Charley, Bogus An Oregon paper reports the death, by consumption, of Bogus Charley, the accomplice of Captain Jack in the Modoc War and killing of General Canby. He died at La Grande, Oregon, having started from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to visit his sister in Lewiston, in Indian territory. Source: The Burlington Weekly Hawkeye (Burlington, IA) - December 16, 1880 Contributed by S. Williams

Slater, James YESTERDAYS Today's Anniversaries 1899-James Harvey Slater, former U.S. senator from Oregon, died at La Grande, Ore. Born in Sangamon county, Ill., Dec. 28, 1826. Source: Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, OH) - January 28, 1926 Contributed by S. Williams

Bushman, Berton Bushman, Clinton Foley, John Foster, Leroy Myrick, Robert BOYS BURN TO DEATH. La Grande, Ore.- Five boys burned to death when their automobile struck a culvert and caught fire. Victims were Berton Bushman, 15; Clinton Bushman, 17; John Foley, 17; Leroy Foster, 16; Robert Myrick, 13. All lived at Perry. Source: Evening State Journal (Lincoln, NE) - August 2, 1938 Contributed by Shauna Williams

Floyd, Peter LAST SURVIVOR IS CALLED BY DEATH. La Grande, Oregon, July 20-Peter Floyd, the last survivor of the mechanics who built the world famous Monitor died at his home here today. Floyd's death is regretted by all who knew him, and he counted his friends in the hundreds. Source: Fairbanks Daily Times (Fairbanks, AK) - July 21, 1916 Contributed by S. Williams

Woods, Joseph HE DROVE STAGES IN DAYS OF REAL SPORT La Grande, Ore., Dec. 26-Joseph Clarence Woods, 73, one of the few surviving stage coach drivers of the early days of the west, died here today. Woods, who had lived here since 1900, drove the old time stage coach carrying President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding at the old Oregon Trail celebration at Meacham in 1923. In the '80s he drove stage coaches in Colorado and New Mexico. Source: The Helena Independent (Helena, MT) - December 27, 1928 Contributed by S. Williams

Buckner, Harold AIR MAIL PILOT FOUND DEAD IN LONELY CABIN La Grande, Ore., Jan. 19-Harold E. Buckner, 32, of Boise, Idaho, Varney air mail pilot, whose legs were broken Friday when his plane crashed near Cove, Oregon, was found dead today by a party of La Grande men when they reached the isolated trapper's cabin where Buckner was confined awaiting aid from the outside world. Source: Lima News (Lima, OH) - January 20, 1929 Contributed by S. Williams

Low, George Low, R. E. Zunimski, Unknown Sigmer, Unknown OREGON Spreading rails wrecked a train two miles west of La Grande Dec. 30 and Engineer R.E. Low, Fireman George Low and two tramps named Zunimski and Sigmer were killed. Source: The Mountain Democrat (Placerville, CA) - January 9, 1892 Contributed by S. Williams

Hackett, Mrs. William At her home at Legrand, Oregon, Sunday, December 3rd, occurred the death of Mrs. Wm. Hackett, a former resident of Fairbury. Deceased was about 71 years old. The family left here some 10 years ago. Mr. Hackett was a blacksmith and there were several sons. Source: The Fairbury Journal (Fairbury, NE) - Friday, December 8, 1905 Contributed by Kristin Vaughn

Green, Donald Donald B. “Burt” Green of Milton-Freewater died Oct. 17 at his home; he was 69. The memorial service will be at a later date in Gualala, Calif. Green was born Jan. 28, 1922, to Wilbur and Nell Gritton Green in Wilton, Calif. After high school, he joined the US Army and served during World War II. He attended the University of Oklahoma while he was in the service. After his discharge, he owned and operated a meat locker in Elk Grove, and later operated a steak house there for many years.  On May 24, 1972, he married June Munroe in Carson City, Nev. They moved to the northern coast of California, where they owned and operated a restaurant. They retired in 1988 and moved to Milton-Freewater in 1990. While living in Milton-Freewater, he cut meat at Big Apple Warehouse Food Store. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Ingle Chapel Congregational Church, BPOE No. 2146, American Legion in Elk Grove, and a member and past president of Native Sons in California. Survivors include his wife at home; three daughters, Marsha Holmes of Elk Grove, Judith Ann Davis and Sally J. Bauer, both of Lakeport, Calif.; a sister, Donna Borba of Sacramento, Calif.; and a brother, Evan Green of Sacramento; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Source: Valley Herald (Milton-Freewater, OR) Contributed by Kathie Marynik

