Samuel K. Loney, 82 years old and resident of Walla Walla County since 1879, died at noon Saturday [February 1, 1941] at his home, 6 ½ North Second Avenue, following a serious illness of two weeks and a much longer period of ill health.
Born near Guelph, Ontario, close to Toronto, December 28, 1858, he was the oldest son in a family of 10 children. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Loney, native of Ireland who had migrated to Canada and eventually came to the United States.
Samuel Loney completed his schooling in Canada and worked on his father’s farm until he was 18. In 1879 he came to this country and before the year was ended had located in Walla Walla. He followed farming as a wage worker for a number of years. Then in 1892 he started in the wood and coal business, first as agent for the Roslyn Mining Company and afterwards on his own account. Later he had Starr Sherman as a partner and finally sold his interest to his partner and retired.
He took up a homestead and timber culture between Mill Creek and Dry Creek in 1881 and when he had made final proof on these, he filed on a preemption in Umatilla County, Oregon. He afterwards sold all three of these claims and bought 537 acres on Mill Creek four miles west of Walla Walla which he had since farmed raising mostly wheat.
He was married in Walla Walla in 1894 to Miss Sarah Hastings, who died about six years ago. Two children born to them are also dead. Immediate relatives are two granddaughters, Misses Charlotte and Sarah Ellen Loney, whom Mr. and Mrs. Loney adopted upon the death of their mother, and the following brothers and sisters: W. D. Loney of Lowden, Mrs. Robert Potts of Sprague, Charles C. Loney and Mrs. Clarence Ramp of Walla Walla and Mrs. W. D. Paul of Tacoma.
Loney belonged to Enterprise Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Moose Lodge and was also active in several farm organizations, having been on the board of the Walla Walla National Farm Loan Association ever since its organization.
Walla Walla Union Bulletin, February 2, 1941
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman