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

Westenskow, Ronald W. – Obituary

Formerly of Imbler Ronald Wilford Westenskow, 87, of Walla Walla and formerly of Imbler, died Oct. 24. A private graveside service for family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Walla Walla. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Herring Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A full obituary will be available later. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in care of Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, 99362. La Grande Observer – October 29, 2009 ____________________________ … Read more

Johnson, James “Mike” – Obituary

Wallowa native, James “Mike” Johnson, 69, died October 2, 1988 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. He had been a patient there since May. He was born September 12, 1919 at Wallowa, the son of Charles and Mabel (Fields) Johnson. Johnson attended schools in Wallowa, graduating in 1937. He attended Abilene Christian College in Texas for one year. He served in World War II as a flight navigator on a B-29 in the Army Air Corps. He married Helen Moffit in Wallowa, They divorced. He married Vesta Tippett. They later divorced. Johnson was a logger and … Read more

Biography of Hon. Miles C. Moore

HON. MILES C. MOORE. – The gentleman whose name gives title to this brief memoir was born April 17, 1845, in the little village of Rix Mills, Muskingum County, Ohio, where his well known and widely respected parents resided. When he was twelve years of age, the family removed to Wisconsin, where for six years he attended school at Bronson Institute, a seat of learning conducted under the auspices of the Methodist church. Inspired with a spirit of adventure, through a perusal of the explorations of Bonneville, Frémont and others, and desiring to better his fortune, he resolved to brave … Read more

Gwenn, George M. – Obituary

George M. Gwenn died at the Enterprise Hospital on November 29th, 1917. Appendicitis was the cause of his death. Mr. Gwenn recently moved to a farm near Joseph and came from Walla Walla. He was fifty years of age and leaves a wife and nine children to mourn his departure. The body was sent to Walla Walla for burial on Friday the 21st. Wallowa County Reporter Wednesday, December 5, 1917

Biography of Mrs. Hannah J. Olmstead

MRS. HANNAH J. OLMSTEAD. – Life upon the Pacific coast brings out the heroic qualities in women as well as in men. It is a social and conventional form which keeps them in the shadow of their husbands’ names. But everybody knows that the greater part of the incentive which a man has to win a position or a fortune comes from his wife. It has long been remarked that the women in the immigrant trains showed more pluck than the men; and many a dispirited husband was cheered up and almost carried through by his brave better half. Delicate … 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

Ross, Doris – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Doris Ross, 80, of La Grande died Nov. 18 at her home. A memorial service begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Ross was born Sept. 7, 1926, in Pasco, Wash., to William D. and Lucille C. Skeen Reinhardt. While in high school she was in a violin ensemble that won first place in the state of Washington.She graduated from Pasco High School in 1944. The following year she married Donald C. Ross at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, and … Read more

Taylor, Bob – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Bob Taylor, 73, of Baker City, died Dec. 12, 2002, at his home. At this time no services are planned. Bob was born June 16, 1929, at Walla Walla, Wash., to David Taylor and Mary Ellen Ramsey Taylor Huckins. He lived in many places as a boy. He enlisted in the Air Force when he was 17 years of age, working at the Pentagon most of his service time. After his discharge, he went to barber college, and after graduation he owned barber shops in Coos Bay, Roseburg, Union and Baker City. He also had shops in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Lasater

JAMES H. LASATER. – Mr. Lasater was born on the 19th of October, 1823, in McMinn county, Tennessee. Having reached manhood in his native state, he went to California in 1850. After a short stay there he returned East, taking up his abode in Illinois. While there he devoted himself to the study of the law, and in October, 1853, came to Oregon. Pursuing his law studies, he was admitted to the bar in 1855 at Salem. In the following year he was married to Miss Emily Lendder. In April, 1863, he removed to Walla Walla, Washington Territory; and there … 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

Justice, Ralph – Obituary

Ralph Hendricks Justice, 85, of Walla Walla, Wash., died Feb. 23, 2000, at the Jonathon M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Medical Center in Walla Walla. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center through the funeral home. Mr. Justice was born July 13, 1914, in West Clarkston, Wash., to James G. and Amanda C. Cox Justice. He attended schools in Enterprise and worked in the area after graduating from Enterprise High School in 1932. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and served as an airplane maintenance technician with the Army Air Corps during World War … 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

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 Charles R. Patten

CHARLES R. PATTEN. – It is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant to the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this paragraph a representation in this volume of Union county’s history, since he has labored faithfully here for the advancement of the county and has demeaned himself in such a commendable manner that he has won the admiration and esteem of all who are acquainted with him. Charles R. was born in Walla Walla, Washington, on December 10, 1860, being the son of William H. and Elizabeth A. (Young) Patten, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and … Read more

Biography of John F. Seeber

JOHN F. SEEBER.- Among the now quiet farmers, business men and professional men whose outward appearance and conversation give no hint of stirring adventures and strange experiences, there is frequently one in whom investigation may find a witness to the most novel and thrilling scenes in our early history. Walla Walla, Washington, is somewhat unusually favored with those ancient spirits of the border, now among the most solid and unsensational of her citizens. Among this number is John Seeber. His adventures amid the wild life of the mountains would fill a volume. Born in Fort Plain, New York, in 1837, … 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

Allen, Lloyd – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Last Rites Held For Lloyd Allen Lloyd Allen, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Allen, early pioneers of Wallowa passed away in the Walla Walla Hospital of a heart attack Thursday evening, January 24, 1952. Mr. Allen was born in Wallowa on December 18, 1883 and spent the early part of his life in Lower Valley and Lostine where he attended school and later was in the hardware and furniture business with his brother, Challis. He became a member of the Christian church at an early age. On June 18, 1913 he was united … Read more

Benson, A. F. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Walla Walla, Wash, March 13-A. F. Benson died here last night. He was a native of Kentucky. Mr. Benson came here in 18621 as an emigrant escort and drove a six-mule team from Omaha to Walla Walla, then began freighting. He lived in Union county, Oregon, many years and was treasurer in that county. He was married at Union, Ore., May 11, 1873, to Martha E. Stanton, who survives with two sons and two daughters. The family came to Walla Walla in 1888 and Mrs. Benson engaged in farming until 1909. (Frank Benson was well known … Read more

Baxter, Rex D. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Rex D. Baxter, of Dayton, Wash. died Nov. 16, 2006. He was 55. Mr. Baxter was born Oct. 15, 1951. He graduated from Enterprise High School. He was employed as a Fishery Biologist and worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in Walla Walla, Wash. He is survived by his wife Debbie, daughter Emily, son Steven, mother Marjorie M. Baxter of Enterprise, brothers Greg Baxter of Bend, Gary Baxter of Troutdale and Terence Baxter of Walla Walla, Wash. plus other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at Dayton, Wash. on Nov. 25, 2006. Wallowa County … Read more