Mahan, Harry HARRY R. [Ralph] MAHAN, 81, of La Grande, Ore., died March 25 in La Grande. He was born Jan. 23, 1905 in Santa Paula. He was a Ventura County resident for 60 years. He taught at Moorpark High School and served on that school board and also on the Ventura County School Board. He was a lifetime Elk and had been in the Lions Club. He spent many years as secretary/treasurer of the Moorpark United Methodist Church. He was an officer in the Ventura Power Squadron. He ranched in Eastern Oregon before he retired in La Grande. He is survived by his wife Marjorie of La Grande; two daughters, Shirley Robb on Boise and Marilyn Steele of Camarillo; a son, Michael of Prosser, Wash.; a sister, Lila Stephens of Ventura; a brother, Art Mahan of Moorpark; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Graveside services were held in La Grande. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart Association. Source: Camarillo Daily News (Camarillo, CA) - April 13, 1986 Contributed by Kathie Marynik

Mahan, Marjorie Marjorie [Abbey] Mahan [nee Dawley], age 87, died June 8, 1996. She lived most of her life in Ventura County. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and knitting. Her years on the ranch in the Balcom Canyon area were devoted to raising her family and her animals; ponies, dogs, cats, cattle, and birds. She enjoyed traveling throughout her life and recently visited the Northwest, Hawaii, and Texas. Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Mahan, in 1986. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Shirley and Earl Robb of Boise, Idaho; Marilyn and Lee Steele of Camarillo [CA]; and Michael Mahan of Presser, Wash. She also had seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, a brother, John Dawley, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will miss her dearly. Interment will be in La Grande, Ore. A memorial service will be shared at a later date. Source: Ventura Star (Ventura, CA) - June 12, 1996 Contributed by Kathie Marynik

Proebstel, William La Grande, Ore. - The death of William Proebstel, and Oregon pioneer of 1852,occurred at this home near La Grande September 1. He was 78 years of age. He leaves a wife and family of five children. Two daughters, Mrs. Hattie Eckley and Miss Pollie Proebstel, live in La Grande. Two sons are residents of Arizona, and the other son lives in Montana. Source: The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) - September 6, 1907 Contributed by Robyn Greenlund

Leasey, Joseph La Grande— News has been received from Fox Hill that Joseph Leasey was accidentally killed by being thrown from a wagon loaded with wood. Leasey and a number of others from Island City went upon the hill for wood. It is supposed that the accident was caused by a brake of the wagon giving way, but no particulars have been received. Source: The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) - December 3, 1896 Contributed by Robyn Greenlund

Nodine, Fred Union, Ore. – Fred Nodine, a pioneer farmer and cattleman of this place, who died a few days ago, was about 80 years of age, and at one time was the richest man in Union county, but for many years he had been blind and in abject poverty. He was buried in the cemetery which he presented to the city 50 years ago. He leaves an aged wife. Source: The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) - September 10, 1907 Contributed by Robyn Greenlund

Gale, Joseph An Old Pioneer Gone Ex-Gov. Joseph Gale, who dates his residence in Oregon from 1834, died at his home in Eagle Valley, Union county, on the 13th December.  He was one of the three commissioners who constituted the only government of what is now Oregon and Washington territory, prior to the organization of Oregon Territory.  He passed his entire life on the frontier, and had been many years past a resident of Eagle Valley.  He was one of the first settlers of Washington county, and built the first saw mill in the county early in the forties on what is known as Gale creek, a small tributary of the Tualatin.  Gale’s peak, an abrupt and slightly point of the coast range foothills, near the old mill site is well known to nimrods of the present days.  Mr. Gale was a worthy citizen, and a frontiersman of a type rapidly vanishing from earth.  The record is silent as to his exact age, but it must have bordered closely upon four score and ten years. The Eugene City Guard (Eugene, OR) - Saturday, December 31, 1881 Contributed by Jim Dezotell

Carroll, Jerome Died Jerome M. Carroll, aged 13 years, died at the Eugene hospital September 8, 1906, from the effects of an operation for appendicitis. He and his mother had been visiting his uncle, W. T. Carroll, in this city.  The remains were taken to his home at Union, Union county, for burial. The Eugene Daily Guard (Eugene, OR) - Monday, September 10, 1906 Contributed by Jim Dezotell

