Fisher Mrs. – Obituary

Rose Fisher Long, Former Resident Graveside services for Mrs. Rose Fisher Long 62, were conducted Sat. Aug. 14, 1971, at 2 p.m. in the cemetery at Haines. Reverend James H. Soden of the Calvary Baptist Church officiated. Mrs. Rose Fisher Long ws born June 15, 1909 in Tacoma, WA., the daughter of Michael and Mary Siejack. She was a long time resident of the Haines area with her husband the late Kenneth Fisher. She was a member of the United Pentecostal Church. Funeral services were held Friday in the Piper Funeral Home in Tacoma. She is survived by foster children: … Read more

Lindley, Susan Clair Monaghan Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Susan Clair Lindley, 58, of Baker City, died May 14, 2006, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. After a courageous struggle, she died from complications after surgery. She also had a longtime battle with breast cancer. In celebration of Sue’s life, recitation of the rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the cathedral. Susan was born on Dec. 31, 1947, at Brooklyn, N.Y., to Daniel Richard Monaghan, insurance executive, and … Read more