Death records for Baker County Oregon

FIVE MEN ROASTED ALIVE
Portland, Or., July 30-The county jail at Baker City, Oregon, was burned Wednesday morning and five prisoners cremated alive. A sixth was severely scorched. One of the prisoners complained of feeling sick, and the jailer stepped across the street to a drug store to get medicine. A moment later the alarm of fire was given. The building was of wood and the fire spread very rapidly. The doors were broken open, but the flames and smoke drove the crowd repeatedly back. With great difficulty Fred Winkelman, the half witted murderer of Allen Rivers, was dragged from his cell insensible and badly burned. The five other prisoners in the jail were abandoned to their fate. The names of the victims are Louis Miller, George Plumb, Samuel Brown, William Lamb, and John Cooley the confessed murderer of James Lavery. Every appearance indicated that the jail was set on fire by Winkelman, doubtless to make his escape during the excitement.

The Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia Ohio August 6, 1885

©Shauna Williams

Aline (Pratt) Kesterson , 90, of Twin Falls, Idaho, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 24, 2002, at Bridgeview Estates. Visitations will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Aline was born on Sept. 19, 1911, at Greenfield Tenn. She married Luther Kesterson in Poteau, Okla., and they lived their early married years in Muse, Okla. Aline’s job was being a housewife and raising their two daughters, Norma Sue Griffith and Janice Faye Henderson. After their daughters were grown, she worked as fill-in at the school cafeterias in Halfway. She was also a child care provider in Baker City.
Their daughter, Norma Sue Kesterson Griffith, was born in Muse, Okla. In 1942, Luther, Aline and family moved to Wright City, Okla., where Luther worked as a saw filer. Their daughter, Janice Faye Kesterson Henderson, was born there.
Aline and Luther moved to Pondosa where Luther worked as saw filer; the family lived there for several years until the mill at Pondosa closed down. Aline so enjoyed Pondosa because it was a wonderful community. Aline moved with Luther to Halfway where Luther worked as a head saw filer at the mill in Halfway until his retirement. Luther and Aline retired in Baker City and lived there from 1970 to 1996. Aline had a great love for Baker City. In May 1996, Luther and Aline moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, to be near their daughter, Janice Henderson. February 2000, Luther and Aline moved to Bridgeview Estates Assisted Living after living with their daughter for about four years. Luther died April 13, 2000. Aline adjusted to life without Luther, but never got over missing him. Aline enjoyed going fishing with Luther and one of their favorite places was up toward Cornucopia, above Halfway. They did some camping along with their fishing with their good friends and Aline’s sister, Opal, and brother-in-law, Henry. Aline loved playing card games and Aggravation with their Baker City friends. Aline also enjoyed groups at Bridgeview including Exercise Class, Current Events, and she was a regular at the bingo games. Aline was active in the Methodist Church while living in Baker City and she attended church while living in Twin Falls at the Twin Falls Reformed Church. She also enjoyed attending Sun Shine Circle. She had some lovely friends while living at Bridgeview. Aline was a wonderful mother and wife and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Cooper Pratt; her mother, Mary Aletta Patterson Pratt; a brother, Robert Pratt; sisters, Lillian Pratt, Ruby Lynn McCadams and Opal Bowling; brother-in-law, Fred Kesterson; and her husband of 64 years, Luther Albert Kesterson.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Sue and Paul Griffith of Renton, Wash., and Janice and David Henderson of Twin Falls, Idaho; sister-in-law, Ethel Fagan; six grandchildren, Karen Aline Bakken, Janet Frampton, Kelly Griffith, Marcie Dawn Bennett, Arnold Wright Mason III, and Ramona Aline Henderson; nine great -grandchildren, Jennifer Bennett, R.J. Bennett, Kyle Bakken, Amanda Bakken, Adam George Griffith, Nicole Griffith, Nathaniel Frampton, Eleanor Louise Frampton and Madelyn Frampton; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions made be made to the United Methodist Church in Baker City; Twin Falls Reformed Church, Twin

©Christine Walters

Luther Albert Kesterson
Luther Albert Kesterson, Age 91, a former Baker City (Baker Co OR) resident, died Thursday, April 13, 2000, in Twin Falls, Idaho. His funeral was April 19 in the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church officated, vault interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Kesterson was born Aug. 5, 1908, in Gillham, Ark., the son of James and Mary (Martin) Kesterson. He married Aline Pratt in Poteau, Okla., and they lived their early married years in Muse, Okla. He worked as a railroad foreman and later began his career as a saw filer, in Muse. Their daughter, Norma Sue Kesterson Griffith was born in Muse. In 1942, he moved his family to Wright City, Okla., where he continued work as a saw filer. There, their daughter Janice Faye Kesterson Henderson, was born. Mr. Kesterson was then offered a job in Pondosa as head saw filer and the family moved there and lived for several years until the mill in Pondosa closed. He then went to work as a saw filer at the mill in Halfway until his retirement. Mr. Kesterson and Aline retired in Baker City and lived here from 1970-1996. He had a great love for Baker City. He enjoyed fishing anywhere where fishing was good. He especially enjoyed fishing up toward Cornucopia, above Halfway. His other passions included playing card games and Aggravation with their Baker City friends. In 1996, they moved to Twin Falls to be near their daughter, Janice Henderson. He was a wonderful father and friend and he loved his dog, "Max."
He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife, Aline Kesterson of Twin Falls, Idaho; daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Paul Griffith of Renton, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Janice and David Henderson of Twin Falls; half-brother, Fred Kesterson; half-sister, Ethel Fagan; six grandchildren, Karen Aline Bakken, Janet Frampton, Kelly Griffith, Marcie Dawn Bennett, Arnold Wright Mason III, and Ramona Aline Henderson; and nine great grandchildren, Jennifer Bennett, R. J. Bennett, Kyle Bakken, Amanda Bakken, Adam George Griffith, Nicole Griffith, Nathaniel Frampton, Eleanor Louise Frampton and Madelyn Frampton. He was preceded in death by his parents and a half-sister. The family suggests memorial contributions to the United Methodist Church through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home.

Record Courier; Baker City, OR; 20 Apr 2000

©Christine Walters

Horse thieves were on the 3d supposed to have murdered Louis Rivers and E.A. Allen, wealthy stockmen and old residents in the Baker City (Oregon) section.

The New Era, Humeston Iowa June 11, 1885

©S. Williams

Cy. Tolman, formerly of Winnemucca and more recently of Tuscarora died of dropsy at Baker city, Oregon, last week.

Reno Evening News, Reno Nevada August 13, 1884

DIED IN BAKER CITY, OREGON
Former Resident Passes Away in the Far West
Mrs. Victor Gross is in receipt of a copy of the Baker City, Oregon, Democrat of July 29, containing a very brief announcement of the death of her niece, Mrs. Mary Simonis McHugh, who was born in this county 53 years ago and who was married here to a Mr. McGovern. They went west almost immediately after their marriage and Mr. McGovern died there some years ago and his widow after married Mr. McHugh. She leaves a husband and four children by her first marriage. She died very suddenly of neuralgia of the stomach on Friday, July 27, at her home at Burnt River, near Baker City.

August 11, 1906 Stevens Point Journal, Stevens Point Wisconsin