Herren, David
MAN, WHOSE FATHER BROUGHT FIRST REAPER AND MOWER TO OREGON
DIES
Word has been received of the death of David A. Herren at
Spray, Oregon. Mr. Herren was a brother of George Herren,
a commission merchant of Portland. Mr. Herren was born in
April, 1849, on his father's ranch, four miles east of
Salem, and when a young man moved to Eastern Oregon, of
which section he was a pioneer merchant and sheepman. His
father, W.J. Herren, came to Oregon in 1845, and was the
first man to import the reaper, mower and thresher into
this state. Mr. Herren is survived by four children,
Mrs. Mabel Slaght, Misses Wallah and Eva Herren and Claude
Herren, all of Heppner.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, January 29, 1911
Contributed by Shauna Williams
|
Oglesbee, Susie
Obituary Notice – Died, near Fosol, Wasco county, Or., May
20, 1881, of consumption, Susie Oglesbee, wife of Joseph
Cole, aged 31 years, 11 months and 13 days. Deceased
was a native of Iowa and came to Oregon with her parents
in 1853 and resided for some time in Jackson county.
A husband and three children, and a host of relatives,
(among them her sister, Mrs. Dr. Kahler of Jacksonville,)
remain to mourn her death.
Source: Oregon Sentinel (Jacksonville, OR) -
Saturday, June 18, 1881
|
Boardman, Mrs. O. S.
Mrs. O. S. Boardman, of Mitchell, landlady of the Boardman
hotel, died last week
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Wednesday, January 16, 1895
|
Puett, "Mug" &
Dehaven, "Milt"
In a quarrel at Mitchell last Saturday “Mug” Puett shot
“Milt” Dehaven, who before he died, killed his antagonist.
City Marshal Stites took a hand to quell the row and
received a hip wound from Puett's gun that is likely to
prove fatal.
Source: The Bend Bulletin (Bend, OR) - Friday, July
10, 1903 |
Hamilton, Mary
Pioneer Dies At
Fossil
Mrs. Mary C. Hamilton Succumbs To Long
Illness
Native of Iowa
Is Resident of Oregon 66 Years; Three Children Survive
Fossil, Or., Oct. 6 – (Special) – Mary C. Hamilton, for
more than 66 years a resident of Oregon, died at her home
in Fossil September 26 after an illness of several
months. She was almost 77 years of age and leaves to
mourn her loss two sons and one daughter, Ralph and Wayne
Hamilton and Mrs. Anna Prindle, all of Fossil; seven
grandchildren and six sisters and brothers: W. H. Byars of
Salem, Austin Mires of Ellensburg, Wash.; Benton Mires of
Drain, Mrs. Anna Bonham of Tyler, Wash.; Mrs. Addie Cole
of Spokane, Wash., and John S. Mires of Republic, Wash.
Her husband, David Hamilton, to whom she was married on
May 28, 1858, died July 18, 1908.
Mrs. Hamilton was a sturdy type of the Oregon
pioneer. She was born October 3, 1842, near
Burlington, Des Moines county, Iowa. When but a girl
of 10 years she accompanied her parents to Oregon,
spending the first winter near Milwaukie, but later taking
up a permanent residence near where the town of Oakland is
located in the Umpqua valley. After her marriage she
continued to reside in Douglas county until 1871, when she
moved with her husband and family to where the town of
Fossil is now located and where she continues to make her
home.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Monday, October 6, 1919
|
Potter, Robert
& Combs, Loren
Storm Victim Is
Dead
Robert Potter, of Fossil, Succumbs To Injuries
Gordie Rambo,
Companion, Is Unconscious and Is Not Expected to Recover
Fossil, Or., June 26 – (Special) – Robert Potter died
today from injuries he sustained in the cloud burst near
Fossil last Friday. He, with Gordie Rambo, another
victim, was brought to Fossil Monday. Although
suffering intensely, he told clearly of his frightful
experience.
