Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon
Pioneer Of Imnaha Passes To His Rest
Benjamin Marks Settled On River In 1889 And Always Loved Canyon
Died, March 9, 1923, at his home on Imnaha. Benjamin Marks, aged 83 years, 1 month and 25 days.
Mr. Marks had been in fair health this winter the rather feeble and inclined to rest and sleep a great deal. Thursday he was about, as usual, eating dinner and then taking a nap. He said he did not care for supper and retired rather early.
At the family bedtime he was seen to be sleeping peacefully but when they rose in the morning he was found to have passed quietly into the great beyond. There was no sign of suffering but a look of peace as though he had slipped into another world quite without conscious struggle.
The remains were buried beside his wife who had died in December, of 1915. When Mrs. Marks died, the bereaved husband requested that burial be made on the home place that he might still be near the faithful wife of his youth. There they sleep on a hillside overlooking the home they made together and loved.
Benjamin Marks was born in Jackson County, Missouri, January 14, 1840. When a lad of thirteen, he came with his parents by ox team to Lynn County where the family settled. He afterward lived in other parts of Oregon but in 1889 settled on the Imnaha where he lived until the time of his death.
On January 21, 1866, Mr. Marks married Miss Elizabeth Nye, also a pioneer of Lynn County. To this union fourteen children were born, ten of whom are living. Three died in infancy and one was drowned in Snake River.
The eldest son, Thomas Marks, resides in Joseph but the remaining members of the family all have homes on the Imnaha River. Two sons remained on the home ranch and a widowed daughter was housekeeper.
Mr. Marks raised one of the most wonderful gardens on the river and it was the pride of his life. After he became too feeble to do all the work he still spent many happy hours there. He also had a fine orchard where many luscious fruits were grown.
Benjamin Marks was an honest upright citizen who had the respect and admiration of all who knew him. His sons were trained in those qualities which go to make up the true American and his daughters are splendid homemakers. What more can be said of a man and wife! Their children are their memorial. And to the sturdy descendents of these true Americans it is given to carry on.
Enterprise Record Chieftain, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday, March 15, 1923 Front Page.
Contributed by: Marylyn Schwartz