Walla Walla Washington

Burford, Paula Errolo – Obituary

Union, Oregon Paula Errolo Burford, 80, of College Place, Wash., and formerly of Union died Sept. 17 at her daughter’s home. The funeral was held today at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater. Burial was at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery. Mrs. Burford was born March 25, 1926, to Joseph Coleman and Katie Rosilla Deuel Lay in Medical Springs. She graduated from Union High School, and attended Brigham Young University. She moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where she worked for Western Union. On Sept. 16, 1949, she married Clifford Edwin Burford in Los Angeles. They returned to Oregon and lived in Milton-Freewater for … Read more

Slater, E. E. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. E. E. Slater died at her home at No. 807 Penn avenue at 7 o’clock this morning. The first indications of a serious nature were noticeable yesterday evening and a weakened condition of the heart is the supposed cause of death. About a year ago Mrs. Slater sustained a severe injury in a fall, and although having measurably recovered from this trouble it is believed that the injury had some effect in shortening the period of vitality. Mrs. Edna Elizabeth Slater was among the well-known pioneer residents of the Northwest. She was born in East Tennessee October 17, 1835. … Read more

Woods, G. Elaine Joslin Mrs. – Obituary

G. Elaine Woods, 80, of Baker City, a former longtime Richland resident, died Nov. 16, 2000, at Settler’s Park. Her memorial service was last Friday at the Richland Christian Church. Pastor Gordon Bond officiated. Interment of the ashes was later at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Mrs. Woods was born on Jan. 3, 1920, at Boise to John William and Maude Ellenor Boice Joslin. She was raised and educated at Billings, Mont. She met her future husband at a dance in Halfway. She married Orville C. Woods at Walla Walla, Wash., in 1938. The couple had a ranch at Richland … Read more

Hammack, Cornelia Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Hammack Passes At Walla Walla Mrs. Cornelia Hammack passed away October 29th at the Walla Walla hospital, where she had been taken a few days before. Mrs. Cornelia Peden of Weiser, Idaho, was married to the Rev. N.E. Hammack June 16, 1924. After their marriage Mr. Hammack built a nice home on the slope, where they made their home until Mr. Hammack passed away in July 1929. Shortly thereafter Mrs. Hammack moved to Freewater, where she bought a small home. She lived there until shortly before her death. A few months ago, when her health … Read more

Lee, Mary Loney – Obituary

Mrs. Mary Lee, sister of Sam Loney, 10 West Oak Street, died Wednesday [April 1, 1931] at a local hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Lee who was 67, was born September 3, 1864 near the city of Ontario, Canada, came to Walla Walla county in 1882 when she was only 18 years of age. The following year, in 1883, she married Henry Lee, who died October 16, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are still living. She is survived by her sons, Robert E. Lee of Dayton; Roy T. Lee of … Read more

Lay, Roswell LeRoy – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Cove (Special) – Roswell LeRoy Lay, 76, retired contractor and builder and resident of the county for 30 years, died Saturday at Walla Walla after a long illness. Born in Illinois Aug. 7, 1875, he is survived by two brothers, Reuben Daniel, Springfield; Alfred Daniel, Long Beach, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Ivy Feldman, Portland, and Mrs. Bertha Proctor, Cove. Funeral services will be held Wednesday in the Daniels Funeral home with Rev. Clarence Kopp officiating. Burial will be in Cove cemetery. Observer La Grande, Oregon Monday, July 14, 1952 Page 7 Contributed by: Tom Childers

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

Coulter, James – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon James Coulter, several years a citizen of Elgin, but of late years a resident of La Grande, died in that city August 31, 1945, aged 86 years and 21 days. Although his health had been generally failing, due to his advanced years, his final illness was of short duration. Graveside services were conducted at the Elgin cemetery at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, and entombment followed immediately thereafter. Only two direct relatives survive deceased. They are two sons: F. L., of Sisters, Ore., and Jas. J., of Joseph. James Coulter was born at Mulkeytown, Ill., August 12, … Read more

Biography of Benjamin W. Grandy

BENJAMIN W. GRANDY. – Mr. Grandy has had the satisfaction of seeing the place which he homesteaded twenty years ago become a part of the city of La Grande, Oregon. This illustrates the rapid growth of the country. He has great faith in the future of this town, basing it upon the marvelously productive valley eighteen by thirty miles, surrounding and upon the milling and mining interests and the large water-power. He is a native of New York, was born in 1837, but as a child removed with his parents to Ohio, and before he was twenty had penetrated as … Read more

Fagan, T. H. Mrs.