Harrison, Harriet Funeral Services Today for Mrs. Harriet Harrison LA GRANDE, Nov. 22 (Special)— Mrs. Harriet Jane Harrison, 78, who came from Iowa to Oregon in 1865, died at her home here Wednesday.  Funeral services will be held here Saturday afternoon with Rev. C. O. Heath officiating.  Survivors include a daughter, Rosella H.  Elmer of Halfway; a son, M. Avery Harrison, La Grande business man; a brother, Joseph Buchanan of Burns, and three sisters, Mrs. Joseph Spencer of La Grande; Amanda Martin of Portland, and Eliza Martin of Moro. The Oregonian (Portland, OR) November 23, 1935 Contributed by Barbara Ziegenmeyer

Palmer, Hannah La Grande, Ore. – Mrs. Hannah Palmer, better known as “Grandma” Palmer, died May 25 after a short illness. Mrs. Palmer has many distinctions, among them the fact that she rode on the first railroad train ever built in the United States. She was 97 years of age, and the oldest woman in La Grande. The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WA) - May 27, 1910 Contributed by Robyn Greenlund

Sturtevant, Joseph Joseph Sturtevant, Formerly of Harney County, Dies at La Grande Joseph Sturtevant, aged seventy-one, died yesterday at 10 o’clock at the Darland Hotel, following a week’s illness from liver trouble. Mr. Sturtevant, who was a retired miller, was born in Lowborough, Canada, May 28, 1848. He leaves to mourn his loss, three brothers, T. H. of Formosa, Kansas; Harry J., and Grant, who is a farmer in the Fruitdale section; three sisters, Mrs. H. C. Lawyer, of this city, Mrs. Nate Stafford, of Formosa, Kansas; Mrs. Jane Hawley, of Chicago; and Mrs. George Hawley, of New York. The funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 o’clock from the Hobnenkamp chapel, and interment will be in the Masonic cemetery – La Grande observer, Feb. 2 Joe Sturtevant was a resident of this city of years where he formerly conducted the flour mill. When he sold out here he went to Portland for a time but later bought property in La Grande where he had since resided. Many of the pioneer people of this place regret his demise. The Times-Herald (Burns, OR) Saturday, February 7, 1920 Contributed by Jim Dezotell

Lee, James James Lee, an old resident of Union county, who lived on Ramo flats, near the town of Union, died last Thursday. He was buried in Union cemetery by the Grand Army. The Oregonian (Portland, OR) Tuesday, October 29, 1895 Contributed by Jim Dezotell

Bates, Lucius Lucius Bates, an aged soldier, died of paralysis April 20. The deceased left a wife and four children, and they receive a small government pension. The funeral services took place at 2 p.m. today at the First Methodist church, the interment being in the city cemetery, under the auspices of Oliver P. Morton post, No. 36, Grand Army of the Republic. The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Tuesday, April 23, 1895 Contributed by Jim Dezotell

Kelsey, Lorenzo L. S. Kelsey, 60, a prominent resident of North Powder, was killed when an automobile skidded and turned turtle four miles south of Haines. Miss Nellie Slater, 16, suffered a fractured skull and internal injuries, and may die. Three other occupants of the car were slightly injured. The Ontario Argus (Ontario, OR) - Thursday, May 22, 1913 Contributed by Jim Dezotell

Randall, Abraham The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Monday, December 14, 1896 Northwest Dead Abraham Randall, an old pioneer of Union county, died November 24, at his home near the Wilhelm bridge, near Sand ridge, and was buried on Thanksgiving day in the Lower Cove cemetery.  Mr. Randall was born in Indiana.  In early life he moved to Ohio, and from there went to Jasper county, Iowa, about 1848.  He came to Oregon in 1863, and had since lived in Grand Ronde valley.  Mr. Randall had reached the advanced age of 87 years. The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Monday, December 14, 1896 Contributed by The History of Today

Mache Family Will Exhume The Bodies The Pine Valley Tragedy to be Investigated by the Coroner. Union, Or., Jan. 22 – Coroner Lang, a deputy district attorney, a deputy sheriff and a number of other people left Union for Pine Valley this afternoon for the purpose of exhuming the bodies of the three Maches who were killed by Kelsay Porter on New Year’s day.  Porter is the only witness to the shooting.  The bodies, except the woman’s, were buried without being dressed, and there was no coroner’s inquest held.  The object of the examination is to enable the state to better prosecute the case.  It is expected that the examination will show the direction and distance from which the shots were fired, and other material facts. The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Thursday, January 23, 1896 Contributed by The History of Today

