Biographical Sketch of Homer McFarland

HOMER McFARLAND, – Mr. McFarland, one of our most able young men, was born at The Dalles June 22, 1865, the youngest son of J.C. McFarland, and a nephew of E.B. McFarland, who was one of the oldest settlers of The Dalles, and one of her most substantial citizens. He received his early education at the Wasco Academy, attending until his nineteenth year. In 1885 he came to Lexington, Oregon, where he has been engaged in the general merchandise business ever since. This enterprise was the first of its kind in that town; and the firm, in which he holds … Read more

Womack, Crawford W. – Obituary

Lostine, Wallowa County, Oregon Lostine Pioneer Goes To His Rest Crawford Wallace Womack, a pioneer of Wallowa County, died at his home at Lostine last Saturday, February 14, 1920. Funeral services were held at the Lostine Cemetery on Monday, conducted by Rev. Eaton of the Christian church. Mr. Womack was born in Shelby County, Illinois, and the family moved when he was a boy to Missouri. When 19 years old he joined in the gold rush to Colorado and spent part of a year in the Pike’s Peak neighborhood. In the spring of the following year the call of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Imbler

JESSE IMBLER. – A native of Kentucky (1842), Mr. Imbler as a boy came west to Iowa, and in 1853 continued the journey to Oregon, being all this while with his father, who made his home near Eugene. Upon the appeal made for soldiers to quell the Rogue river Indians in 1855-56, Jesse then but sixteen, joined his two older brothers at the front, where, on account of his youth, he was assigned to the supply department, and remained with it to the end of the war. Returning home he accompanied his father and brother to The Dalles, and engaged … Read more

Pellissier, Robert Joseph “Bob” – Obituary

Robert Joseph “Bob” Pellissier, 69, of The Dalles, died Feb. 17, 2001, at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. His funeral was last week at Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in The Dalles, with Asa Jenson officiating. Interment was this morning at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Mr. Pellissier was born Jan. 7, 1932, at Walla Walla, Wash., the middle child of three sons born to Oran and Euna (White) Pellissier. He grew up in Tonasket, Wash., graduating from high school there in 1950. After high school he moved to Baker City, then entered the U.S. Army, serving from 1951-55. After … Read more

Biography of Edmond Pearcy

Edmond Pearcy, whose history is one of close connection with the pioneer development of the state as well as its latter-day progress and prosperity was born in Bedford County, Virginia, on the 22d of March 1832, and is of Scotch and Dutch descent. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, and for many years the families were represented in Bedford County. His father, Nicholas Pearcy, was born there, and having arrived at years of maturity he married Rebecca Hardy, a native of Maryland. They became the parents of twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter, and of the number but … Read more

Biography of James A. Masterson

JAMES A. MASTERSON. – It now becomes our pleasant privilege to outline the interesting career of the estimable gentleman, whose name is at the ehad of this article, and who stands as one of the prominent and representative men of Union county, being also aheavy property owner, and having manifested since an early day here ability that was master of the situation and has acuumulated his holdings from the raw resources of the county, while also he has maintained an untarnished reputation and has done much for the advancement of the county, being really one of the builders of Union … Read more

Voeller, Curt Stanley – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Curt Stanley Voeller, 43, of The Dalles, died Dec. 15, 2004, at The Dalles. At his request there will not be a public funeral. Private cremation was at The Dalles Win-quatt Crematory, with Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Curt was born July 17, 1961, at Baker City, the beloved son of Stanley Carroll and Winifred “Joanne” Voeller. He was the youngest of four children. The family moved to the Willamette Valley, and Curt attended school in Salem. He worked construction in Portland, Salem and The Dalles areas. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and … Read more

Shepherd, John Frances – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon John Francis Shepherd, 67, of The Dalles and formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 8, at his home of cancer. Mr. Shepherd was born July 28, 1939, to John and Francis May Furgason Shepherd in La Grande. He graduated high school in Portland, and served in the Army from 1958 until 1962. He moved to Baker, and settled in The Dalles in 1971. He was a journeyman lineman, and married Marie Fay Mattison on April 13, 1963, in La Grande. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Electricians Union Local 125 IBEW. He … Read more

Biography of Rev. Gustavus Hines

REV. GUSTAVUS HINES. – Gustavus Hines was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1809. On his mother’s side he was descended from the Carvets and Wilkensons of the old Massachusetts colony, and on his father’s from the Hopkinns of Rhode Island, all names of the highest respectability and even celebrity in the early history of New England. Governor Carvet of Massachusetts colony, and Stephen Hopkinns, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, were of the same families. he grew to his majority in the county of his birth, and in 1832 removed to Cattaraugus county, in the … Read more

Stull, Mary Lorane Spivey Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Lorane Stull, 80, The Dalles, died Saturday, April 30, 2005, at her home. There will a celebration of life gathering from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at The Dalles Eagles Lodge, Seventh and Walnut streets. She was born on May 17, 1924, at Baker City to Harvey and Edith Bryson Spivey. She married Ross G. Stull on Feb. 19, 1947. They lived in Oregon, Washington and Montana before settling into Fairbanks, Alaska, where they lived for 15 years. Active in her community, she took part in the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the … Read more

