Baker County Oregon Sketches

Sydney Abell, Justice of the Peace opened the first legally constituted court in Baker County, October 29th 1862. The first case was that of the people vs. D. Scott, action to bind defendant to keep the peace, entered on complaint of Thomas Ricketts. The prosecuting witness failed to appear and the case was dismissed. Of the thirty-two cases docketed up to January 1st, 1863, there were four of the kind above cited, three suits about town lots in Auburn, Fifteen to recover money, five replevin cases, one unlawful detention, one felonious intent to cheat, one petty larceny, one assault and … Read more

Kinnison, Joseph P. – Obituary

Baker Pioneer Dies At Long Beach, California. Built the First Cabin in Baker County on Site of the John Steiger Farm, Wingville Joseph P. Kinnison one of the earliest settlers of the Powder River valley died at his home in Long Beach, California, after a long illness caused by paralysis. Mr. Kinnison was well known in this part of the country having built the first cabin in Baker County on the site of the John Steiger farm at Wingville and residing in this community many years. He was born in Missouri and was 83 years of age at the time … Read more

Ficklin, Fetna Ann – Obituary

At the residence of her daughter Mrs. Kennison, at Wingville, Oregon, August 24, 1890 after an illness of fifteen days, Mrs. Fetna Ann Ficklin, aged 70 years. Deceased was born February 22, 1820 in Boyle Co., Kentucky, moved to Missouri in 1853 (?) and from there to Union Oregon in 1864. With her husband and family she made Union her home until the death of her husband, which occured February 13, 1889, since which time she has been stopping with her children. She leaves eight children to mourn her loss. The remains were brought here Monday and interred in the … Read more

Gover, Vester W. – Obituary

An illness of only a few days Tuesday afternoon claimed the life of Vester William Gover, 47, farmer of the Wingville district for 20 years. Mr. Gover was stricken with what was later diagnosed as a rupture of a major artery which caused abdominal and circulatory complications. He was born Sept. 17, 1909 in New Bridge, the son of David S. and Pearl L. Thorp Gover. He attended schools at the Baker Academy, at Sunnyside and Richland high school. He was married Nov. 18, 1933 at Weiser to Delora Funk. Mr. Gover had farmed at Wingville for the past 20 … Read more

History of the First Baptist Church, Baker City Oregon

The first Baptist church in Baker City was organized December 7, 1874, Rev. L. H. Boothe was chairman of the meeting and Prof. S. P. Barrett clerk. The members present were Hardin Estes, Perlina Estes, Arthur Smith, Mary Kilbourn, Samuel Gaines, Mary Gaines, Prof. Barrett, Mary Barrett and Delazon Smith. Prof. Barrett served as clerk until July 1875, then Arthur Smith about two years, followed by F. Baird for four years. Mrs. F. E. Small was chosen clerk March 15, 1884, and was succeeded by Wilbur Finch April 20, 1888. Frank Baird was clerk from February 1889 to March 1890, … Read more

M’Quowen, Mary

Mary M’Quowen Dies At Age Of 90 Years Had Lived in Oregon Practically All Her Life and Passes Away at Wingville. Mrs. Mary McQuowen, an old resident of Wingville, died at the place this morning at 4 o’clock, aged 90 years. Mrs. McQuowen had lived in Oregon practically all her life, having resided in Wingville for many years. She leaves two sons and two daughters, all residents of Oregon. The funeral will be held from the Wingville Church Thursday afternoon at 1 o’clock. The Baker Herald – – January 15, 1918.

McEwen, Martha Anne – Obituary

Martha Annie McEwen, 89, died Saturday evening at her home in Wingville after a long illness. She was born Dec. 27, 1883, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of William A. and Lucinda Elliott. She moved to Auburn with her parents in 1884, and later came to Baker Valley where she lived the remainder of her life. She was married in August, 1879, to John Behan, and to them were born four daughters, one of whom preceded her in death. She was married to March 18, 1904, to Willliam McEwen. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Addie Thomason, Mrs. Leilath Boyce … Read more

Baker Valley Oregon Churches

Ministers of various denominations visited Baker County and held meetings at different places, but no one was a resident minister within the county prior to 1868. The Rev. Ellsworth, of La Grande, came to Powder River Valley frequently in 1864-5, and later Elder Newton of the Methodist church, south, held meetings, frequently at Auburn and in the valley. The Rev. Koger of the Baptist church preached at Wingville a number of times, but the Methodist Episcopal church was the first to appoint a resident pastor and hold regular services. The following sketch of the work of the church was kindly … Read more

Jarman, Emery T. – Obituary

E. T. Jarman Was Early Day Butcher Graveside services for Emery T. Jarman, 85, Haines, were conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday August 16, at North Powder Cemetery. The Rev. Robert McNiel, officiated and interment was under the direction of The Beatty Chapel. Friends contributed to the Baker County Tuberculosis Assn. in lieu of sending flowers. Mr. Jarman passed away Sunday August 13 at St. Elizabeth hospital after a long illness. Mr. Jarman was born November 11, 1881, at Marvin, Kansas, the son of Jake and Mary Ellen Ward Jarman and left there with his parents in May, 1882, in a … Read more

