Eddy, Clayton – Obituary

Clayton Eddy, 81, passed away at Pioneer Nursing Home in Vale on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. He was born on July 17, 1928 in Baker City, Ore. A private cremation was under the direction of the Lienkaemper Funeral Home. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Vale Christian Church and a private, family service will be held in late September or early October at hunting camp. Clayton was the first son born to George and Lucy Eddy who already had five girls. Later the family would increase in size by two more girls … Read more

Burgess, Eliza Ann Horn – Obituary

Services for Mrs. Eliza A. Burgess, 66, Vale resident for the past 35 years who died in her home Sunday [January 7, 1968], was at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Chapel of the Roses at Payette, with Elder Harry Sunday Fry of Payette Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officiating. Mrs. Burgess was born in Ellensburg, Wash., Oct. 16, 1901. In 1915 she moved with her family to Oregon, settling in Curry County. She was married to Fred Burgess, December 19, 1922 in Coquille, Ore. They lived in Curry County 11 years and came to Vale in 1933. They … Read more

Hecht, Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jean Hecht, 86, of Wilsonville and formerly of La Grande died April 11. Mrs. Hecht was born April 20, 1920, to Drs. Joseph and Margaret Ingle in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and earned bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Oregon where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She earned a pilot’s license and taught high school in Vale and Corvallis. She served in the Navy and was stationed in Lakehurst, N.J., where she married Irwin Hecht. The couple moved to Portland nine years ago to be closer to … Read more

Mrs. Vera Louise Storie Powell – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vera Louise Storie Powell, 104, a longtime Baker County resident, died Aug. 15, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Her great-grandson, Pastor Wayne Hart of Calvary Baptist Church at Xenia, Ohio, will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception before the service at noon at Janis Hart’s home, 3320 Birch St. Mrs. Powell was born on March 28, 1897, at Durkee on the Horseshoe Ranch to Sidney and Iva Storie. She was the … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of Weaver, James

A man of sterling worth and a well-known citizen of Malheur, was born in Minnesota in 1860, and with his parents moved to this state in 1864, settling near Walla Walla, Wash. He received his education in the schools of Milton, Or. and then followed farming in that section until 1885. Moving to Morrow County, near Heppner, he followed the sane avocation until 1890. He then moved to Malheur County, and in 1892 bought out the drug store of A. W. Rime of Vale, and has successfully conducted it since. He carries a complete line of drugs and sundries, schoolbooks, … Read more

Lindley, Hildreth Colton Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Hildreth Lindley, 83, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. The rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the cathedral. The Rev. Rob Irwin of the church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward in the church basement. Visitations will be until 5 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Hildreth C. Lindley was born on Dec. 24, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph C. Kelley

Joseph C. Kelley, one of the young business men of Malheur county, was born January 3, 1870, at Idaho City, Idaho, his parents being Joseph and Marrgaret (Thompson) Kelley, pioneers of that state. Joseph Kelley, senior, was a native of Farmington, Iowa, and was among those who in the early fifties sought the golden sands of California. After spending several years in California, in the middle sixties, Mr. Kelley again emigrated, going to Idaho and establishing himself in business as a mechanic at Idaho City. Here, in the closing days of 1870, the silver cord was broken and all that … Read more

Williams, Mary Mrs. – Obituary

Funeral services for Mary B. Williams 82, of Baker, formerly of Vale and Huntington, who died Saturday at the Baker Hospital, were held at 2 p.m. MST, Wednesday, November 2, 1977 at the Northam Jones Chapel in Weiser. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery. She was born June 19, 1895 at Forsyth, Montana. She was married to Raymond Williams April 16, 1914 at Forsyth. Shortly after the marriage the couple moved to Lewiston, Idaho. In 1935 they moved to Vale, Oregon and in 1943 to Huntington. Mr. Williams preceded her in death March, 1971. Recently, Mrs. Williams had lived at Baker … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Rufus King

Among those granted representation in this volume, none is more worthy of notice, than the subject of this sketch. As a public spirited citizen he enjoys the confidence of the people and has become well and popularly known, not only throughout Malheur and adjoining counties, but throughout the whole state. On October 3. 1864, near Walla Walla. Washington, David R. King and Elizabeth (Estes) King, became the parents of a boy, whom they named William Rufus. His parents were pioneers of Walla Walla, Washington. Arriving from Arkansas in 1860 his father being captain of a large immigrant train, crossing what … Read more

Malone, Mary Jane – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Mary Jane Malone, 82, of Vale, a former longtime Richland resident, died Dec. 22, 2003, at Pioneer Place in Vale. Christian Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Vale. Interment will be at Valley View Cemetery in Vale. Mary Jane was born March 3, 1921, at Richland to Joseph and Rebecca McPartland. She married Alfred Malone on Sept. 29, 1939. They lived at Richland until 1961 when they moved to Vale. Mary Jane worked many years at Becker’s Market. After working she enjoyed her volunteer service, square dancing and card … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Beam

