Biography of Hon. John B. Allen

HON. JOHN B. ALLEN. – “I think Walla Walla is destined to be the central and commercial city of that large area of country in Eastern Washington lying south of the Snake river, and of much of Eastern Oregon. Probably no city of its population in the Northwest equals it in wealth. It is just now emerging from years of transportation extortions, which few other regions could have borne. Competitive systems will infuse new life to every industry, and stimulate the developments of resources heretofore lying dormant.” This is the horoscope of the young city as cast by Mr. Allen; … Read more

Osterman, Dorothy L. Inskeep Mrs. – Obituary

Dorothy L. Osterman, 91, a resident of Sunridge Retirement Community in Pendleton died Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 in Pendleton. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Evergreen Memorial Park in McMinnville. Vault interment will be afterward. Mrs. Osterman was born Sept. 12, 1911, at McMinnville. She was a daughter of Oliver Warren and Dora Ellen Leach Inskeep. Her great-grandfather owned the stage stop at Jordan Valley. She was raised and educated at McMinnville. She started working for Macy & Son Funeral Home part time during high school. Upon graduation, she went to work full time at Macy’s. … Read more

Purinton, Louise – Obituary

Louise Alice Purinton of Newberg died December 20, 2001, at the age of 87. Louise was born the daughter of William Edward and Mary Elizabeth (Stills) Cooper in Troy on February 19, 1914. Louise came from a family of six girls and three boys, growing up and attending school in the Wallowa County area. In 1930 Louise was married to Dwight Warren Purinton and they made their home in Troy and Lostine, where she worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Dwight preceded her in death on March 27, 1975. For a short time she lived on the Oregon Coast and … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Rufus King

Among those granted representation in this volume, none is more worthy of notice, than the subject of this sketch. As a public spirited citizen he enjoys the confidence of the people and has become well and popularly known, not only throughout Malheur and adjoining counties, but throughout the whole state. On October 3. 1864, near Walla Walla. Washington, David R. King and Elizabeth (Estes) King, became the parents of a boy, whom they named William Rufus. His parents were pioneers of Walla Walla, Washington. Arriving from Arkansas in 1860 his father being captain of a large immigrant train, crossing what … Read more

Bean, Robert Sharp, Judge – Obituary

Judge Robert Sharp Bean of the federal court for the District of Oregon, nationally known for his judicial mind died suddenly of a heart attack at 6:30 o’clock this morning [January 7, 1931] at his home, 1620 Briar Place. He was 76. Shock of the death was doubly felt in that it was so unexpected. According to a member of the family, Judge Bean, on retiring last night, was as well as he had ever been. He retired about 11 o’clock, Mrs. Bean said. Shortly before 6 a.m. today he arose complaining of a slight stomach ailment. He was somewhat … Read more

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

Biography of Rockey P. Earhart

The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin County, Ohio, on the 23td day of June, 1837, and came to Oregon by way of the Isthmus of Panama, in 1855. Educational advantages were offered him in select schools in his native State, where he gained a thoroughly practical business training. Upon arriving in Oregon, and incidentally meeting with some of the public officials of the day, his superior clerical abilities were very soon recognized, and he received the appointment of clerk under Captain (now General), Robert McFeely, U. S. A., and Quartermaster P. H. Sheridan, then a comparatively unknown … Read more

Biography of J. R. Bayley, M.D.

J.R. BAYLEY, M.D. – Doctor Bayley, to whom has fallen an unusual portion of public labor and honor, was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1820. His mother dying, he was cared for by his grandmother, through whose liberality he received an ample education. In 1839 he moved to Clay county, Missouri, but two years later returned to Ohio, and in 1847 began the study of medicine in South Charleston with Doctors Skinner and Steele. He also attended the medical school at Cleveland in 1849, and the next year studied at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati. Upon graduating from this … Read more

Conaway, James B. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Wallowa County native James B.” J.B.” Conaway, 74, died Monday, April 10, 1989, in McMinnville. He was born Oct. 10, 1914, in Enterprise, the son of A. Barry and Edna (Browning) Conaway. He was raised and educated in Enterprise. On Aug. 28, 1938, he married Violet Varney in Joseph. Conaway was a grade school principal in La Grande before moving to McMinnville in the early 1950s, where he was principal at the junior and senior high schools. He also taught at Linfield College. He moved to Anchorage Burrough, Alaska, in 1969, and served as director of … Read more

Barron, Zellar Ann Heaton Mrs. – Obituary

Zellar Ann Barron, 98, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 28, 2006. Her graveside funeral was Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. She was born on April 14, 1908, at Crossville, Ala., to William and Cordillia Camp Heaton. She was educated at Wynn, Ark. She moved to Baker City in 1936. She married Robert Barron on Dec. 23, 1946, at La Grande. She cleaned houses, painted houses, did wallpapering and worked for the Oregon Trail Motel for 22 years. She then cared for elderly people in their homes for a number of years. She retired and moved to McMinnville in … Read more

