Biography of Henry H. Abernathy

There are few of the representative and respected men of Idaho whose residence in the state antedates that of Mr. Abernathy, who came to the territory thirty-seven years ago and has been identified with the development of the Salubria valley since 1868. The old Indian trails, the uncultivated lands, the unopened mines and the uncut forests then to be seen, all told that the work of civilization lay in the future, and the subject of this review has been one of the advance guard that has carried forward the work of progress and improvement until Idaho is, indeed, the veritable … 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

Miglioretto, Victor “Abie” – Obituary

Victor “Abie” Miglioretto, 88, died July 27, 2007, at the Weiser (Idaho) Rehabilitation and Care Center. There will be dinner and celebration of his life at 1 p.m. PDT Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Huntington Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall. Those attending are asked to bring stories to share. Abie was born at Huntington on Aug. 11, 1918. He was the ninth child of 12 born to Italian emigrants, Teresa and Antonio. He grew up on a homestead on the Idaho side of the Snake River (the present site of Steck Park) and at Huntington where his father owned a … 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

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

Nevins, Francis – Obituary

A long time Baker resident, Francis Joseph Nevins, 78, 1602 Broadway, died suddenly Thursday morning at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Recitation of the Rosary will be conducted at Sunday evening at 7:30 at Gray’s West and Company Pioneer Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a. m. Monday, January 4, at St. Francis Cathedral with the Reverend Calvin E. Schwenk officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Nevins was born in Weiser, Idaho on Feb. 14, 1892. He is the son of John J. and Julia A. Barrett Nevins. He was educated in Weiser … 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

Biography of E. M. Barton

There is probably no better criterion of the growing and prosperous condition of a town or city than its hotel interests. The town which is self-centered, having no connection with the out-side world, is unprogressive, its business stagnates, and its residents become lacking in enterprise, but if connected with outside affairs, travel and commerce add new life and energy, and there is a demand for entertainment on the part of the visitors, which makes good hotels a necessity. One of the most popular hostelries in this section of the state is known as the Weiser Hotel, owned by the Barton … 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

Uhrig, Albert Glenn – Obituary

Albert Glenn Uhrig, 81, of Elgin, died Oct. 6, at his home on Stubblefield Mountain of natural causes. Services were held Oct. 10. Glenn was born May 12, 1926, to Albert and Ethel Seay Uhrig in Weiser, Idaho. He was the eldest of four brothers. Glenn was a veteran of the United States Army, serving his country during the later years of WWII in Korea. Glenn married Ruth Elmer on April 7, 1973, in La Grande. They made their home on the Uhrig Family Ranch on Crane Creek, east of Weiser, Idaho. Glenn was a vital part of a successful … Read more

Biography of Augustus G. Upton, A. M., D. D.

Although Dr. Upton has been a resident of Weiser for little more than three years he has been so closely and prominently connected with the educational and moral interests of the town during that time that no history of the community would be complete without the record of his career. It is a widely acknowledged fact that the most important work to which man can direct his energies is that of teaching, whether it be from the pulpit, from the lecture platform or from the schoolroom. Its primary object is ever the same, the development of one’s latent powers that … Read more

Hopper , Julius Roland – Obituary

Huntington, Oregon Julius Roland Hopper, 80, of Huntington died Aug. 28, 2004, at his home. There will be a potluck to celebrate his life from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Friday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall at Huntington Julius was born on July 3, 1924, at Weiser, Idaho, to Ira Melvin Bogue and Elizabeth Avaline Queen Hopper. In 1925, the family moved to their “Lost Watch Ranch” in the Mountain View district, 20 miles out of Huntington. To attend high school, Julius moved in with the Sumner family in Ontario, on the Oregon Slope, and worked for his … 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

Biography of Joseph R. Numbers, M. D.

A member of the medical fraternity of Weiser, Washington County, Dr. Numbers was born in Lexington, Ohio, May 30, 1864, and traces his ancestry back to some of the early colonists of Pennsylvania, who were of German lineage. His father, Esau Numbers, was born in the Keystone state, November 1, 1816, and became one of the pioneer farmers of Ohio, whither he removed in 1840. He married Miss Anna Smith, of western Ohio, and to them were born eight children, but only three are now living. Their eldest son, William Numbers, died in the service of his country in the … Read more

Biography of Isaac F. Smith

Isaac F. Smith, of Weiser, who is serving as clerk of the district court and ex-officio auditor and recorder of Washington County, was born in Butte County, California, on the 28th of July, 1854. His father was born in Ohio. July 27, 1823, and married Miss Josephine C. Whitaker. In 1849 they crossed the plains with ox teams to California, bringing with them their firstborn. Walter W. Smith, who is now a resident of Washington County, Idaho. The father engaged in mining on Feather River for a time, and in 1854 removed to Nevada and thence to Utah, remaining in … Read more

Howland, Lawson A. – Obituary

Lawson A. Howland, 86, died Jan. 25, 2003, at the Weiser Rehabilitation and Care Center. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Cambridge, Idaho. Burial will be at Salubria Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. Lawson was born and raised in Cambridge, Idaho. He attended grade school and high school in Cambridge and graduated in 1934. He lived with his parents on the family farm along Pine Creek about four miles northwest of the city. He was very active in sports throughout his childhood, competing in basketball, … Read more

Keithey, Keith Carol – Obituary

Keith Carol Keithley, 76. formerly of Midvale, passed away on Saturday, June 18 in Moses Lake. Washington. He was born at Weiser on June 28, 1928 to Claude F. Keithley and Agnes Pickett Keithley. He grew up on a ranch west of Midvale, graduating from Midvale High School in 1945, after which he attended the University of Idaho at Moscow. Keith married Phyllis “Sue” Lesh in Weiser in 1950. They ranched in the Midvale area and later lived in Halfway and Baker City. They had three children, Colleen, Chip and Jay. Keith and Sue were divorced after 15 years of … Read more

Kelley, Marjorie R. Chambers Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Marjorie R. Kelley 81, a long time resident of Baker City died Sunday December 22, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At her request cremation was held; a celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Mrs. Kelley was born March 20, 1921, at Baker City to Edgar W. and Iva May Best Chambers. She was raised and educated at Baker City. She married Roy D. Kelley at Weiser, Idaho, on May 21, 1938. She lived and worked at the Fremont Power Plant until going to work in the shipyards while her husband was … Read more

Jones, Pearl Rose Hayden Mrs. – Obituary

Pearl Rose Hayden Jones, 88, a lifetime Eastern Oregon resident and former contributor to the Baker City Herald, died April 23, 2006, at Idlewood Manor in Baker City. At her request there will be no funeral. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. There will be a memorial service in her honor, tentatively set for June 18 in Baker City. Details will be announced later. After cremation, her ashes will be scattered over the sage hills where she spent hours of recreation, the same hills that were the background to her life. Pearl was born on March 19, 1918, … 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