This young and enterprising farmer and stockman of northern Malheur County is one of the men whose life has been largely spent in this section and he is a real product of the west and a credit to his county, both because of his worthy labors which are being crowned with a good success and because of his own intrinsic worth which stamps him a man of ability and uprightness. Edward Beam was born in Missouri, on January 18, 1874, being the son of William W. and Sarah (Lafton) Beam. In the year of his birth the parents came to … Read more

Graven, Terry Evan – Obituary

Terry Evan Graven, 58, of Nampa, Idaho, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, after a brave and valiant 21-month battle with cancer. His funeral was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the Nampa 10th Ward Chapel, 7908 Deer Flat Road. Terry was honored by police color guard and the military. A viewing was held on Tuesday at the church from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment was at the Veterans Cemetery in Boise. Terry died peacefully at his home in Nampa, with his family at his side. He died with the same calm collected nature … Read more

Heard, Erma June Taylor Mrs.

Erma June Heard, 95, a longtime resident of the Haines area, died at her home on Sept. 16, 2005. Her graveside service was at 2 p.m. today at the Haines Cemetery. Sally Wiens of the Haines United Methodist Church officiated. There was a luncheon and fellowship afterward at the Methodist Church Annex. Erma was born on Jan. 12, 1910, at Haines to George H. and Mary Elizabeth Ashwood Taylor. She lived most of her life on the same farm where she was raised. She graduated from Muddy Creek High School and attended her first year of teachers college at Monmouth. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wheeler, R.G. Hon. R. G. Wheeler

Of Vale is one of those genial, wholesouled men whom it does one good to meet and who infuses new life into you with the simple shake of the hand. His affability and good nature make him a general favorite, and his friends are legion. Mr. Wheeler is a native of Pennsylvania. In which state he received his education, and in August 1868 became a member of the bar. Shortly after he moved to Illinois, and later again to Iowa and Nevada. March 1891 he came to Malheur County, and is at present mayor of the county seat, Vale. He … Read more

Town, S. Duane “Bud” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Bud Town is home. On the morning of June 9, 2006, with Ellen at his side, our Lord Jesus came and walked Bud home. Memorial Services will be held Friday, June 16, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Vale, (Yakima and F. St. ). S. Duane “Bud” Town was born on the family homestead May 22, 1919, at Moscow, Idaho the only son with three older sisters. His parents were Sherman F. Town and Johanna Ronholt Town. Bud had fond memories of his childhood and school years. He graduated from the University … Read more

Collins, Bonnie Jean Arriola Mrs. – Obituary

Bonnie Jean Collins, 55, Vale, Ore., died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, in a Boise hospital. Graveside services were held Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Valley View Cemetery. Services were arranged by Lienkaemper Funeral Chapel, Vale, Ore. Bonnie was born on Feb. 1, 1951, in Ontario, Ore., daughter of Segundo and Edna Edmunson Arriola. She graduated from Burnt River High School in 1969 and later attended Treasure Valley Community College, graduating in 1971. She later attended Eastern Oregon State College where she graduated in 1988. In 1971, she married Joe Collins. They had one daughter, Vikki Lynne. Joe passed away in … Read more

Chapman, Mary Marie Mattingly Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Mary Marie Chapman, 88, of Baker City, died April 9, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. MDT Tuesday at Hilltop Cemetery in Nyssa. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Mary was born on May 12, 1915, at Vale to Bud and Laura Rose Syme Mattingly. She was raised at Watson where she also attended school. She graduated from high school at Nyssa. She married Arthur A. Chapman on May 23, 1934. The couple lived at Huntington during World War II, where Mr. Chapman worked … Read more

Maxwell, John – Obituary

John Edward Maxwell, 70, who was born and lived until his retirement at Haines, died Tuesday afternoon June 18, in the Veterans Administration Hospital at Boise. Services for Mr. Maxwell were conducted Monday afternoon at the Baptist Chruch in Haines. The Rev. Lloyd A. Malmstrom and the Rev. Dennis officiated. Interment was in the Haines Cemetery, West and Company were directors. Mr. Maxwell, son of James O. and Nancy A. Maxwell, was born at Haines, Feb.3, 1893. He graduated from Muddy Creek School and Linfield College at McMinnville. He had been a farmer in the Haines area until his retirement … Read more

Pioneer Days in Malheur County

Exterior Court of Old Fort Hall

“Pioneer Days in Malheur County” by Jacob Ray Gregg is a comprehensive historical account that seeks to perpetuate the memory of prominent pioneers and preserve an authentic history of Malheur County, Oregon. This privately printed volume, published in 1950 by L. L. Morrison in Los Angeles, spans 442 pages and provides a broad narrative of the region’s history, covering significant events and developments from the mid-19th century onwards. Key locations discussed include Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, Westfall, Harper, Juntura, Ironside, Brogan, and Jamieson. The work also delves into critical historical topics such as the Bannock War and the Overland Trail, alongside accounts of early pioneer life.