Tacoma Washington

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 J. W. McCarty

J.W. McCARTY. – Mr. McCarty, whose phenomenal success as a hop-grower in the Puyallup valley is well known, was born in La Porte county, Indiana, in 1833, and lived with his parents until 1852. As a young man of ambition and sterling qualities, he, in that year crossed the plains to Oregon in company with George Belshaw, now of Lane county, Oregon, and his two brothers. With his brothers he went to Puget Sound in October, 1853, assisting himself to the beginnings of a fortune by working in logging camps and in the sawmills. In 1854 he secured the claim … Read more

Zelten, Bessie Pedersen – Obituary

Mrs. Walter Zelten, 77, of 1001 E. 32nd St., died Wednesday [February 4, 1981]. Mrs. Zelten was born in Ellensburg and moved to Tacoma in 1942. Survivors include a son, Walter, Jr. of Tacoma; a daughter, Mrs. Irene Aylett of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Henry of Tigard, Ore., and Mrs. Louise Durland of Portland; four grandchildren and a great grandchild. Buckley-King at Brookside is in charge. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Nelson Bennett

NELSON BENNETT. – Though Toronto, Canada, must be accredited as the birthplace of the distinguished personage whose name heads this brief sketch of a most active, useful and busy life, yet were his parentage and ancestry thoroughly American. On the paternal side the Bennetts were natives of Virginia, three generations back; and his mother was of the ancient and time-honored family of the Spragues of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was born October 14,1843; and his father died when he was seven years of age, leaving a widow and six children. The family resided upon a farm; and Nelson was … Read more

Biography of William H. Fife

WILLIAM H. FIFE. – This gentleman is a native of Otonabee, Petersburg county, Ontario, and is the third child of William and Mary Beckett Fife. He was born on the first of October, 1833. His father was a native of Kincardine, and came to Canada in 1820, following farming in that country. His mother was born January 20, 1811, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and came with her parents to Canada about 1820, and is still living with her youngest son on the old homestead in Petersburg county. Our subject resided on his father’s farm until he became sixteen years of age, … Read more

Morefield, William Reecer – Obituary

Services for William R. Morefield will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Piper Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Wade LeRoy officiating. Burial in Tacoma Cemetery. Evening hours until 8:30 p.m., Friday. Tacoma News Tribune, June 6, 1968 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Bleakman, Owen Neal – Obituary

Owen Neal Bleakman, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 3, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be no burial service. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel. Owen was born Aug. 9, 1916, at Hardman to Bertrum Percy Bleakman and Hatty May Emery. He attended schools in Hardman and Heppner. When Owen was 18, he moved to Bates, where he worked at the Bates mill as a carpenter helper for one year. While in Bates, he met his wife-to-be, Katherine Taylor. They were married … 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

Biographical Sketch of William Franklin Minton

It is with pleasure that we essay the task of epitomizing the salient points in the interesting career of the estimable and enterprising gentleman whose name is at the head of this article, and it is very fitting that such be granted space in the history of Malheur County, since he has labored here for the up building of the county and has wrought with wisdom and energy for this end, while also he has spent much time on the frontier and in other places, always, however, manifesting that same energy and capability in furthering the chariot of progress and … Read more

Baum, Eva Mae Scott Mrs. – Obituary

Eva Mae Baum, 96, of Tacoma, Wash., a former longtime Baker City resident, died March 21, 2006, at her home in Tacoma. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Eva Mae Baum was born on July 29, 1909, near Pullman, Wash., to Charles and Edna Scott. She was one of three children. She lived most of her childhood at Spokane, Wash. In 1926, she moved with her mother to La Grande. It was there that she married Jack Stewart in … Read more

Wahmaskie, A Lower Chinook Indian Genealogy

Clyde Chenois and unidentified man

This provides the descendants of Wahmaskie, a Lower Chinook Indian who married James Huckquist, a white man. Using census and vital records, as well as Native American specific records, this research provides several generations of her descendants through her son, Dixie James, who was the only surviving heir.

