Union Oregon

Biography of Homer C. Bidwell

HOMER C. BIDWELL. – The well known and enterprising businessman, of whom we now have the pleasure of speaking is one of the substantial citizens of Union, & has by dint of hard effort, wise management and considerate treatment of patrons built up a fine business in the livery and transportation line. Having as fine stables and his rigs are among the most comfortable and well kept to be secured anywhere. Homer C. was born in Galesburg, Wisconsin on January 25, 1871, being the son of Charles C. & Mary A. (Gilbert) Bidwell. The father was one of those brave … Read more

Aldrich, Gordon – Obituary

Gordon Aldrich, 78, a lifelong Haines resident, died Sept. 30, 2007, surrounded by his family at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. His graveside funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Haines Cemetery, with Cliff Cole officiating. A reception will follow at the Haines United Methodist Church. Visitations will be Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Gordon was born Jan. 29, 1929, to Lewis and Edna (Burnside) Aldrich. A terrible snowstorm prevented the trip to Baker City, so Gordon was born in Haines in the house currently owned by Betty Brown. … Read more

Swinger, Polly Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Polly Swiger, aged 81 years and 26 days, died at the Swiger residence near Union, Oregon, Sunday, October 9, 1910, and was buried from the Presbyterian church Wednesday, October 12, at 11 a.m. Polly Wilkinson was born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 29, 1829, and her early life was passed in the vicinity of Peoria, Ill. She was married to N. Swiger in 1851, and in 1858 moved from Illinois to Nebraska. In May, 1864, Mr. and Mrs. Swiger moved to Oregon, arriving in the Grande Ronde Valley, October 9, of that year. From June 1865, to October 1869 … Read more

Conklin, Eugene – Obituary

UNION (Special) – Eugene B. Conklin died in a Portland hospital Tuesday evening following a heart attack. He had taken the exhibits, from Malheur county to the Pacific International and became ill about a week before his passing away. He was a prominent man in Eastern Oregon where he always was very active in public affairs. He was born in Ohio in 1865 and came to Oregon in 1888. He taught school at Medical Springs and Cove and in 1894 came to Union where he taught for five years. From here he went to Pendleton for seven years of teaching … Read more

Kennedy, Charles E. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon At his residence, 2169 92d S. E., February 8, Charles E. Kennedy, age 41 years, beloved husband of Pearl Kennedy, son of Vivian Kennedy of Union, Oregon; brother of Elmer and James Kennedy of Medical Springs and Mrs. J. H. Klineman of Hillsboro. Remains are at the funeral Parlors of A.D. Kenworthy & Co.-Portland paper. 1922 newspaper item Contributed by: Larry Rader

Reagan, Jason Jae – Obituary

Jason Jae Reagan, 27, of Breckenridge, Colo., and formerly of Union, died Dec. 18, 2002, of a congenital heart condition. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Union. Jason was born on Jan. 11, 1975, at Seoul, South Korea. He was a gift from God to the Reagan family the day before Thanksgiving in 1975. He graduated from Union High School in 1993, where he ran cross country for six years. After graduation he worked at Alpine Rock & Ready and the North Powder Mill until its closure. He … Read more

Gates, Price – Obituary

Price Gates, 67, died Tuesday morning in the St. Elizabeth hospital following a weeks illness. Mr. Gates lived in Union county for a number of years and was well known throughout eastern Oregon, especially as a trainer of race horses. Mr. Gates was born in St. Clair county, Missouri, January 16, 1861and crossed the plains in 1879. He is survived by a son, W.E. Gates of Elkton, Nevada, a daughter, Alverta of Portland, a brother, S.O. Gates of Union, three sisters, Mrs. Hattie Buchanan of Crane, Mrs. Alma Buchanan of Forest Grove, Mrs. M.A. Ward of Wilmington, California and seven … Read more

Baxter, Sarah Edith Wight Mrs. – Obituary

Sarah Edith Wight Baxter, 101, of Union died Feb. 2, 2008, at her home that she loved and had lived in for 65 years. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Union. Burial will be at the Union Cemetery. Edith was born on Oct. 19, 1906, at Brigham City, Utah, to Jesse Lowen and Helen Mabel Hansen Wight. When she was 12 her mother died in the great flu epidemic of 1919. As a child she lived briefly in northern Idaho where she had moved with her family in … Read more

Levy, Adolph – Obituary

Adolph Levy Is Dead Passes Away at Portland Saturday Morning Mr. Adolph Levy died at The Good Samaretan hospital in Portland at 1 o’clock Saturday morning, the funeral taking place Sunday afternoon from the residence of his brother, Ludwig Levy in Portland. The funeral ceremonies were attended by many friends of the deceased, and immediately thereafter the remains were taken to Ahavi Sholem cemetery for Interment, where appropriate Masonic ceremonies were performed. Mr. Levy was well known in mercantile circles of Oregon, coming to the state when it was yet in its infancy and engaging in business at Oregon City. … Read more

