Walla Walla County WA

Biography of Isham E. Saling

ISHAM E. SALING. – The gentleman whose name appears above is the leading merchant in the thriving city of Weston, Oregon. He came to his position by that firm and steady application to business which is everywhere the guaranty of success. Mr. Saling is a native of Monroe county, Missouri, and was born in 1830. In 1852 he came to Oregon across the plains. At Salmon Falls on the Snake he exchanged his oxen for horses, packing in from that point to the Jacksonville mines, and remaining in that section until 1855. Coming to Yamhill county he engaged in farming … Read more

Biography of Sidney S. Benton

SIDNEY S. BENTON. – This pioneer of Illinois, California and Washington is one of those facile, multiplex characters that give to our Western life its buoyancy. He was born in the first-named State in 1838, while Chicago was yet in her swamps, and his father was at that city in 1831, when it was a mere Indian trading post, and also at Galena, the home of the Grants, in 1832. His father came out to California with ox-teams amid Indians, and over the usual sage-brush plains, and the iron-stone rocks in 1849. He mined on Feather river in Yuba county, … Read more

Biography of M. J. Morlan

M.J. MORLAN. – This prominent citizen of The Dalles was born in Lake County, Ohio, in 1835. In 1846 he moved to La Salle County, Illinois. In that state his parents were successful in securing good land and in improving their farms; and this was the home of our subject until he attained his majority. With a somewhat limited education, but with abundance of muscle and determination, he began life for himself working as a hired hand on his father’s farm, and saving nearly all his earnings. His innate ambition and desire to reach the higher walks of life induced … Read more

Speelman, Claude L. – Obituary

Claude L. Speelman, 90, of Hermiston, a former Haines resident, died Jan. 30, 2003, at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel of the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home at Milton-Freewater. Pastor Richard Wright will officiate. Private interment will be Wednesday in Mount Hope Cemetery. Claude was born Oct. 27, 1912, at Haines. He was the son of LeRoy and Lela Cross Speelman. He married Janet Pettie at Weiser, Idaho, in 1939. He worked construction and the couple moved a lot when their children were young. He later worked ranches … Read more

Lindley, Ralph – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Ralph Francis Lindley of 701 Sixth Street, La Grande, died Friday, Aug. 13. at St. Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla, Wash. He was 74. Mr. Lindley was born in Flora, March 6, 1908. He was the son of George F. and Ella (Davis) Lindley and he later married Bernice E. Conrad on Sept. 11, 1933, at Enterprise. Mr. Lindley was the Postmaster of Flora from 1935 to 1948. He then came to La Grande where he was custodian for Eastern Oregon State College until retiring in 1972. He was also a member of the Grande … Read more

Beardsley, Larry Eldridge – Obituary

Union County, Oregon Obituary Larry Eldridge “Ty” Beardsley, 70, formerly of the Grande Ronde Valley, died Aug. 15 in Polson, Mont. Memorial services begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Friends may go to www.buffalohillfh.com to post condolences to the family. Ty was born Sept. 17, 1937, to Eldridge and Amy Lou (Holman) Beardsley in Walla Walla. He grew up in Eastern Oregon and married Viola Mae Vanderpool in Lewiston, in 1958. Ty was a farmer and rancher in the Grande Ronde Valley. He moved from the area in 1977 and went to Alaska to work as … Read more

Sample, Lois L. – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Lois L. Sample died at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash., July 9, 1987. She was 65. No funeral services were held at her request. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children or the Elks Eye Clinic through Munsell-Rholdes Funeral Home Chapel in Milton-Freewater. Sample was born in Wallowa to Cecil and Thelma (Crow) Childers, on April 29, 1922. She attended schools in Lostine and Joseph, completing high school at Enterprise in 1940. She moved to Weiser, Idaho following high school graduation and attended the National Youth Business College. She … Read more

Biography of Marcus Whitman, M.D.

MARCUS WHITMAN, M.D. – A volume might be written in regard to the life and death of this man. Hence, in the brief space here given to him, only a synopsis of his life can be given. He was born at Rushville, New York, September 4, 1802, and was the son of Beza and Alice (Green) Whitman. His father having died in 1810, he was brought up by his paternal grandfather, at Plainfield, Massachusetts. There he was converted in 1819; and in January, 1824, he joined the Congregational church at his native place, of which he remained a member until … Read more

Bean, Rufus Eusebeous – Obituary

Rufus E. Bean of Milton, well-known civic and political leader of Umatilla County, died Saturday afternoon [April 5] at a Walla Walla hospital of cerebral thrombosis. Born January 1, 1876 at Virgil City, Mo., he was the youngest of 13 children. After four years of schooling in a one-room school in Michigan, he learned telegraphy at Janesville, Wis., where his teacher was George Parker, fountain pen inventor. He worked as a telegraph operator at Floodwood, Minn., and at Portland. He became and agent for the O.W.R. & N. Company at Milton, and lived in this community for the rest of … Read more

