Wasco County OR Genealogy – Page 5 of 6

Biography of James Birnie

JAMES BIRNIE. – Mr. Birnie was a Scotchman by birth. He was born at Paisley, county Renfrew, Scotland, in the year 1800. In 1816 the ambitious lad left his native health and emigrated to Montreal, Canada. Here, under the tutelage of a Catholic priest, he studied the French language for about two years, at the end of which time he entered the employ of the Northwest Fur Company as one of its clerks, and was sent across the Rocky Mountains to Fort Spokane, where he arrived towards the close of 1818. The fort at this time was in charge of … Read more

Heller, Donna Marie Wood Mrs. – Obituary

Donna Marie Heller, 75, of Richland, died March 2, 2005, at her home. There will be no funeral. A family gathering will be scheduled later. Donna Marie was born on Dec. 29, 1929, at Wamic to Milo Oliver Wood and Madge Kistner Wood. She was raised and educated at Wamic. At the age of 16 she married Ralph Heller. They had two children, Bob and Judy. During Ralph and Donna’s married life, Ralph worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the Fort Rock Ranger District in Central Oregon. Donna was “everyone’s mother.” She enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, gardening, flowers … Read more

Lee, Joseph Roscoe – Obituary

Joseph Roscoe Lee, resident of Baker county 1904 to 1956, died November 14, at the family home in Forest Grove. He was born March 22, 1880 in Dallas, Oregon, where his father J.D. Lee was born in 1849. J. Roscoe attended Portland schools except enrollment in Independent Academy, The Dalles, 1888-1892, and attended Willamette U. and Capitol Business College, Salem. He was married to Myrtle Guttersen in 1914 at St. Paul, Minn. In Baker county he had a dry good store, farmed in Eagle Valley and in later years ran an insurance agency. His wife was a teacher and co-school … Read more

Biography of Edmond Pearcy

Edmond Pearcy, whose history is one of close connection with the pioneer development of the state as well as its latter-day progress and prosperity was born in Bedford County, Virginia, on the 22d of March 1832, and is of Scotch and Dutch descent. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, and for many years the families were represented in Bedford County. His father, Nicholas Pearcy, was born there, and having arrived at years of maturity he married Rebecca Hardy, a native of Maryland. They became the parents of twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter, and of the number but … Read more

Davis, Wilma D. – Obituary

Wilma D. Davis, 86, of Hood River, a former Northeastern Oregon resident, died Jan. 4, 2005. The family will gather later for burial of her ashes. Wilma was born on April 20, 1918, at Prairie City to Alma Davis and Annie Merle Dalton Davis. She grew up and attended school at Prairie City. She later lived in the Hood River area. Wilma’s dad and his family came from Kansas across the Oregon Trail when he was 5 years old. She is remembered by her family as a very compassionate person who always had a ready smile. Survivors include her brothers, … Read more

Quint, Merle Frances – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Merle Frances Quint, 93, formerly of Union County, died Nov. 17 in Gresham. A private graveside service and burial is planned to take place at the Island City Cemetery. Merle was born Oct. 24, 1914, to Ella Dell Walker and Kenny Worth Smith in Perry. She had six brothers and went to school in Perry, Pondosa and Baker. She graduated from high school in 1932 and graduated from Eastern Oregon College with a teaching degree. Her first teaching job was at Starkey where she had seven students – two girls and five boys. She spent her second … Read more

Watlala Tribe

Watlala Indians. Watlala Tribe. A division of the Chinookan family formerly living at the cascades of Columbia River and, at least in later times, on Dog (now Hood) river about halfway between the cascades and The Dalles, in Wasco County, Oregon. Early writers mention several tribes at or near the cascades, but as the population of that region was very changeable from the fact of its being a much frequented fishing resort, and as many of the so-called tribes were merely villages, often of small size, it is now impossible to identify them with certainty. After the epidemic of 1829, … Read more

Wilson, Ernest – Obituary

Ernest Wilson, of Celilo, Oregon, Shot Himself October 17th. The Republican last week noticed briefly the death of Ernest Wilson, age 36, of Celilo. He was a brother of our citizen, B.F. Wilson, and was born in Cove. He leaves a wife and three children. From Judge B.F. Wilson, who returned from Celilo Saturday, we learn that it was probably a case of suicide, though there was no apparent reason for such an act, the business and family affairs of Ernest Wilson being in harmonious and satisfactory condition. The funeral took place Saturday at Celilo. Ernest Wilson has been in … Read more

Bork, Ivan Richard – Obituary

Ivan Richard Bork, 84, a resident of The Dalles, since 1966, died at a local care center on Saturday, July 21, 2001. He was born May 30, 1917, in Flora, Oregon, the oldest of eight children to Ira H. and Lora (Moys) Bork He was the grandson of early Wallowa County pioneers, Rudolph and Bertha Bork, who came from Germany in 1885 and settled in Wallowa County as United States citizens in 1891. Ivan was married to Leola Surber on June 23, 1940, in Enterprise, by the same Justice of Peace, A.B. Conway, that had married their parents, Ira and … Read more

Shull, Vernon E. – Obituary

Haines, Baker County, Oregon Vernon E. Shull, 88, died April 9, 2006, at his home in Haines. His graveside memorial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Haines Cemetery. Chaplain Assistant Sgt. Daggett from the La Grande Armory will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Haines United Methodist Church. Vernon was born on Dec. 26, 1917, and raised at Glen Elder, Kan., the sixth of eight children of James and Sarah Shull. After eight years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he settled in Oregon with his … 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

Williams, Ellen Planer Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ellen Williams, 80, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 27, 2002, at Meadowbrook Place in the presence of her family. There will be a celebration of Ellen’s life beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor John Goodyear of the Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Elkhorn Athletic Club, 1243 Second St. Ellen was born on March 21, 1922, at Minot, N.D., to Millie Gaslin and Orville Planer. Ellen grew up at The Dalles. She graduated from The Dalles … Read more

Biography of Hon. Zenas Ferry Moody

HON. Z.F. MOODY. – Zenas Ferry Moody, ex-Governor of the State of Oregon, was born on the 27th of May, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts. His father was Major Thomas H. Moody. His mother was Hannah M. Ferry, an aunt of ex-Senator T.W. Ferry, of Michigan, formerly vice-president of the United States. Governor Moody comes of good old New England Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Gideon Moody, having borne arms as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. He has proved himself worthy of his lineage; and the principles which he imbibed on New England soil have been the guide of his whole … Read more

Bork, Ivan Richard – Obituary

Ivan Richard Bork, 84, of The Dalles, a former Baker City resident, died July 21, 2001, at a care center in The Dalles. There will be a graveside committal service at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in The Dalles. His memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Solid Rock Community Church of God at The Dalles. The Rev. Ken Post and Ellie Sutter will officiate. Mr. Bork was born May 30, 1917, at Flora. He was the oldest of eight children born to Ira H. and Lora Moys Bork. He was the grandson of early … Read more

Horn, Sandra G. – Obituary

Sandra G. Horn, 69, of Elgin, died Feb. 20 at St. Vincent Hospital in Beaverton of cancer. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday at the Elgin Christian Church, 1335 Division St. in Elgin. The Rev. Steve Kirkeby will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial luncheon and celebration of life directly following the services at the Elgin Community Center, 260 N. 10th Ave. Sandra was born Jan. 31, 1939, to Pete and Pearl Wood in Gold Beach. She graduated from Bandon High School in 1958. She worked at … Read more

Jones, Robert Paul – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Robert Paul Jones, 60, of North Powder, died Dec. 28, 2002, at his home. A vigil service for Mr. Jones will be Friday at 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. in Baker City. Funeral Mass will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in North Powder. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will celebrate. Vault interment will be at the Haines Cemetery following the service. Robert was born March 30, 1942, in Tulsa, Okla., to Jess and Gertrude (Shutler) Jones. He was raised and … Read more

Biography of James M. De Moss

JAMES M. DE MOSS. – This well-known musician of Eastern Oregon was born at Greensburg, Indiana, May 15, 1837. As a child he removed to Iowa with his parents, and in that state was reared, receiving his higher education at Western College. At eighteen he became a teacher of music, and three years later was married to Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Reverend Henry Bonebrake. He spent his early manhood as an exhorter in the United Brethren church. In the great patriotic meetings held during the days of the Civil war by Honorable Henry Wilson, and others, he was appointed … Read more

Varney, Inez Lavera – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Inez L. Varney, former resident of Enterprise, died March 15, 1980 at the Dalles General Hospital, The Dalles, Oregon. She was born Jan. 12, 1922 in Enterprise, Oregon and married Otis Varney on December 23, 1941. She attended the Enterprise Community church and was a member of the Lay Elks, BPOE #1829. she received her 20 year pin from the Eagle Cap Auxiliary Post #4307,VFW. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 18. Burial was in the Enterprise cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Otis of Troy; a son, Dennis L. Varney of Selhah, Washington; a daughter, Donna Aschenbrenner of … Read more

Boydstun, Ramona Lee “Mona” Harlin Mrs. – Obituary

Ramona Lee “Mona” Boydstun, 62, of The Dalles, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 4, 2005. A family service will be scheduled later. There was a private cremation at Win-quatt Crematory. Interment was at The Dalles Threemile Odd Fellows Cemetery. She was born on Oct. 18, 1942, at Denver, the third of four daughters born to Carl Robert and Sybil Grace Wayman Harlin. She grew up in Baker City and was a 1960 Baker High School graduate. She married Robert Boydstun on June 12, 1960, at Baker City. They had lived at The Dalles for 35 years. Mona was … Read more

Biography of Hon. R. O. Dunbar

HON. R.O. DUNBAR. – It is not always an enviable distinction to be made eminent for political preferments. The exceptions are in the cities where office is held as the currency of political services, and as the opportunity for public plunder. In the smaller communities, however, where personal acquaintance extends to all citizens, and an honest public spirit precludes fraud, one may well feel pride in that confidence of his friends in his ability and probity which selects him as a public servant. Preferment at the suffrage of the citizens of a place like Goldendale, noted for its correct sentiment … Read more