Nibley, James Made Sure of Death Suicide of James Nibley at La Grande After Cutting His Throat From Ear to Ear With a Razor, He Jumped Into the River BAKER CITY, Or., Aug. 2 – James Nibley, 60 years of age, committed suicide this morning after cutting his throat from ear to ear with a razor, he jumped into the river.  His body was recovered.  The deceased was manager of the Oregon Lumber Company’s store near this city.  He had shown signs of insanity for several days. The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Monday, August 6, 1896 Contributed by The History of Today

Eakin, Ethel Died In Union, Union county, Oregon, Ethel, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Eakin, aged 1 year, 3 months and 6 days. The Eugene City Guard (Eugene, OR) - Saturday, August 31, 1878 Died - Union, Union county, Oregon.  Ethel aged 1 year 3 months and six days, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Eakin. The Oregon State Journal (Eugene, OR) - Saturday, August 31, 1878

Ellsworth, Alice Died In La Grande, July 6th, 1878, Alice Georgia Ellsworth, aged 9 years and 9 months. The Eugene City Guard (Eugene, OR) - Saturday, August 10, 1878

Welch, A. J. DIED - News has just reached us that our former townsman, Mr. A. J. Welch, died at La Grande, Baker county, about two weeks ago.  Mr. Welch was long a resident of this place and for four years held the office of County Treasurer.  He possessed the happy faculty of winning and retaining the respect and good wishes of all who knew him, and he leaves a large circle of acquaintances who mourn his early death, and each one drops a kindly word to his memory. Oregon State Journal  (Eugene, OR) - Saturday, April 16, 1864

DeBorde, Thomas Cove, Or., April 23 - (Special) - Thomas J. DeBorde, another one of Cove's early-day settlers, was buried April 20.  He was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, April 22, 1841, and married Miss Sarah J. Franklin in Webster county, Ia., June 2, 1865.  Mrs. DeBorde and four daughters are dead.  Seven children survive: Thomas W. and John F. of La Grande; Benjamin I DeBorde of Cove; four daughters, Mrs. Amy Valentine, Mrs. Dollie Surby, Mrs. Minnie Coons, Mrs. Christine Musick, all of Cove, and a grandchild, Miss Hattie DeBorde, a student of Monmouth Normal school. Mr. DeBorde crossed the plains by team with wife and six children in 1882, coming to Baker.  Four years later he came to Cove for final residence. The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Thursday, April 24, 1919

Foster, Eugene Died, at Cove, Saturday 4:30 p.m. of typhoid fever, Eugene Trussle Foster aged 33 years and 5 months.  The deceased was born in Lake Mills, Wisconsin Aug. 4th, 1857.  His mother died at the same place in 1860.  In the spring of 1881, Eugene came to Oregon, and excepting a short time spent in Walla Walla has since been a resident of Cove.  His life has been an active one in business circles.  He first was engaged as clerk for the ld firm Payne and Jaycox and since has been in business for himself both with his father and Mr. Jaycox of Union.  At the time of his death he owned an interest in the mercantile firm Foster, Bridges & Co. also in the Cove flouring mill.  A short time before the attack of the dread disease, he went to Eugene to be at the bedside of his brother-in-law, Mr. Union Wilson who was suffering with typhoid fever.  Eugene proved himself a faithful nurse and in a few weeks returned to Grande Ronde with Mr. Wilson, but was in poor health himself and when the fever overtook him, was unable to successfully combat its fierce burnings.  After a brave struggle lasting over two weeks, with kind and loving friends to administer to his every want, peacefully and almost motionlessly was ended his earthly mission, though it seemed only fairly begun.  The funeral took place Monday afternoon and was conducted by the Masonic order of which the deceased was a member.  Prominent members attended from Island City and Union.  An affecting sermon was preached by Rev. A. LeRoy of La Grande to a large congregation and expressions of deep sympathy for the sorrowing widow and relatives and regrets that so useful a member of society should be called from a life of integrity and well doing. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Thursday, January 8, 1891

Kelley, J. F. J. F. Kelley died in Cove, Union county, July 21, 1900, aged 42 years.  He was one of Cove’s prosperous merchants and had been a resident of that place for a number of years and was highly respected in that community.  He leaves a wife and six children. East Oregonian (Pendleton, OR) - Wednesday, July 25, 1900