Polvi, Allan “Al” – Obituary

Allan “Al” Polvi, 66, died Nov. 9, 2005, at his home at Walla Walla, Wash., after a long battle with cancer. At his request, there will be no service. Inurnment will be at Hopewell in July 2006. Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Cremations & Funeral Services, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, Wash., is assisting the family with cremation arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Regional Cancer Center or Walla Walla Community Hospice, through the funeral home. For condolences or additional information the family may be reached through this email address: nanpolvi@bmi.net. Mr. Polvi was born on Jan. 31, … Read more

Biography of Daniel Chaplin

DANIEL CHAPLIN. – The subject of this sketch was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1823. He was educated in his native place, and became a surveyor, removing to Michigan. Honest, upright and much respected, he was one of those men of broad ideas and indefatigable energy who create prosperity for any community in which they settle. Having heard much of Oregon, its boundless resources and delightful climate, he crossed the plains in 1854, settling near Champoeg in Marion county. From there he moved to where Sheridan, in Yamhill county, now stands, and thence to Dayton, Yamhill county. In … Read more

Biography of James L. Story

JAMES L. STORY. – Mr. Story, the present mayor of The Dalles, Oregon, and a lawyer of leading character, is one of the Oregon educated men of whom the state has reason to be proud. He was born in Missouri in 1845, but at the age of eight years came with his parents across the plains to Oregon. The first home was on the Willamette river among the groves of maple and magnificent cottonwood trees where is now situated the little town of Lincoln. In 1854 he removed to McMinnville, and at that place, in 1864,enlisted in the First Oregon … Read more

Biography of Albert L. Alderman

ALBERT L. ALDERMAN. – The pioneer experiences of Mr. Alderman are not exceeded in interest by those of any of the early settlers. Born at Old Bedford, Connecticut, and taken as a child to Wyoming county, New York, where he lived until twenty-one years of age, he set out at the age of twenty-four upon the career that did not end except upon the Pacific coast. He was at Bradford, Pennsylvania, for a time with an uncle, and in 1845 came out to Quincy, Illinois, and that same winter made up an outfit for coming to the mythical Oregon. At … Read more

Schuchardt, Kenneth D. – Obituary

Kenneth D. Schuchardt, 74, of McMinnville, Ore., a former longtime Baker County resident, died Nov. 2, 2007, at the Willamette Valley Medical center in McMinnville. He had lived at Oakwood Country Place care home for almost a year before entering the hospital. Arrangements for cremation will be by Crown Memorial Center in Tualatin. At his request, there will be no funeral. Ken was born in September 1933 at Oakdale, Neb., to Raymond and Ada Schuchardt. His family moved to Oregon when he was small. He was barber at Lafayette for several years and then moved to Sumpter. He operated Ken’s … Read more

Fullerton, Jay, Jr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Jay Fullerton Jr., 83, died Nov. 29, 2004 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise due to injuries sustained after a fall. A graveside inurnment was today at Mount Hope Cemetery. Truscott Irby of the American Legion officiated. There was a reception afterward at the family’s home. Jay was born on Oct. 11, 1921, at Springbrook to Jay and Mae Fullerton. In his early years, Jay attended school at Newberg and Pendleton. He went to work laying asphalt airstrips in Baker City, where he met his wife of 62 beautiful years, Louise McCarthy. Louise and Jay were married … Read more

Biography of Gen. Joel Palmer

GEN. JOEL PALMER. – There have been few men in Oregon more universally respected, or whom the people have more delighted to honor, than General Palmer. A plain, unpretentious man, who assumed absolutely nothing, he was nevertheless conscious of his superior abilities, and had no hesitancy in assuming commensurate responsibilities. For natural capacity and sagacity in great affairs, he ranks with the first men of our state, such as General Lane, Colonel Cornelius, Judge Kelly or Governor Gibbs. He reckoned himself as a New Yorker, both parents having been natives and residents of that state, although at the time of … Read more

Long, Wendy Marie – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Wendy Marie Long, 41, of Baker City, died July 1, 2003, at her home. An informal memorial service will take place Saturday, July 12, at 10 a.m. at her home for anyone who wishes to attend. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Wendy was born Chicago, and lived in the Detroit, Mich., area until moving to Middleton, Idaho. She attended Middleton High School and was a champion gymnast and member of the American Honor Society. She received an LPN license from Boise State University. Wendy married and moved to McMinnville, where she received an … Read more

Biography of Sarah Fairbanks King

SARAH FAIRBANKS KING (Mrs. S.A. King). – The annals of Oregon women, who performed the hard duties incident to pioneer life faithfully, patiently and well, contain no name more justly honored, or more tenderly cherished, than that of Sarah Fairbanks King. Mrs. King was a native of New York, having been born in Potter, Cayuga county, October 12, 1834. While yet in her infancy, she was taken by her parents to Michigan, then scarcely more than an outpost of Western civilization. Here she grew to womanhood, developing traits of gentleness and devotion to duty that were the distinguishing characters of … Read more

Biography of Philip F. Castleman

PHILIP F. CASTLEMAN. – Those who now make the trip in the palatial car across the continent from the populous cities and thickly settled districts of the union, and view the Pacific Northwest in its present development, can but faintly realize the dangers and privations the sturdy pioneers experienced in reaching here, nor yet understand the troubles they had with the red man who then roamed its confines at will, and knew no law save what pleased the savage heart the best. They often meet among its residents not a few upon whom the snows of many winters have fallen, … Read more