Washington County OR

Hoffman, John Edward – Obituary

John Edward Hoffman, 82, of Forest Grove, a former Baker County resident, died Oct. 8, 2002, at Forest Grove. His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. The Rev. Gordon Bond will officiate. Mr. Hoffman was born on June 14, 1920, at Council, Idaho, to George and Jasmine Garrett Hoffman. He was raised at Sparta. He entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Edna Nale on June 25, 1939, at Creswell. They were divorced in 1966. He married Thelma … Read more

Odell, Mabel Esther Wheelock – Obituary

Mabel E. of Beaverton; mother of Charles and Ralph; 3 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren. No services will be held at the request of the deceased. Private inurnment Portland Memorial Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, contributions maybe made to the Tucker-Maxon School for the Deaf. Portland Memorial Funeral Home. Oregonian, September 4, 1978 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Nelson, Harlan, Capt. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Capt. Harlan Nelson, 86, who served with The Salvation Army in Baker City from 1974 to 1978, died Feb. 8, 2006, at the Glisan Care Center in Portland. There was a service of celebration at the Portland Tabernacle Corps. Maj. Dale Hill officiated. Harlan was born on Oct. 9, 1919, in Glenrock, Wyo. After graduating from high school, he married Sybil Putnam. For several years, Harlan co-owned two restaurants in Spokane and then moved to Portland where he opened an appliance repair shop. Later he and Sybil moved to Beaverton where he owned and operated … Read more

Biography of William C. Painter

WILLIAM C. PAINTER. – William C. Painter was born in St. Genevieve county, Missouri, April 18, 1830. His parents, Philip and Jean, lived on a farm; and the early years of William’s life were passed in that home. In 1850 his father started for Oregon with his family of wife and seven children, but died of cholera on the Little blue river. Two of his sons had been buried as they camped by that stream two days before; and only the mother, with her two daughters, Margaret A. and Sara J., and three sons, William C., Joseph C. and Robert … Read more

Rosales, Mary Lou Castillo Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Lou Castillo Rosales, 78, a former longtime Baker County resident, died Aug. 11, 2006, at Hillsboro. Her memorial service was today at the Evergreen Staples Funeral Home in Vancouver, Wash. Mary Lou was born in Anadarko, Okla., on Sept. 3, 1927, to Tomacita Urias and Francisco Castillo. She grew up in Anadarko where she went to school and spent her time with her cousins Mary, Della and Oscar. On Dec. 14, 1943, she married her beloved husband, Manuel G. Rosales, with whom she had six children. In 1954 they packed up their family and headed West, landing at Durkee. … Read more

Homan, Steven Warren – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Steven Warren Homan, 52, of Echo and formerly of Elgin, Enterprise and La Grande, died April 13 at his home in Echo. Services will begin at 2 p.m. April 26 at the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Island City. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Steven was born June 26, 1955, to Arthur Warren and Janet (Moys) Homan in Enterprise. He was raised and educated in Enterprise. After high school, he was a police officer in Enterprise, Elgin, La Grande, Hillsboro and Boulder, Colo., county sheriff’s departments. He moved from La Grande to Blackfoot, Idaho, … Read more

Gurney, Areta Littlejohn – Obituary

Washington Co., OR A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1996, in Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario for Areta Gurney, who died Jan. 6 at age 93. Mrs. Gurney was born Oct. 13, 1902 in Pendleton. She taught high school in Marshfield in the 1920s and grade school during the 1960s. In 1976 she moved from Ontario to Portland. She was a member of the Ontario Methodist Church. Surviving are her son, Norris of Portland and one grandchild. The family suggests remembrances to the American Cancer Society. The Oregonian, January 10, 1996 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Henry W. Beecher

The list of the real pioneers of Wallowa County would be sadly incomplete, as also the enumeration of the leading citizens of today, were there failure to add that of the worthy gentleman, and capable and patriotic citizen, whose name is at the head of this article and who is one of the prominent agriculturists of our county having wrought here since the earliest settlements and in addition to this, he is one of the immortal number who stepped to the front ranks when the call came from Columbia to her sons for strong arms to defend her honor. Mr. … Read more

Stone, Manford Gilbert – Obituary

Manford Gilbert Stone, 73, of Hillsboro, Oregon, passed away today at the home of his son, Robert, in Battle Ground. Born in Springfield, Ill., he came west a number of years ago and to Battle Ground four months ago for a visit with three of his sons, Robert, Russell, and Gilbert. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Fanny Stone of Hillsboro; six daughters, Mrs. Bertie Filer of Twisp, Wash., Mrs. Isabelle Romaine, St. Johns, Ore., Mrs. Margaret Noel, Seattle, Mrs. Mabel Robb, San Francisco, Calif., Mrs. Frances Hipple, Sacramento, Calif., Miss Laura … Read more

Wilson, Martha J. – Obituary

Died at Hillsboro, March 21; mother of Mrs. Maude W. Boscow and Mrs. Mattie W. Imlay of Hillsboro. Services at Donnelson, Sewell Chapel in Hillsboro Wednesday, March 25 at 2 o’clock. Interment Riverview Cemetery. (this is the Martha on the death ceritficate) Funeral Notice – Wednesday, 25 March 1942 – The Oregonian

Biography of Joseph Gaston

JOSEPH GASTON. – Joseph Gaston, the pioneer railroad man of Oregon, was born in Lloydsville, Belmont county, Ohio, in 1833. His ancestors on is father’s side were Huguenots, who were expelled from France by the Roman Catholic King in the sixteenth century, on account of their adhesion to the protestant reformation. They settled first in Ireland, and from thence in 1562 removed to North Carolina, from whence numerous branches of the family scattered out over the United States. William Gaston, the granduncle of Joseph, was chief justice of North Carolina, and for many years member of Congress from that state, … Read more

Biography of Rev. Elkenah Walker

REV. ELKANAH WALKER. – Rev. E. Walker was born at North Yarmouth, Maine, August 7, 1805, and was the son of a farmer. He was brought up in his native place. He was converted when about twenty-six years old, and soon afterwards began to study for the ministry. He took an academic course, but did not go to college, a fact which he afterwards regretted. he entered Bangor Theological Seminary, Maine, in 1834, and graduated in 1837. Having given himself to the foreign missionary work, he was appointed by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to South Africa, … Read more

Biography of Col. T. R. Cornelius

COL. T.R. CORNELIUS. – In view of the prominent part sustained by Colonel Cornelius in the Indian wars of our early history, as well as in our political history since, it seems best to give at length the interesting picture of his connection with those wars. This is done mainly in his own language, and hence preserves the vividness of his own recollections. T.R. Cornelius was born November 16, 1827, in Howard county, Missouri. At an early age he moved with his parents to Arkansas, and in 1845, then a youth of nineteen, came with them to Oregon. The company … Read more

Cole, Erma Willey Mrs. – Obituary

Erma Cole, 95, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 18, 2005, in a care home at Aloha. She was born on Feb. 26, 1909, and was raised at Baker City. She was the 11th child of Eva Lovina and John Dexter Willey. She was a tomboy growing up. She loved reading history and graduated from Baker High School. She met Leonard “Doc” Cole at a Grange Hall dance at Hereford where she was visiting a sister. Doc was working on the highway construction at that time. They were married on Feb. 2, 1929, at his sister’s home in Vale. … Read more

Biography of Werner A. Wrenn

Among the agriculturists and business men of Wallowa County, the subject of this sketch stands as a leader, having manifested capabilities that justly entitle him to that position, while also he possesses an adaptability and perseverance coupled with energy, that have enabled him to handle large interests and manipulate them in a manner that brings success, while also his characteristic integrity and stanch principles of truth and uprightness have given him a prestige enviable and commendable. Mr. Wrenn was born in Benton County, Oregon, on March 3, 1866, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Watt) Wrenn, natives respectively of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Roberts

Among the leading agriculturists of Wallowa County is the subject of this biography, and we are pleased to accord him space in his county’s history, since his capabilities and thrift have given him the need of abundant success, while his moral qualities of worth are displayed constantly and commend him to all lovers of uprightness and truth. In Bates County, Missouri, on March 9, 1844. Samuel was born to Nelson and Jane (Melton) Roberts. His early life was spent in the invigorating exercise of farm work, while also he gained a good education in the public schools of the various … Read more

Taylor, Lyle – Obituary

Lyle L. Taylor, 75, of Vernonia, and former Baker City resident, died April 8, 1999, at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Memorial services will be at 2 pm Sunday, May 2 at the Vernonia Evangelical Bible Church 967 State Street in Vernonia with Pastor Grant Williams will officiating. Interment will be private. Mr. Taylor was born July 14, 1923, in Haines, to Marion Henry and Arila Viola Shadley Taylor. He was raised and received his education in the communities of Haines and Klamath Falls. Mr. Taylor was a member of the Madesi Indian Tribe, a splinter tribe for … Read more

Fowler, J. J. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon W. W. Fowler’s Father Passes Away Suddenly J.J. Fowler, father of W.W. Fowler of Enterprise, died suddenly of heart disease last week in his room in a Spokane hotel. W.W. Fowler was greatly shocked to hear the news on Friday and left at once for Portland, where his father’s body was taken for burial. The father was here in November, leaving on the tenth. He was robust and appeared in the best of health and did not look more than 55 years of age although he was 62. The senior Mr. Fowler was a salesman for … Read more

Biography of Henry Weinhard

Henry Weinhard, the leading and oldest brewer of Portland, was born in Lindenbroun, Wurtemberg, Germany, February 18, 1830. After serving a regular apprenticeship and working at the trade of a brewer in Stutgart and other places in Germany he came to the United States in 1851. He first secured employment at his trade in Philadelphia where he remained a year. He then went to Cincinnati and at the end of two years removed to St. Louis, where he remained until 1856, when he came to California and for a short time was located at Sacramento City. In March, 1857, he … Read more

Biography of Gen. Morton Mathew McCarver

GEN. MORTON MATHEW McCARVER. THE FOUNDER OF BURLINGTON, IOWA, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA AND TACOMA, WASHINGTON,- General McCarver was born near Lexington Kentucky, January 14, 1807. Of an independent, roving spirit, determination, courage and enterprise that knew no bounds, he quit his home at the age of eighteen years and went to Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and not finding anything congenial to his tastes returned and settled in 1830 at Galena, Illinois, where he was married to a Miss Mary Ann Jennings. He served in the Black Hawk war, and after the surrender of the great chief of the Sacs and Foxes, … Read more