Cockram, Annette Joe Grabner Mrs. – Obituary

Wingville, Oregon Annette Joy Grabner Cockram, 63, a longtime resident of the Wingville area, died May 16, 2001, at her home surrounded by many of her family, after a courageous 17-month battle with cancer. Her graveside funeral will be Monday at 3 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor John Cockram of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Ariz., will officiate. Vault interment will follow. Mrs. Cockram was born April 3, 1938, at Baker City to Kenneth and Norma White Grabner. She grew up in Ironside, going to school there until the eighth grade. She moved to Baker City in … Read more

Leigh, Elaine Betty “Hap” Lewis Ingram Mrs. – Obituary

Elaine Betty “Hap” Leigh, 84, of Baker City, who was nicknamed “Happy” by a close friend, died May 5, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Monte Loyd of Harvest Church will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the home of Bill and Cindy Leigh. Elaine was born on April 27, 1921, at Wingville to Percy Huston Lewis and Thelma Alice Petersen-Lewis. She was born a twin with Adele Lewis-Williams. She lived most of her life in the … Read more

Cockram, Fred Joseph – Obituary

Wingville, Oregon Fred Joseph Cockram, 64, a longtime Wingville dairyman and rancher, died July 27, 2002, at his home, surrounded by many of his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. His graveside funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor John Cockram of Prince of Peace Lutheran church in Phoenix, Ariz., will officiate. Vault interment will follow the ceremony. Visitations will be Wednesday from 10 a.m. until noon at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Fred was born March 20, 1938, in Baker City to Ernest and Berniece Cockram. He attended schools in Baker and … Read more

Gover, Delora F. – Obituary

Delora F. Gover, 79, a former Imbler and Baker County resident who taught school for many years in Eastern Oregon, died Thursday in Provo, Utah. A graveside funeral for Mrs. Gover will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Eagle Valley Cemetery at Richland. Visitations for Mrs. Gover will be until 9 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker. Mrs. Gover was born on Feb. 15, 1910, in Imbler to William Arthur and Zelma Annie Westenskow Funk. She spent her childhood and attended school in the Baker area. She attended college at the University … Read more

McQuowen, Thomas – Obituary

Wingville, Baker County, Oregon Death Summons Wingville Man Thos. McQuowen Spent All of Life North-West of Baker Thomas McQuowen of Wingville died suddenly this morning at the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Annie McQuowen, where he had made his home for the last 22 years. Born August 4, 1864, in the Pocahontas region, Mr. McQuowen, who was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jake McQuowen, Baker county pioneers, who came to this region via an oxen train in 1862, had lived in the Wingville and Pocahontas districts all of his life. He was engaged in farming. Mr. McQuowen … Read more

G. Roger Turner – Obituary

Obituary of G. Roger Turner, age 68, of Baker City, Oregon, who died Nov. 19, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.

Manners, Rachel C. Buchanan Crimin Mrs. – Obituary

Rachel C. Buchanan Manners, 85, of Ontario, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 9, 2000, at Ontario. Her graveside funeral was Tuesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church officiated. Mrs. Manners was born and raised in the Wingville and Pocahontas areas where she met and married James Crimin. She later married Howard Manners and lived at North Powder where he taught school for many years. Survivors include her son, Robert Crimin of Aztec, N.M.; three grandchildren, Randy Crimin of Utah, Shelly Daws of Fruitland, Idaho, and Scott Crimin of Weiser, Idaho; and … Read more

McCulley, Suzanne L. Jenkins Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Suzanne L. Jenkins McCulley, 93, of Baker City died Feb. 14, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. At her request, there will be no service. Her family will scatter her ashes in her beloved Eagle Mountains later. Suzanne was born on Nov. 8, 1908, the 15th child of George W. and Lillian Shea Jenkins. She grew up on a farm in Baker County and attended Baker schools. She married F. Ward McCulley in 1928. They lived in many towns in Oregon throughout their married life. Suzanne graduated from Eastern Oregon Normal School (now Eastern Oregon University) … Read more

Rush, George H. – Obituary

Auto Accident Well Known Man Killed at Railroad Crossing G.H. Rush, building contractor, was instantly killed when his auto was struck by train No. 21 a mile this side of Wingville Thursday evening. Wm. Hernsen of the Shockley Lumber Co. who was in the car with Mr. Rush is recovering at a Baker hospital. There seems to have been no witnesses to what transpired immediately before the accident. It is not known whether the car stalled on the track or an attempt was made to cross ahead of the train by too narrow a margin of time. The body of … Read more

McQuown, William – Obituary

Rancher Is Victim Of Heart Disease William McQuown Falls Dead in Hay Field Near Wingville Special to the Herald) Wingville, Aug. 13-William McQuown, aged 60 years, and a well known Wingville rancher, fell dead suddenly stricken with heart disease this morning as he was stooping to drink from a bucket. He was working in the field bucking hay and had gone over to a haystack to get a drink. Mr. McQuown is survived by his wife, a young son, Oral; a sister, Mrs. John Hammond; two brothers, Thomas and Alex McQuown, and his mother, who is 90 years old. Funeral … Read more

Nichols, Robert – Obituary

Resolutions of Condolence  WORTHY MASTER: – Your committee appointed to report resolutions expressing the sentiments of the Grange in regard to Brother Robert Nichols, late member of our order, who by a sudden and severe stroke was changed from the fullness of life and health to the cold stillness of death in a very few minutes, beg to submit the following: Brother Robert Nichols was born in the State of New York: was at the time of his death which occured on the evening of the nineteenth of May, 1877, about fifty-three years of age has been connected with the … Read more