Ransom, Paul E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Paul E. Ransom, 83, of La Grande and formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Aug. 8 at Rose Cottage, an adult care center, in Kennewick. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla. Pastor Roger Holden will officiate. A reception will follow at the funeral home. Paul was born Sept. 30, 1924, to Ernest and Lou Hahn Ransom in Walla Walla. He attended elementary school on Government Mountain then the Forks School on the Walla Walla River. He started high school in Prescott, Wash. His family then moved … Read more

Whitson, Edward N. – Obituary

Edward N. Whitson, judge of the United States Circuit Court of the Eastern District of Washington, died at his home in this city Saturday night, following an attack of paralysis last Wednesday morning. Judge Whitson was born in Salem, Ore., October 6, 1852. His education was received in the public and high schools of that day and in Oregon College. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar. September 3, 1885, he was married to Leora Nellie Bateman at Walla Walla. He lived a large part of his life in the Yakima Valley and was prominently identified with the commercial … Read more

Emele, Donald Franklin – Obituary

Funeral services for Donald “Don” F. Emele, 2750 Myrtle Street, 54, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at The Beatty Chapel. The Rev. James Berentson will officiate with concluding services in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Emele was born May 30, 1914, at Baker, Oregon, the son of Elmer A. and Elsie Sams Emele, and attended schools in Baker. After his schooling, he worked for the Union Pacific R. R. Co., was a truck driver for a Co-op in Walla Walla, Washington, worked in the shipyards in Portland, Oregon, during World War II, and had been an employee … Read more

Biography of Albert Hembree

It is indeed very gratifying to be allowed to epitomize the career of this esteemed pioneer, being, as he is, one of the earliest pilgrims who ever crossed the dreary plains and rugged mountains toward the setting sun; and since that early date he has been identified with the progress and development of the great west, having ever done a worthy share where his lot has been cast. It will be of interest to chronicle some of the more definite details of this life and we note first that Mr. Hembree was born in Tennessee on April 23, 1833, being … Read more

Barnett, Anna Lee – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Anna Lee Barnett Anna Lee Barnett, 81, of Walla Walla and formerly of Enterprise died Sept. 20 at her home. Herring Groseclose Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Barnett was born April 3, 1924, to Bert and Tula Dean Gibson Wingfield in Joseph. She attended high school and married William H. Barnett. They lived in Enterprise where she worked for the First Interstate bank of Oregon for 30 years. She retired in 1986. They traveled for several years before moving to Walla Walla. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, hand work and being with her family. Survivors include … Read more

Loney, Evelyn L. Paul – Obituary

Age 60 years. Home was in Greenacres. Lived there six years. Survived by two sisters, Mrs. Ida Thompson of Spokane and Mrs. Dr. Ridgeway of Olympia; two half sisters, Mr. J. A. Howard of Garfield and Mrs. Louisa Estes of Vancouver, B. C. Funeral Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. from Hazen & Jaeger’s Chapel, the Rev. Dr. S. J. Chaney officiating. The body will be sent to Walla Walla for interment. Spokane Review, February 26, 1930 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Collins, Elmer R. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Elmer R. Collins, of Republic, Wash., died on June 16, 2007, in Renton, Wash. He was 75. Mr. Collins was born in Minam to Lloyd and Irene Collins on Dec. 20, 1931. He attended schools in Enterprise and Milton Freewater. He joined the Army in 1949 and was honorably discharged in 1952 as a staff sergeant. He met and married Kathryn Ann Deaver, in Walla Walla, Wash. and they were married in 1953, where the couple lived for a few years. The couple had two daughters. In 1957, Mr. Collins was hired at the Boeing Company and settled … Read more

Biography of David Diggins

Although the subject of this sketch has not resided in Wallowa County so long as some others, nevertheless, he is one of the earliest pioneers of this section, having braved the dangers and suffered the hardships and deprivations in the fifties to assist in opening this country for the advent of civilization’s march. Mr. Diggins has lived the life of a typical frontiersman and pioneer, and to him and his companions is due the honor and distinction of discovering the leading placer mines of this northwest country, which in fact rivaled any on the Pacific coast, and during these long … Read more

Biography of Michael J. Shields

The life of Michael Joseph Shields affords an illustration of the vicissitudes of business under modern conditions; it emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing at the right time, and it teaches a lesson of patience under difficulties and perseverance against obstacles, a lesson that should not be lost upon all of the many who need it. It is suggestive in another way, too, because it affords an example, in addition to many others that have been given in the past, of the excellent quality of the sturdy Irish-American character. Mr. Shields, who is one of the most enterprising … 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

Winter, Bob – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Bob Winter, 82, of Island City died June 22 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. A memorial will be held at a later date. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Winter was born May, 21, 1924, to Fred and Lillian Klein Winter in Sandoval, Ill. After high school he entered the Army and served during World War II and the Korean War. He married Mae Fetter in Carlisle, Pa. He spent 21 years in the Army and another 21 years as a civilian executive assistant at the Umatilla Army Depot. … Read more