Collins, Patrick Howard – Obituary

Union, Oregon Patrick Howard Collins, 48, of Seaside and formerly of La Grande and Union, died Nov. 19 in Seaside. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Coastline Christian Fellowship Church in Olney. Prior to the service, visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria. Mr. Collins, known as Pat, was born Sept. 11, 1958, in Waterbury, Conn., to Theodore M. and Mary E. Brooks Collins. He grew up and was educated in Anaheim, Calif. In 1974 he moved to Clatsop County and began a career in the … Read more

Biography of Samuel A. Pursel

SAMUEL A. PURSEL. – Union county’s list of business men comprises a wide awake and energetic class that has wrought well for the advancement of the county and among the number are some that have manifested extraordinary ability in financiering and in manipulating the resources of the county. One of this distinguished number is the gentleman, of whom we have the pleasure now to write, and his enterprise and industry have been well known for a third of a century in the walks of business life in this country, while his capabilities have been shown to be second to none … Read more

Smith, Kenneth L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kenneth L. Smith, 78, died July 10 at the Veterans Hospital in Seattle after a lengthy illness. A funeral service was held on July 16 in Kirkland, Wash. He was born on Nov. 23, 1928, in La Grande. Ken barbered for many years in the Bothel area of Seattle. He was also a tree-topper in northeast Seattle for many years. Of the two occupations, he enjoyed tree-topping more. Ken was quick to make friends and never knew a stranger. He is survived by his wife, the former Sherril Bateman of Union; five sons and their wives, Frank … Read more

Clinkenbeard, Lowell Gene – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lowell Gene Clinkenbeard, 57, died April 22 at his home in La Grande. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Clinkenbeard was born Jan. 23, 1950, to Kenneth Lowell and Fern Ilene (Harbaugh) Clinkenbeard in Kansas City, Mo. His family moved to Union County when he was a child, and they lived in Elgin, Union, Cove, Imbler and Summerville as he was growing up. He served with the Navy during the Vietnam War and after an honorable discharge returned to Union County and worked in the concrete construction … Read more

Odell, James – Obituary

James Odell, for a number of years a resident of Union, died in Portland, Oregon, Sunday November 14, 1909, age 74 years, 10 months and 22 days. Interment in Portland. Deceased leaves a wife, Mrs. Minnie Odell; a daughter, Mrs. Walter Swackhamer; and a son, James Odell, of his immediate family, to mourn his loss. James Odell had been a sufferer for a number of years and his death was not unexpected. He was a man of considerable means, having been successful in stock-raising in the Rye Valley country. The sympathy of many friends is extended to the family in … Read more

Swager, Nathan – Obituary

At his home near Union Mary 6, 1890, Nathan Swager, aged 60 years. The funeral took place from the Presbyterian church yesterday afternoon. Eastern Oregon Republican Thursday, May 8, 1890 Contributed by: Robin Church

Scriber, Loyd – Obituary

Loyd Carlton Scriber, 106 Greenwood, La Grande hospital after a long illness. He was 65 years old. Scriber was born in Salem on Aug. 21, 1885 but moved to “La Grande when he was only five, living here for the past 60 years. In La Grande, he was a member of B.P.O. Elks lodge number 433. He worked for the Union Pacific railroad. Private funeral services will be held Wednesday at the Snodgress funeral home with Rev. Clarence A. Kopp officiating. Burial will be in the city cemetery. The family has requested that flowers not be sent to the funeral. … Read more

Green, Permelia – Obituary

At her home in this city, March 15, 1890, Permelia, wife of T.R.H. Green; age 52 years. Deceased was born in the state of Illinois February 8th, 1838. She was married to her now bereaved husband in Putman County, Missouri, December 12th, 1856 where they resided until 1863. They crossed the plains and settled in Umatilla county, Oregon: residing there until 1872, when they again removed and located in the Grande Ronde valley near Union. Here with her family was her home until the time of her death. She was the mother of eleven children, four of whom preceded her … Read more

Swiger, Polly Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Polly Swiger, aged 81 years and 26 days, died at the Swiger residence near Union, Oregon, Sunday, October 9, 1910, and was buried from the Presbyterian church Wednesday, October 12, at 11 a. m. Polly Wilkinson was born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 29, 1829, and her early life was passed in the vicinity of Peoria, Ill. She was married to N. Swiger in 1851, and in 1858 moved from Illinois to Nebraska. In May, 1864, Mr. and Mrs. Swiger moved to Oregon, arriving in the Grande Ronde Valley, October 9, of that year. From … Read more

McComas, E. S. – Obituary

One of the largest funerals in the history of the town of Union marked the obsequies of the pioneer editor and politician, E. S. McComas. The funeral was held at Union, Wednesday afternoon, September 6 at 3 o’clock, and was attended by a great gathering of pioneers. The body was laid to rest beside his mother, brother, and son. The deceased leaves a widow, one daughter, an adopted son and three sisters, Mrs. Alice M. Bell of Enterprise, Mrs. Esther E. Pursel and Mrs. Mary R. Thomson of Union. Mrs. Bell received word of her brother’s extermity Saturday afternoon and … Read more

Blazie, Wm. J. – Obituary

At Rock Creek, July 17, Wm. J. Blize, aged 35 years. He was a victim of consumption. The deceased leaves a wife and three children. Union was his home for many years, a worring mother, brother and sister residing there at this time. Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday July 24, 1890