Weiser Idaho

Shephard, Wallace D. – Obituary

Wallace D. Shephard, 82, of Ontario, a former longtime Baker City resident and well-known chef, died Sept. 22, 2001, at an Ontario hospital of natural causes. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m. PDT at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Shephard was born Nov. 13, 1918, at Baker City to Delbert W. and Cordelia Yeager Shephard. He married La Neva E. Scott on June 20, 1937, at Klamath Falls. The couple returned to Baker City soon after their marriage and remained here until 1964. Mr. Shephard … Read more

Biography of L. A. York

The present popular editor and proprietor of the Owyhee Avalanche, at Silver City, Mr. L. A. York, is a native of Lewiston, Maine, born March 13, 1866. His parents were Jerome W. and Martha (Read) York, both natives of that city, and his father of Scotch ancestry. The first representatives of the family in America settled in Maine very early in its history. On the maternal side this ancestry is English, traceable back to Sir John Read, an English nobleman born in the year 1600. Mr. York’s father died in North Dakota, in 1894, at the age of sixty-five years; … Read more

Kilborn, Barney E. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Barney E. Kilborn, 85, of Baker City died Feb. 7, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At his request, there will be no service. Barney was born to Lloyd and Ethel Knowles Kilborn at Weiser, Idaho, on June 10, 1918. He was raised in the Weiser area. Growing up in the Snake River Basin, he developed a long-term love of hunting and outdoor activities. During World War II, Barney worked on the railroad, which eventually brought him to Eastern Oregon where he lived in the La Grande area. In 1946, Barney married and moved to Redmond where … Read more

Biography of Thomas M. Jeffreys

Thomas M. Jeffreys, probate judge and superintendent of public instruction in Washington County, Idaho, is a native of Oregon, his birth having occurred in Yamhill County, on the 7th of April 1852. His father, Woodson Jeffreys, was born in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1825, and in early manhood, in Oregon, married Jane Forrest, also a native of Missouri. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1845, being nine months in accomplishing the long and weary journey across the plains, their way being beset by many obstacles, difficulties and dangers. They located on government land in Yamhill County, and during the … Read more

Hill, Maggie E. Marx Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Maggie E. Hill, 82, a longtime Baker City resident, died Nov. 10, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her graveside funeral was at 1 p.m. today at the Rosedale Memorial Park Cemetery at Payette, Idaho. Bishop Dick Hindman of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiated. Mrs. Hill was born on Sept. 17, 1919, at Moroni, Utah, to James R. and Mary E. Daniels Marx. She married Chester W. Hill at Weiser, Idaho, on Dec. 3, 1938. They lived at Weiser where she was a homemaker until moving to Baker City in the late 1960s. … Read more

Biography of William F. Sommercamp

William F. Sommercamp, the leading merchant of Weiser, Idaho, is a native son of the golden west. He was born in California, February 16, 1860, and comes of German ancestry. His father, William F. Sommercamp, was born in Germany and when a young man emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, where for a time he followed his trade, that of confectioner. Subsequently he married Miss Mary Slack, of Zanesville, Ohio, and shortly after their marriage they removed to California, where he engaged in mining. In 1864 he came over into Idaho and became one of the prominent miners and … Read more

Obituary of Donald R. Orr

Donald R. Orr, 64, of Baker City, died July 19, 2008, at Boise. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Keith Chadwell will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St. Donald was born on Aug. 14, 1943, at Torrance, Calif., to Joe and Ina McNeal Orr. He graduated from high school at Bakersfield, Calif. He married Sharron Kohl in June of 1974 at Weiser, Idaho. Don spent the majority of his working career outside doing various types of logging. Over a 30-year … Read more

Biography of James Colson

One of the respected pioneer farmers of Salubria is James Colson, who came to Idaho in 1864, and has since been engaged in stock raising. He was born in Ripley county, Indiana, October 23, 1834, a son of John and Polly (Allen) Colson, the former of whom was a farmer in Kentucky, moving to Iowa in 1850, where he was successful as a business man and landowner. He died at the advanced age of seventy years. To him and his wife were born eight children, three of whom survive. James Colson was reared on his father’s farm and received his … Read more

Houser, Melvin Earl, Sr. – Obituary

Melvin Earl Houser Sr., 74, of Nampa, Idaho, formerly of Huntington and Baker City, died July 14, 2003, at his home. His graveside service will be at 11a.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N. Midland Blvd., Nampa. Melvin was the son of Wallace and Della Lane Houser. He was born on May 6, 1929, at Weiser, Idaho, and educated in Huntington. Mel joined the U.S. Navy on Sept. 12, 1950. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 26, 1952. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a … Read more

Kiser, Howard – Obituary

Lostine, Oregon Howard C. Kiser, 78, of Lostine died June 22 in Union. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Lostine Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Kiser was born July 27, 1927, to William and Agnes Olson Kiser in Weiser, Idaho. He attended Weiser schools, and worked for the ranchers on Mann Creek. He served in the Army during World War II. In May 1956 he married Nancy Thorson in Weiser. He worked for the Weiser Flour Mill before moving to Lostine 30 years ago. Twenty- two of those years … Read more

