Washington

Biography of J. P. Comeford

J.P. COMEFORD. – The original owner and builder of the pretty village of Marysville is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1833. While he was a child, his parents emigrated to Canada, and in 1849 came to the United States, going directly to Wisconsin. They resided first at Milwaukee, and then at Fond du Lac, and seven years later removed still farther west to Minnesota. Here he grew up on a farm, driving cattle and learning all the ins and outs of agriculture. In 1861, when the war broke out, he went to St. Louis and joined an … Read more

Biography of Francis H. Cook

FRANCIS H. COOK, – Mr. Cook was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1851. He went with his parents to Iowa at the age of twelve. His father was a farmer, and have his attention to agriculture and to sawmilling; but it was decided to make a printer of the boy. He was accordingly apprenticed to work at the cases in the office of the Harrison County Union, a paper owned and edited by Judge Henry Ford, who was also sitting on the bench of the northwest district of Iowa. The journal changed proprietors quite frequently, young Cook remaining through the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles P. Cooke

HON. CHARLES P. COOKE – The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Erie county, Ohio, in 1824. His early life was spent in his native place. In 1846 he went as a volunteer to the Mexican war, and served as second lieutenant in the first regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He was in the army a full year, and participated in the engagements at Monterey, Buena Vista and other bloody battles of that war. He then returned home, but in the spring of 1849 left for the Pacific coast, crossing the plains with ox-teams … Read more

Biography of Henry Martyn Chase

HENRY MARTYN CHASE. – This gentleman was born March 28, 1831, in Philadelphia, from whence he moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1844. He is a descendant of Aquila Chase, one of the early settlers of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and also directly descended from the famous Hannah Dustin, who killed her Indian captors in the Indian war of 1689. Mr. Chase sailed from Boston for California January 11, 1849, in the brig Forest, and arrived in San Francisco July 6th of the same year. He earned his first money there by painting a ship. In August, 1849, he sailed for Oregon in … Read more

Biography of Cyrus F. Clapp

CYRUS F. CLAPP. – This leader in the business circles of the Lower Sound was born in Piscataquis county, Maine, July 29, 1851, and was the son of Stephen and Alvina Hunt Clapp. He lived in Maine until 1865, receiving the foundation of an education at the public school and continuing his studies at Hanover Academy of Massachusetts. Still ambitious for further acquirements, he crossed the Atlantic and spent two years at the Royal Institute of Belfast, Ireland, and completed his course at Saint Andrews College in Scotland. Returning to his home in America, he soon found a business situation … Read more

Biography of T. J. V. Clark

T.J.V. CLARK. – Mr. Clark, a portrait of whom will be found within these pages, is a man substantial and popular, greatly given to building up the city of his residence, and always inventing ways and means of increasing the quantity and variety of products in the surrounding country. Yakima county owes much to him for the introduction of the new grains and new machinery; and not only has he brought there improved products and methods to the notice of the farmers, but has paid them for their crops, thus giving them substantial encouragement. He is the true merchant, whose … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fred D. Cleaves

FRED D. CLEAVES. – Although among the young men, Mr. Cleaves has for a number of years held responsible public positions. He was born in Stockbridge, Wisconsin, in 1852, residing in that village and at Fond du Lac until ten years of age, and coming in 1864 to this coast with his father’s family. Here is one of the few cases in which we find one of the early settlers returning to the East. After a year’s residence at Whidby Island, and two years at Albany, Oregon, the elder Cleaves recrossed the plains to his old home in Wisconsin. The … Read more

Biography of Hon. Harrison Clothier

HON. HARRISON CLOTHIER. – The subject of this short sketch was born in Corinth, Saratoga county, New York, on the 9th of July, 1840, and is the son of Ebenezer K. and Lucy Clothier. He remained in the place of his birth until 1868, with the exception of three years spent in New Jersey and in Troy, New York. Then he put into execution the advice of Horace Greeley, and emigrated to Wisconsin. After a short time there he journeyed on to Minnesota, where he devoted his time to farming in the summer and teaching in the winter. In 1872 … Read more

Staab, Belva Harriet Scott Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Belva Harriet Staab, 94, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 8, 2003, at Bothell, Wash., where she was a resident of the Franciscan Health Nursing Home. Disposition was by cremation at Acacia Memorial Park Funeral Home in Seattle, Wash. Her memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Belva was born Jan. 5, 1909, to David and Harriet Scott of Ansley, Neb., where her family lived for many years. She was preceded in death by her brothers, George and Henry Scott; and … Read more

Holman, Vivian D. Harrison Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vivian D. Holman-Harrison, 83, of Baker City, died April 28, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services with her two children by her side. At her request, there will be no service. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Vivian was born at Bremerton, Wash., and raised at Portland with her two sisters, Evelyn and Margaret. Vivian’s life as a young girl was anything but ordinary (just like her). With a fun-loving, seam-stress/dancer mother, who immigrated from Hungary, and a father who had come from Germany, Vivian was taught to go after her dreams and passions … Read more