Leid, Anna Emma Penner Bernhardt Hansen – Obituary

Former Dayton resident Anna Emma Leid, 96, died November 18, 1993 at Our Lady of Lourdes Health Center. The graveside service will be 11 a.m. Monday at the family plot in Dayton City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice through the funeral home. Mrs. Leid was born February 6, 1897 in Tacoma to Henry and Emma Hagen Penner. She married James Hansen on October 8, 1924, they were later divorced. On October 20, 1936 she married Robert Leid. He died January 11, 1971. She lived for many years in Dayton; and the last … Read more

Coggan, Emma L. Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Died at Tacoma A telegram received on last Tuesday from Tacoma announced the death of Miss Emma L. Coggan, a young lady well known to many in this county. The news of her demise was sorrowfully received by many friends here in Union. Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday October 24, 1889

Bowman, Arthur – Obituary

Arthur W. Bowman, 79, of 8726 Newgrove Ave. S.W., died in a local hospital Monday. He was born in Trempealeau, Wis. Mr. Bowman had lived here 43 years. He was a retired Tacoma Transit Co. employee. Mr. Bowman was a member of the Motor Coach Employees’ Union. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Mary Gordon of Tacoma and Mrs. Ida Wakefield of Parkwood; three sons, Charles R. of Coulee Dam and George and Arthur of Tacoma; nine grandchildren and a brother, George of Pierre, S.D. Services will be announced by the Mountain View Funeral Home. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Champ, Clifford – Obituary

Clifford H. Champ, 79, of 9924 Waller Road, died Saturday [February 7, 1976]. Born in Winlock, he came to Tacoma in 1921 from Hoquiam. Mr. Champ was a crane operator for St. Paul Lumber Co. until his retirement in 1962. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Edna; a son, Stanley of Tacoma; a brother, Jay of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Retha Longuet of Portland and Mrs. Brace (Florence) Leland of Seattle; two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Mountain View Funeral Home is in charge. [Clifford was born September 12, 1896. His parents were … Read more

Biography of Henry Drum

HENRY DRUM. – Among the progressive, intelligent and enterprising business men who are lending their energy and strength to the constant and rapid development of the great resources of the State of Washington, no name stands higher, or is more widely known and deservedly popular, than that of Henry Drum. No more conspicuous example of the results of careful attention to business, probity of character and steadfastness of purpose, can be cited than the brilliant career of Tacoma’s ex-mayor. It is to this class of young, keen and active workers that the great Northwest is to-day indebted for its magnificent … 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

Cooke, Alta Mae Hill Mullen – Obituary

Funeral services will be held Friday at the Buckley Undertaking Parlors, Tacoma, at 3 p.m. for an early-day Kittitas Valley resident, Mrs. Alta Mae Cooke, 77, who died Wednesday morning in Tacoma, following eight days in a hospital there. Cremation will follow the service and the ashes will be brought to Ellensburg at a later date. The family requests no flowers, but those who wish to may make a contribution to the Cancer Fund. Mrs. Cooke was the widow of the late Jay Cooke, son of the late Charles P. and Susan Cooke, valley pioneers. Alta Mae Hill and Jay … 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

Hart, Helen Mildred Bell – Obituary

Mrs. Charles L. (Helen M.) Hart, 74 of 6810 South J St., died Monday [September 10, 1979]. Mrs. Hart was born in Ontario, Canada, and had lived in Tacoma since 1930. She was a retired nurse, and a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Steve (Michele E.) Hull of Gig Harbor; two sons, Duane Lee of Reno, Nev. and James A. of Bend, Ore.; a sister, Alice Mooney of Victor, B.C.; a brother, Doug Bell of Sidney, B.C.; and 10 grandchildren. Mountain View Funeral Home is in charge. Tacoma News … Read more