Barnhart, Larry Lee – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Larry Lee Barnhart, 52, of Denver. Colo., and a former Halfway resident died on April 9, 2004, after a three-year battle with leukemia. At his request cremation was held and there were no formal funeral services. Larry was born Sept. 1, 1951, in Weiser, Idaho, to Wesley Barnhart and Natalie Joy (Patrick) Barnhart. At the age of 12 he moved with his parents to Halfway. He graduated from Pine Eagle High School in 1969. He then spent 10 years in the Air Force, then settled in Denver where he went into business as a computer consultant and Data … Read more

Shumway, Letha M. Laxson Mrs. – Obituary

Letha Shumway, 91, of Baker City, died Feb. 1, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Ed Niswender of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Coles Funeral Home. Letha M. Laxson Shumway was born on June 10, 1914, to Jess P. and Susie Mae Laxson at La Grande. As a girl, she spent time at Cambridge and Weiser, Idaho, and at Mount Vernon and Baker City. She lost three brothers in a house fire at Weiser, … Read more

Gentry, Wanda L. Coffinberry Mrs. – Obituary

Wanda L. Gentry, 83, of Ontario, who with her husband established the Gentry Ford Sales dealership, died July 27, 2005, at her home in the Meadow Brook Retirement Center. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Ontario. Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Wanda was born on March 18, 1922, at Portland to Walter B. and Verna D. Coffinberry. The family lived at Portland until 1926 when they relocated to Hot Lake and subsequently moved to Halfway in 1928. Wanda was a 1940 Halfway High School graduate. She moved to Portland … Read more

Hoffman, Leona Maxine Cartwright Mrs. – Obituary

Leona Maxine Hoffman, 80, of Ontario, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, at a Boise hospital. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Park Community Church, Highway 201 and Holly Road on the Oregon Slope across from Vern’s Market. Ed Renk will officiate. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery. There will be a dinner afterward in the Park Community Church basement. Visitations will be Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ontario Lienkaemper Chapel, 78 N.W. First Ave. Maxine was born Sept. 5, 1921, at Rye Valley to Elsie and Alvin Cartwright. She lived at … Read more

Biography of Columbus M. Hixon

Many articles have appeared in the press of our land on the “corruption in politics.” but, while this may be found to some extent in the largest cities, the majority of our American citizens are too practical and public-spirited to wish to entrust their affairs in unscrupulous hands, and especially in the selection of one to manage the financial interests do they show great discrimination in choosing a man of known integrity and unimpeachable honor. It was these qualities which secured to Mr. Hixon election to the responsible position of county treasurer of Washington County. His record in the walks … Read more

Biography of Sylvester Werneth

Sylvester Werneth came to America from the Fatherland. He was born in Germany, on the 29th of December, 1856, and when eight years of age crossed the Atlantic with his parents, the family locating in Wisconsin, whence they afterward removed to Springfield, Illinois. In the capital city of the Prairie state he acquired his education in the public schools and was there reared to manhood. When about sixteen years of age he entered upon an independent business career, learning the brewer’s trade, at which he worked in St. Louis, Missouri, and in California. In 1886 he came to Weiser, Idaho, … Read more

Shephard, La Neva E. Scott Mrs. – Obituary

La Neva E. (Scott) Shephard, 89, of Ontario, died May 7, 2005 in an Ontario assisted-living facility. Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. (MDT) at the First United Methodist Church in Ontario. The Rev. Linda Tucker will officiate. A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. (PDT) at Mount Hope Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Lienkaemper Funeral Chapel in Ontario. La Neva was born July 10, 1915 to Herbert H. and Myrtle F. (Powell) Scott in Oroville, Wash. As a small child she moved and eventually settled with her family in Baker City, where she … Read more

Biography of Frank Harris

Hon. Frank Harris, the leading lawyer of the bar of Weiser, and a member of the state senate of Idaho, is a native of California, his birth having occurred at Placerville, on the 20th of June. 1854. He is the second in order of birth in a family of seven children, whose parents were William and T. E. (Saltzman) Harris. The Harris family is of English descent and was founded in Virginia in colonial days. William Harris, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion, and when the Revolutionary war was inaugurated aided in the struggle for … Read more

Scheloske, Edgar Albert – Obituary

Baker City Edgar Albert Scheloske, 79, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 22, 2006, at Ontario. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Thomason Funeral Home in Weiser, Idaho. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser, Idaho. He was born on Jan. 20, 1927, at Weiser, Idaho, to Albert Antone and Addie Rose Glascock Scheloske. He was their fourth child, born after three older sisters: Helen, Georganna, and Maxine. He was known as “Buster” to his family. He was raised on a farm at Weiser and at the family sawmill on Stacy/Manns Creek above Weiser. He … Read more

Biography of John Graham

JOHN GRAHAM. – The well known gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph is both a reprsentative business man and farmer of Union county, his estate being four and one-half miles east from Elgin, where he has made a comfortable showing, while also he has dealt in real estate in this section and others, manifesting a keen judgment and practical ability that have won success. On May 24, 1853, John Graham was born in Davis county, Iowa, being the son of Jackson and Martha Graham, who were among the brave and devoted band of pioneers that crossed the dreary plains and … Read more