Simonis, Valeria Denise Macy Mrs. – Obituary

Valeria Denise Simonis, 70, of Baker City, died Jan. 31, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A memorial service will be scheduled this summer. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Valeria was born on March 9, 1934, at Baker City to John and Irma Williams Macy. Her family lived at Jacksonville until she was in the fourth grade, when they returned to Baker City. She married Keith Simonis at Elko, Nev., in 1950. They made their home at North Powder until their divorce. At that time, she and her children moved to Hermiston, where she went to work … Read more

Horn, Sandra G. – Obituary

Sandra G. Horn, 69, of Elgin, died Feb. 20 at St. Vincent Hospital in Beaverton of cancer. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday at the Elgin Christian Church, 1335 Division St. in Elgin. The Rev. Steve Kirkeby will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial luncheon and celebration of life directly following the services at the Elgin Community Center, 260 N. 10th Ave. Sandra was born Jan. 31, 1939, to Pete and Pearl Wood in Gold Beach. She graduated from Bandon High School in 1958. She worked at … Read more

Varney, Inez L. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Inez L. Varney, former resident of Enterprise, died March 15, 1980 at the Dalles General Hospital, The Dalles, Oregon. She was born Jan. 12, 1922 in Enterprise, Oregon and married Otis Varney on December 23, 1941. She attended the Enterprise Community Church and was a member of the Lady Elks, BPOE #1829. She received her 20 year pin from the Eagle Cap Auxillary Post #4307, VFW. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 18. Burial in the Enterprise cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Otis of Troy; a son, Dennis L. Varney of Selhah, Wash.; a daughter, Donna … Read more

Biography of Henry Perry Isaacs

HENRY PERRY ISAACS. – Like many old settlers. Mr. Isaacs is so fully identified with Walla Walla, Washington, that the place would not be itself in his absence. In matters of public interest, such as schools, churches and general business enterprises, he has always had a leading part, and as the pioneer in the erection and operation of flour mills “East of the Mountains” deserves lengthy mention. He was born in Philadelphia in 1822, of English and Scotch parentage. There he was educated, and absorbed with eagerness the great lessons of that time. he commence business when only seventeen years … Read more

Biography of James L. Story

JAMES L. STORY. – Mr. Story, the present mayor of The Dalles, Oregon, and a lawyer of leading character, is one of the Oregon educated men of whom the state has reason to be proud. He was born in Missouri in 1845, but at the age of eight years came with his parents across the plains to Oregon. The first home was on the Willamette river among the groves of maple and magnificent cottonwood trees where is now situated the little town of Lincoln. In 1854 he removed to McMinnville, and at that place, in 1864,enlisted in the First Oregon … Read more

Spellman, Gladys A. Wing Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gladys A. Spellman, 75, of Baker City, died Sept. 29, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Dennis Hickman of First Lutheran Church will officiate. Gladys was born at Wamic on Sept. 3, 1927, to George and Della Wing. She was from a pioneer family from Germany that migrated with covered wagons to Oregon City, then to Wamic. As a young girl, she helped in the family’s lumber mill business. She attended schools at Wamic and graduated in 1945. After graduation, she moved to … Read more

Biography of Oliver P. Goodall

OLIVER P. GOODALL. – Mr. Goodall, one of our best men in developing Oregon, was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, August, 1828, and grew up on a farm, securing a common-school education. At the age of eighteen he left school and joined Colonel William Bent, and spent the winter of 1846-47 at Bent’s fort on the Arkansas river, in the capacity of clerk. He there met with continuous adventures, associating with such old mountaineers as Kit and Bob Carson, Bridger, the Calloways, Bill Williams, Dick Dallam, Black Dick Curtis and others; and his recitals of their brave and daring deeds … Read more

Grove, Patricia Anne Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Patricia Anne Grove, 71, of Baker City, died Aug. 8, 2002, at her home. Her funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City First Christian Church will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception following at the Christian Church. Visitations will be today until 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Pat was born Feb. 23, 1931, at The Dalles to Lloyd W. Davis and Ruth G. (Hazen) Davis. Her family moved to … Read more

Phegley, Charles W. “Chuck”, Jr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Charles W. “Chuck” Phegley Jr., 72, a longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 13, 2004, at a Boise hospital. There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the church. Viewing will be for family only. Disposition will be by cremation through Gray’s West & Co. Crematory. Chuck was born on April 14, 1932, at The Dalles to Charles Wesley and Leolia Pear Phegley. Graduating from … Read more

Ringer, Marilyn “Kay” Town Mrs. – Obituary

Marilyn “Kay” Ringer, 58, of The Dalles, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 15, 2002, at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. Her funeral was today at The Dalles Zion Lutheran Church. Private cremation was at The Dalles Win-quatt Crematory. Inurnment was at The Dalles Odd Fellows Memorial Mausoleum. Kay was born on Aug. 3, 1943, at Moscow, Idaho, to Sherman Duane “Bud” and Ellen Josephine Olsen Town. She grew up at Moscow and Baker City and was a 1961 Baker High School graduate. She attended the University of Oregon at Eugene for a year before transferring to Eastern Oregon College (now … Read more