Chrisman, Mrs. P. F. Died – In Cove, Wednesday, August 11th, at the residence of James Bloom, Mrs. P. F. Chrisman.  The deceased was sick but a few days before her death.  She was aged about sixty-two.  Funeral took place on Thursday at 11 o’clock. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Saturday, August 14, 1886

Phy, John Sad Accident Died – At Cove, Union county, Oregon, Sep. 10, 1886, John A., son of J. M. and Margaret Phy, aged 10 years and 5 months. The circumstances attending the death of the little boy were sad indeed.  Willie, an older brother, went to a drawer for the purposes of getting some envelopes, finding a self-cocked revolver lying on the top of the papers, he used the precaution to remove it for fear of an accident, whereupon, from some unknown cause the pistol discharged, sending a 32-caliber ball through the forehead of the deceased.  The mother, being in an adjacent room, hearing the report, ran to the spot, only to find her little angel boy struggling in death, and in a few minutes his little innocent spirit took its flight beyond the river, where it is to be hoped a brighter life awaits him. ‘Tis sad to part with friends on earth, but when we consider the little sunshine and many clouds, the little sweet and much bitter, the little joy and much sorry, incident to life, we should, instead of mourning for the departed, rejoice that one so young and so pure should be called  from the care, anxiety and sorrow of this, to a better life. The little boy who handled the revolver, is frantic with grief, but of course no one attaches any blame to him. The citizens, in large numbers showed their sympathy for the bereft family, by attending the funeral services, which were conducted by Rev. W. R. Powell. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Saturday, September 18, 1886

Chrisman, Peter Died, in Cove, at the residence of his son-in-law James Bloom, Jan. 26, Peter F. Chrisman, after an illness of several weeks.  Mr. Chrisman was well known and universally respected for his integrity and good qualities.  He was born in Lee county, Virginia, Feb. 8, 1821; came to Oregon in 1865, and he has been a resident of Union county continuously for eighteen years.  His last wants were gently administered to by his son, Isaac Chrisman, and daughter, Miss Sarah, Mrs. Bloom and Mrs. Fisher. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Thursday, January 30, 1890

Ross, W. W. Killed – Mr. W. W. Ross, an old resident of this county, who has been engaged in canvassing for books for several years past, was thrown from his buggy near Island City, yesterday, and killed.  We were unable to get fuller particulars up to the time of going to press. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Friday, July 27, 1888

Foredice, Robert Drowned – Last Saturday, while Robert Foredice, the 19 year old son of Jno. M. Foredice, of Elgin, was bathing in the Grande Ronde river, near Morelock’s crossing, with some companions, he was seized with a cramp or attack of heart disease and was drowned before any assistance could be given him.  The funeral took place Monday. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Friday, July 27, 1888

Ege, Ebert Died – In this city, Friday, July 20th, Ebert, the 8 years old son of R. V. Ege.  The funeral took place Saturday. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Friday, July 27, 1888

Geer, Eliza Mrs. Eliza Geer, of Cove Salem, OR., Feb. 5 – Governor Geer today received word that his step-mother, Mrs. Eliza Geer, died today at Cove, Union County, Or.  Deceased was born in Missouri, November 12, 1839 and was married to H. J. Geer October 14, 1866.  She left two sons. The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Wednesday, February 6, 1901

Reynolds, Mrs. A Mrs. Reynolds died in the Cove last Saturday, who was perhaps the largest woman on the Pacific Coast.  Her weight was 450 pounds.  It required for her interment a coffin seven feet long, three feet high and four feet wide.  It was said she was a sister to the “big woman” with Sells Bros. circus that visited Oregon the past summer. East Oregonian (Pendleton, OR) - Saturday, November 17, 1888

Rees, Mrs. M. B. Mrs. M. B. Rees, died at Cove, January 20.  She was born in Missouri, February 10, 1841, and came to Oregon with her parents in 1845, settling in Marion county. Daily Capital Journal (Salem, OR) - Monday, January 30, 1899

Tomson, Children A Shocking Accident Last Thursday night while Gilbert Tomson and wife were attending church at this place, their house was totally destroyed by fire.  Four of their children, aged respectively, thirteen, eleven, seven and four years, were in the house.  The two oldest made their escape, but the two younger children were burned to death before assistance could reach them.  The remains of the children were placed in a neat coffin and burried [sic] in the Lostine cemetery.  The funeral services will be conducted by Elder Conway, Sunday, Dec. 7th. The Oregon Scout (Union, OR) - Friday, December 12, 1884

Information in brackets [ ] is based on other outside sources, and was not present in the original source.