Mrs. T. H. Fagan/Fagin Mrs. Billie Fagin, Joseph Fagin, and Mrs. Ivan Vance went to Wallowa, Friday called by the death of a relative, Mrs. T.H. Fagan, who was a pioneer resident of the Leap country. Mrs. Fagan died in a hospital at Walla Walla and was fifty seven years of age. Mrs. Fannie Dailey returned to her home at Freewater, Wednesday. She accompanied the body of her mother, Mrs. Ella Fagan, from Walla Walla to Wallowa, for burial there last Saturday. Mrs. Dailey has been visiting a sister, Mrs. Reynolds, near Enterprise during the past few days. Wallowa County … Read more

Kuhn, Verna V. Hanby Mrs. – Obituary

Verna V. Kuhn, 87, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 24, 2007, at her daughter’s home in Walla Walla, Wash. Mrs. Kuhn’s funeral will be Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. in the Burns Mortuary of Pendleton. Burial and a graveside funeral service will be Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Visitations will be Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Burns Mortuary of Pendleton. Mrs. Kuhn was born May 5, 1919, in Baker City, the daughter of Joseph and Ethel (McMahon) Hanby. She was raised and educated in … 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

Biography of Judge James H. Fee

JUDGE JAMES H. FEE. – The present judge of the circuit court of the sixth judicial district, although having attained an eminent position is still a young man, having been born in Wisconsin in 1858. His early opportunities were of the best character. At the upper Iowa University of Fayetteville, and at Waterloo, Iowa, he laid the foundations of his education. Coming to California in 1873, he completed his course at San Jose’, and began the study of law, enjoying in his preparatory work the instructions of a priest of that city; and in 1880, at Walla Walla, he concluded … Read more

Harris, Lavelle – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lavelle Harris, 93, of La Grande, died March 9 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. A complete obituary will be published at a later date. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 17, 2007 1913-2007 LaVelle Harris, 93, of La Grande, died March 9. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, with burial to follow at the Union Cemetery. Mrs. Harris was born April 6, … 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

Biographical Sketch of James H. Farley

James H. Farley has led a life of activity and filled with enterprising and various labors, during which, also, he has manifested those rare qualities of integrity, up rightness, and perseverance, which together with his wise methods of procedure and Industry, have given him the competence of a prosperous business man and owner of real property. James H. was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 15, 1858, being the son of Patrick and Catherine Farleu, who settled at Dubuque when it was but a small hamlet, being natives of New York; state. The father served three years in the Civil … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J.T. Willett

Among those who have toiled and continuously wrought for the development of the resources of Wallowa county in the agricultural portion of the population, we may mention the capable and intelligent subject of this sketch, who has demonstrated in the years in which he has been domiciled in our county his fitness to be classed with the representative men of the county and to take rank among the leading ones whose names appear in this compendium of the builders and pioneers of Wallowa County. In Union County, Kentucky, on May 3, 1856, J.T. was born to James M. and Mattie … Read more

Biography of Rev. James Harvey Wilbur

REV. JAMES HARVEY WILBUR, D.D. – It will not be claimed that the plain people, whose lives are briefly recorded in this volume, merit the title of greatness. They were simple honest men who did their duty. They merit a niche in the halls of our history, since it was they who hewed out the stones with which this stately structure has been built. It requires very great qualities to be called great. In many regards, such as self-reliance, ability to live alone with little or no inspiration or motive except such as they found within themselves, the power to … Read more

Forthman, Charles O. – Obituary

Charles O. Forthman died May 12, 2007, at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. He was 85. Mr. Forthman was born in a log house April 21, 1922, in Flora to William T. and Margery M. Ager Forthman. In 1940 he went to National Youth Association School in Pendleton for mechanics in heavy equipment and truck driving. In 1943 he attended five weeks of school for heavy equipment and truck driving. During World War II he was drafted in the Army Air Force and received his honorable discharge in January 1946. Mr. Forthman served … Read more

Biography of Dietrick Kelling

DIETRICK KELLING. – The subject of this sketch, whose portrait also appears herewith, was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1831. In 1851 he came with his thousands of countrymen to New York. Two years later he “moved on” to California. He mined ten years in the golden state, whence he went to Idaho; and from the rocky wilderness in which he there was he came to Walla Walla, Washington Territory. He there invested in two blocks in the then embryo city. This was at that time a supply point for Idaho and British Columbia. In connection with his business there … Read more