Bork, Rita Joylean Mrs. – Obituary

Rita Joylean Bork, 67, a former area resident, died April 1, 2003, at Oroville, Wash. Her memorial service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at McEwen Bible Fellowship in Sumpter Valley. Friends and family are invited to a potluck after the service. Rita was born April 19, 1935, at Dayridge, near Flora. She married Bernard Murphy at age 17. Rita became a Christian when she married Bernie. They had five children. Rita lived at Halfway, Baker City and Sumpter before moving to Oroville, Wash., four years ago. Survivors include her children, Earl Murphy of St. Helens, Audrey Murphy Handyside of … Read more

Robinson, Stanley Newton “Newt” – Obituary

Stanley Newton “Newt” Robinson, 61, died April 19, 2003. Graveside services will be held Friday at 2 p.m., in the Richfield, Idaho, Cemetery on East Hwy 26. Pastor Gene Kissinger will officiate. Visitations will be held Thursday at Farnsworth Mortuary, 1343 South Lincoln in Jerome, Idaho, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Stanley was born Feb. 28, 1942, at Richfield, Idaho, to Willett “Slim” Robinson and Velma C. Githens Robinson. He attended school in Richfield. He married Merlene Bell and they raised their two children while living in Moses Lake, Wash. They were later divorced. He married Anna in Reno, … Read more

Biography of A. H. Chambers

A.H. CHAMBERS. – This wealthy and influential resident of Olympia is a native of Washington Territory, and a son of one of the earliest pioneers, his parents having crossed the plains to Oregon in 1844. Andsworth was born near Olympia, at Chambers Prairie, June 25, 1851. He began his career at the early age of twelve as a herder of stock, and continued in this business until nineteen years of age, acquiring thereby a knowledge of life and of practical affairs which has been of great value. At the above age, in partnership with his father, he successfully established a … Read more

Biography of William M. Chandler

WM. M. CHANDLER. – It is a lamentable fact that quite a large percentage of the young men born in Oregon within the last thirty years have not taken advantage of the opportunities by which their early life has been surrounded. The defects of education or character have made them idlers, or have caused them to waste in dissipation or distraction the time which might have been employed in fitting themselves for our great future. Mr. Chandler, of whom we present a portrait in this history, is not one of these. He belongs to that other class which is not … Read more

Biography of William H. Chapman

WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN. – Upon entering this city and examining the business houses, one will not only note the handsome buildings devoted to the drug business of Allen & Chapman, but be deeply impressed with, and almost astonished at, the indications of the immense business of this firm, which speaks eloquently of the large and growing community with whom they do business, and proves the frequent assertions which one hears that they conduct the largest trade in heir line in Yakima county. We give a view of the interior of their store; and, to those who may think that North … Read more

Roumpf, Betty Chadsey Renfrow Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Betty Chadsey Roumpf, 87, a former longtime Baker City resident and community volunteer, died April 7, 2003, after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease for more than a decade. She was lovingly cared for by many compassionate caregivers at St. Aidan’s Place in Portland and by Sandy and Dave Renfrow of Hammond. At her request, there will be no service. Arrangements are under the direction of Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary at Astoria. She was born on April 10, 1915, at Los Angeles to Orville and Amy Chadsey. She was one of four children. She attended elementary school and high school … Read more

Jones, Janis M. Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Janis M. Davis Jones, 65, of Haines, died March 24, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At her request there will be no services. Mrs. Jones was born Nov. 1, 1937, at Forks, Wash., to Ed and Doris (Jones) Davis. She received her education in North Powder, and graduated from McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater. She loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and all outdoor wildlife. She loved all animals and was a loving and caring mother. She made friends with everbody she met. She will be missed by all. Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband, Ed Jones … Read more

Ingram, Jewell L. “Judy” Connor Mrs. – Obituary

Jewell L. “Judy” Ingram, 74, a former Baker City resident, died July 8, 2003, at Creston, British Columbia, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Precht Harrison Funeral Home in Okanogan, Wash. There will be a graveside service after the funeral. A dinner will be served at noon at the Okanogan Senior Center. Judy was born on Nov. 26, 1928, at Christopher, Ill., to Barton Edward Connor and Roxie Gulley Connor. She had 10 brothers and sisters. She worked and lived in Chicago during World War II. She traveled to … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Catlin

HON. JOHN CATLIN. – Mr. Catlin is of New England and Scotch stock. His father, Seth Catlin, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from there emigrated with his father and an only sister to the State of Illinois, about the year 1812. His mother came with her parents from Scotland to America when but twelve years of age; and her father, James Ridpath, settled with his family in Randolph county, Illinois, in 1818. His parents were married in the year 1831, and located on a farm at Turkey Hill, St. Clair county, Illinois, where their first child, John Catlin, the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Elisha P. Ferry

HON. ELISHA P. FERRY. – Mr. Ferry was born at Monroe, Michigan, August 9, 1825. He studied law there and at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar in 1845 at the age of twenty years. In 1846 he removed to Waukegan, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. He resided at Waukegan until July, 1869, when he removed to the territory of Washington. He was the first mayor of the city of Waukegan. In 1852 and in 1856 he was presidential elector for the district in which he resided. He was a member of … Read more