Walla Walla County WA

Biography of Burrell W. Griffin

BURRELL W. GRIFFIN. – Mr. Griffin, who has been long and favorably known throughout the Inland Empire, was born in Missouri in 1840, and since his arrival in Oregon in 1848 has seen as much of our Northwestern life in Indian wars, in the mines, and in our distinctive old-time traveling system by stage, as any one of us. His first residence was in the “Forks” of the Santiam with his father, B.B. Griffin, who moved to the Rogue river valley in 1852, and was a farmer and fancier of horses; who in 1852 was with Captain John F. Miller … Read more

Biography of Hoit, Mary Melvina

Mary Melvina Hoit 1842 – 1916 Biography Mary Melvina Hoit was born in Meigs County, Ohio in 1842. She was one of the two daughters. Her sister’s name was Ruthanar. We do not have the names of her parents but in scrapbook #3 in one of the letters she wrote to newspapers there is come family history. Her father moved from Meigs Co. to Quincy, Ill. In Adams County in 1844. They lived in town until the following spring when they moved to the north line of Adams County and purchased a farm from his brother-in-law, Truman Hocox. This farm … Read more

Biography of Rev. Cushing Eels, D. D.

REV. CUSHING EELS, D.D. – Dr. Eells was born at Blandford, Massachusetts, February 16, 1810, and was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Warner) Eells. He was descended from Samuel Eells, who was a major in Cromwell’s army, and who came to America in 1661. Cushing Eells was brought up at Blandford, became a Christian when fifteen years old, prepared for college at Monson Academy, Massachusetts, entered Williams College in 1830, and graduated four years later. The distance from his home to college was forty-five miles. Twice he rode the entire distance, – when he entered and after he graduated, … Read more

Knight, Ralph – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Ralph Knight died October 19, 1987 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. He was 80. Ralph was born January 30, 1907 at Elgin, the son of Bill and Mary Troy Knight. He grew up on Eden Bench. On April 10, 1926 he married Bernice S. Catherine Scott in Wallowa. Ralph was a farmer, and farmed in the Promise Powwatka area. Survivors include sons, Leonard and Ted Knight of Wallowa, and Jack Knight, Kamiah, Idaho; daughter, Ruby Berry, Wallowa; sister, Eunice, brother, Ray Knight, La Grande; 13 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. He was … Read more

Coryell, Ruth B. Bushong Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Ruth B. Coryell passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla on May 22, 1984. She was born January 24, 1896 at Fort Wayne, Indiana, daughter of John Bushong and Jennie Riser Bushong. She was married to Floyd Ritenhouse (dec.) and Harry Coryell (dec.). She was a home maker most of her life. She is survived by two sons, Floyd William Ritenhouse and Robert D. Ritenhouse; three daughters, Dorothy Dacey, Edna Pae, and Lorraine Coryell; 14 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Wallowa Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 25. … Read more

Evens, Bertha E. – Obituary

Services Held For Bertha E. Evans Memorial services for Mrs. Bertha E. Evans were Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel, with Rev. Harold D. Fuller, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Walla Walla, formerly of Enterprise, officiating. Mrs. Lyle Shumway was pianist, and Mrs. Harold D. Fuller sang “Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad” and “Sometimes We’ll Understand.” Casket bearers were: Verne Conrad, Herbert Bork, Earl Conrad, Billy L. Bork, Tracy Puderbaugh, and Marvin Bork, and interment was in the Enterprise cemetery. Bertha Emma Bork, daughter of Rudolph and Bertha Bork, pioneers of Wallowa County, was born … Read more

Bird, Roberta Johnson – Obituary

Wallowa, Oregon Roberta Johnson Bird died Aug. 5, 2006, at the Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla, Wash. She was 87. Mrs. Bird was born June 15, 1919, in Wallowa to William E. and Laura B. Johnson. She graduated with honors from Wallowa High School in 1936. She walked the five miles to Wallowa High School and returned daily unless some kind person gave her a ride. This was during the Great Depression before school buses ran in the county. The Weinhard family of Wallowa was generous in this regard, and she valued their friendship all her life. Mrs. Bird … Read more

Foersterling, Willis Emil – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Willis Emil Foersterling, 78, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 2, 2004, at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Masonic Ritualistic Rites and military honors also will be conducted. Visitations will be from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Willis was born on July 30, 1925, at Baker City, to Willis Herbert and Zelda Mae Sparks Foersterling. He was educated at Sisley … Read more

Biography of Hon. Cornelius H. Hanford

HON. CORNELIUS H. HANFORD. – The subject of this sketch, although a young man, is one of the pioneers of Washington. He was born in the town of Winchester, Van Buren county, Iowa, on the 21st of April 1849. His father was a well-to-do farmer at that place. The gold discoveries in California soon attracted attention to the Pacific coast; and in 1853 he resolved to dispose of his Iowa property and seek a new home on Puget Sound, where his two brothers Seymour and George then were. Accordingly in the spring of that year he started with his entire … Read more

Biography of Thomas Davis

The founders of a state are not merely the men who handle the reins of government and control the public policy, but are also those who carry civilization into hitherto wild regions and develop the natural resources of the state: Such an one is Mr. Davis, who came to Idaho in pioneer days and was the first to establish the fact that this is an excellent fruit-producing region. Thus he introduced a new industry and thereby largely promoted the material welfare of the region. His business interests have ever been energetically and successfully managed and his reputation in commercial circles … 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

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

Mace, Emery A. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Emery A. Mace Dies At Joseph. Emery Alvey Mace passed away September 2, 1960 at his home in Joseph following several months of failing health. Memorial services were Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel, with the Rev. A.L. Kintner officiating. Mrs. A. L. Kintner was organist and Paul Wilkinson, soloist, sang “Beyond The Sunset” and “He Givith More Grace.” Casket bearers were: Hugh Estes, Frank Shevlin, John Baxter, Harry Johnson, Melvin Bue and Guy Mitchell, and internment was in the Enterprise cemetery. Mr. Mace had been a resident of Wallowa County for the past … Read more

Young, Bryce J., Dr. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dr. Bryce J. Young, 73, of College Place, Wash., a former La Grande resident, died Feb. 4, 2004, in an accident while bicycling in Argentina. There was a service for him on Feb. 15 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in La Grande. Dr. Young was born June 3, 1930, to Bryce L. and Marjorie Mallett Young at Glendive, Mont. He graduated from high school in Miles City, Mont., and attended Walla Walla College. He received his medical training at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, Calif., and his eye specialist’s training at White Memorial Hospital in Los … Read more

Batson, Ronald Orville – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ronald Orville Batson, 63, of Walla Walla, Wash., a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 20, 2003, at his home after an extended illness. His memorial service was Friday at Walla Walla. His cousin, Pastor Mouse McKinney, and Pastor Dan Neisner officiated. Ron was born on April 9, 1939, at Cobden, Ill., to Orville Jake and Elma Simmons Batson. His early years were spent at St. Louis, Mo. The family moved to Baker City in 1955. He was a 1958 Baker High School graduate. Ron served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962. He married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Louis La Brache

LOUIS LA BRACHE. – Mr. La Brache was born in Illinois in 1847. His father was at that time a partner with Stephen A. Douglas in the lumber and wood business, taking large contracts. In 1862 he became a citizen of Washington Territory, locating at Walla Walla, and engaging in freighting to the mines. Three years later he was packing from Wallula to Montana. In 1866 he accompanied his father in a tramp throughout the mining districts of Eastern Oregon, and the next year was engaged as government packer in a Nez Perce war. He also served the government in … Read more

Biography of John T. Redman

JOHN T. REDMAN. – The subject of this sketch was born in Linn county, Oregon, January 3, 1856. He is the second son of B.W. Redman, who was a prominent citizen of that county, and a staunch Union man, who upheld the old flag during the early part of the sixties, when it required more than ordinary courage to take that stand. In the great flood of 1861-62 the family lost everything in the way of property, except horses. Early in February, 1862, John moved with his family and settled on a farm near Scio, in Linn county, and there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William H. Bacon

He has the distinction of being one of those who assisted in bringing the wilds of nature to well tilled farms and building thereupon comfortable homes in this section of the county, and much credit is due these worthy pioneers for this praiseworthy work. It is with pleasure that we accord to this gentleman representation in the history of Wallowa County, since he has done much towards the development of the county and the material progress since he has been here. His life of morality and uprightness has been an example in the community where he has resided and his … Read more

Rinehart, Margaret (Martin) Mrs. – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Elgin Pioneer Woman Passes Mrs. Margaret Rinehart Came to Oregon in 1852; Funeral Services at Summerville Elgin, Aug. 27 – Mrs. Margaret Ann Rinehart, Oregon pioneer of 1852 and member by marriage of the famous Rinehart clan, died here at the home of her daughter Mrs. S. A. Chappell Monday, at the age of 72 years. She had been ill but a short time, being stricken after coming here from her home in Walla Walla for a visit. Mrs. Rinehart crossed the plains with her family and settled in Lane county. Following her marriage in 1865 … Read more

Biography of W. H. Mastin

W.H. MASTIN. – As a lien upon the gratitude of his fellow-men, one writes a book, another opens a mine, a third builds a house. Each one may do the work for himself, but nevertheless, in recognition of the wants and needs of others, suiting his operations to their tastes and necessities, and finding his chief satisfaction, not so much in the profit that he reaps from his industry, as from the position which he fills in the world of business and society, making himself, his skill and his work, a necessary part of the great whole. It is in … Read more