The Dalles Oregon

Biography of Joseph Beezley

JOSEPH BEEZLEY. – This pioneer is of distinguished ancestry, tracing his lineage to the Pilgrims. In his own character he exemplifies the qualities of those old heroes. His grandfather was a general in the British army; and his father added new honors to the name by his marriage to Phoebie Reeves of Virginia. Fourteen children were born to this pair, Joseph, of whom we write, being the twelfth, and his birth occurring at Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, in 1819. In 1824 the elder Beezley moved his family to Indiana, where he resided for two years, and from thence, in 1826, … Read more

Biography of Frank McFarland

FRANK McFARLAND. – This representative merchant of Eastern Oregon, one of our best and most enterprising men, was born at The Dalles December 17, 1858, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James C. McFarland, who crossed the plains in the year 1852 from Ohio with four-horse teams, and in Oregon have reared a family of four daughters and two sons, all of whom occupy honorable positions in the Northwest. He made his native city his home until 1882, and spent his boyhood days in assiduous attendance upon the public school, obtaining thereby a thorough, practical education. He secured … Read more

Worcester, Robert Marshall “Bob” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Marshall “Bob” Worcester, 76, of The Dalles, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home on Sept. 12, 2004. Mass of Christian Burial will be at noon on Thursday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in The Dalles. The Rev. Joe Kelbel will officiate. Private cremation will follow at The Dalles Win-Quatt Crematory. Visitations will be held Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home. Bob was born on Oct. 13, 1927, in Omaha, Neb., to Nathaniel and Marye Anderson Worcester. He … 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 Hon. Zenas Ferry Moody

HON. Z.F. MOODY. – Zenas Ferry Moody, ex-Governor of the State of Oregon, was born on the 27th of May, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts. His father was Major Thomas H. Moody. His mother was Hannah M. Ferry, an aunt of ex-Senator T.W. Ferry, of Michigan, formerly vice-president of the United States. Governor Moody comes of good old New England Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Gideon Moody, having borne arms as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. He has proved himself worthy of his lineage; and the principles which he imbibed on New England soil have been the guide of his whole … 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

Shull, Vernon E. – Obituary

Haines, Baker County, Oregon Vernon E. Shull, 88, died April 9, 2006, at his home in Haines. His graveside memorial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Haines Cemetery. Chaplain Assistant Sgt. Daggett from the La Grande Armory will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Haines United Methodist Church. Vernon was born on Dec. 26, 1917, and raised at Glen Elder, Kan., the sixth of eight children of James and Sarah Shull. After eight years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he settled in Oregon with his … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Lair Hill

HON. WILLIAM LAIR HILL. – The distinguished lawyer, author, versatile writer and thorough student whose name introduces this sketch was asked to furnish such data as might contribute in its production; and he diffidently and reluctantly responded. Among other hastily prepared notes, he answered: “Have lived an honest a life as my environments seemed to allow, mainly for the reason that, according to my hereditary creed, one who is not at least indifferently honest, cannot be very happy. In all my laborious life the one single fact in which I have the slightest pride is that, like Jim Bludsoe, I … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hugh N. George

HUGH N. GEORGE. – Hugh, the eldest of the three sons of Presley and Mahala George, and not the least distinguished among the three eminent brothers, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 9, 1828. He was educated at Granville College and followed the profession of teacher for nearly thirteen years. He as one of the prominent educators of Oregon in early times, and was twice elected school superintendent of Linn county. He was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1863, and for a time was editor of the Albany Journal. In 1864, after an exciting canvass, he was … Read more

Bilyeu, Nettie Edmunsen – Obituary

Mrs. Rupert A. Bilyeu and infant babe died at The Dalles hospital Friday morning [January 13, 1911 for Nettie and January 11 for baby]. She was a native of the city, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Edmunson, in her eighteenth year. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. D. Lewellen, at the Crandall Undertaking parlors at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. [Interment in IOOF Cemetery] The Dalles Optimist, January 19, 1911 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Maxwell, Adele – Obituary

Adele Maxwell Died at Age 95; Noted School Teacher 50 Years Adele Powell Maxwell 95, whose life was school teaching in the small communities of this Eastern Oregon region, but whose later years were on a ranch near Vale, died March 17, 1991, at the Columbia Basin home in The Dalles. Graveside service was held Thursday at Haines Cemetery, with her grandson, Rev. Dan Grady of Portland, the pastor. Her death closed a long chapter in the history of this country dating back to 1835 in the East when her father was born. But her life was Burnt River Valley … 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 Hon. James Kerr Kelly

HON. JAMES KERR KELLY. – Among the men of distinction in our state, none have held a position of eminence for a longer time than Senator Kelly. It requires stamina to stand for thirty years upon “the hard and wintry peaks of fame.” We are the more assured of eminent qualities of the Colonel when we consider that he came to this coast and started upon bed-rock. Family ties, name, favoritism, may elevate men of no ability to high positions in older communities; but in the Oregon of an early day artificial conditions did not exist. A man came near … 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

DeRoest, Maurice – Obituary

A memorial mass will be held Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001 at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Portland for Maurice DeRoest who died Aug. 30, 2001 from complications of Rheumatoid arthritis at age 69. Maurice was born Nov. 10, 1931, in Baker City. He attended St. Francis Academy. He married Blanche Fuller on Nov. 27, 1950. Maurice worked for Safeway stories in Baker City, La Grande, Hermiston, The Dalles and Portland for 39 years until his retirement. Maurice was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Safeway Employees Union. He … Read more

Reedy, Joe – Obituary

A Fatal Wreck Engineer Joe Reedy Looses His Life in a Collision The Dalles, Dec. 25. – A wreck on the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company’s Road eight miles west of this place this morning in which Engineer Joe Reedy lost his life. Two freight trains were to meet the west bound passenger at Summit station. The side track being to short to accomodate the trains, a breakeman was sent east to flag the passenger train but he forgot to turn the switch to the main track. The passenger train dashed around the curve and crashed into the engine of … Read more

Sullivan, Sean Richard – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Sean Richard Sullivan, 27, of La Grande and formerly of The Dalles died Aug. 14 in Riggins, Idaho, following an automobile accident. A Mass of Christian Burial was held today at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with burial at the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Sullivan was born June 15, 1979, to Joseph Patrick and Toni Gaye Walker Sullivan in Portland. He graduated from The Dalles High School in 1998, and from Eastern Oregon University this year with a degree in Rangeland Management. He worked at various jobs, including at D&B Supply and the auction yard. … 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

Bork, Leola Elizabeth Surber Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Leola Elizabeth Bork, 84, a resident of The Dalles since 1966, died at an Albany care facility on May 12, 2004. Her graveside service was Saturday at The Dalles Odd Fellows Cemetery on Cherry Heights Road. Pastor Ken Post officiated. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home was in care of arrangements. She was born on Aug. 4, 1919, at Enterprise, to Richard and Edith “Wilson” Surber, the fourth of 12 children. She was raised at Enterprise and graduated from high school there. Leola married Ivan Richard Bork on June 23, 1940, at Enterprise, by A.B. Conway, the … Read more

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