Mr. Potter was caught in the main current of the stream
and carried along its course until rocks and trees held
him fast on an embankment. His dog also was fastened
in the debris and held fast close beside him. In
frenzy to free itself the animal turned on Potter and bit
him in the face repeatedly until his face was terribly
torn and cut. Potter struggled frantically until he
freed one hand, and finally succeeded in running it down
the dog’s throat, chocking the animal to death.
Mr. Potter’s right leg was crushed and the main artery was
severed when he came in contact with an immense
rock. He was started for Portland where he expected
to have his injuries treated, but succumbed before
reaching the hospital.
Gordie Rambo is under a physician’s care in Fossil.
He is unconscious and his injuries being internal, little
hope is held out for his recovery.
The body of Loren Combs was found yesterday four miles
from the place he was drowned.
The three men were in a tent on Little Buckhorn Creek,
about 45 miles west of Fossil, where they were looking
after the O.K. Cattle Company’s ranch. The
cloudburst came about 5 o’clock in the evening, after a
day of excessive heat, with such suddenness that is took
the men unawares.
Residents of that part of the country say the storm could
be heard for 15 miles and that the water in the stream was
more than 20 feet deep.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, June 27, 1918
Robert Potter, of Fossil, died Friday from injuries he
sustained in the cloud burst near Fossil last
Friday. He, with Gordie Rambo, another victim, was
brought to Fossil Monday. Although suffering
intensely, he told clearly of his frightful experience.
Source: Eagle Valley News (Richland, OR) -
Thursday, July 4, 1918
|
Jordon, Ray
Influenza
Strikes Fossil
Fossil, Or., Feb. 6 – (Special) – Fossil is having its
share of influenza but the cases are generally mild.
Pneumonia symptoms are not common. There has been
but one death, that of Ray Jordon, 25 years old, who died
this week. It is practically impossible to get
nurses.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Saturday, February 7, 1920
|
Wemm, Alvin
Fossil, Or., Oct 26 – (Special) – Alvin Wemm, a laborer,
died last night from injuries received in the
afternoon. When assisting in the erection of a small
shed he stepped on a scaffold and the board broke.
As he fell the board penetrated his abdomen.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, October 27, 1910
|
Toney, Louie
Fossil Rancher
Slain
Henry Eller, Truck Driver, Shoots Louie Toney
Men are Said to
Have Fought on Various Occasions in Last Two Years.
Fossil, Or., Nov. 16 – (Special) – A feud of several
years’ duration reached a climax tonight, when Henry
Eller, truck driver on a run between Fossil and Mitchell,
shot and fatally wounded Louie Toney, a rancher, in a pool
hall at Mitchell. Toney died within a few
minutes. Eller surrendered to officers.
The men had quarreled and fought frequently in the last
two years, according to Deputy Sheriff Palmer, who
received meager details of the killing. Eller, who
is about 30 years old and unmarried, left Fossil this
morning on his usual truck run. He was said to have
met Toney unexpectedly in a pool hall at Mitchell and to
have engaged in another quarrel.
Toney is survived by his widow and three children.
He was a nephew of R. A. Booth, state highway
commissioner.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, November 17, 1921
|
Brinkley, Daisy
Funeral services will be held today at Fossil, Or., for
Mrs. Daisy Lee Brinkley, who died Wednesday afternoon on
her way to a Portland hospital, accompanied by her
husband, Walter E. Brinkley, and two nurses.
Mrs. Brinkley was born February 2, 1883, and lived near
Fossil until her marriage in 1905, when, for four years
she lived on the old Brinkley place in Benton county,
Or. In 1909 she and her husband too up a homestead
near Fossil, where they have lived until the present time.
Besides her widower, Mrs. Brinkley is survived by her son
Harry and daughter Margaret, her mother Mrs. Ellen Lee,
and brother, Frank Lee, of Fossil; her sisters, Mrs. Rosie
McCoy of Castle Rock, Wash.; Mrs. Bessie Gage of Mitchell;
Mrs. Fannie Gicks and an uncle, George Bowley, of Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Friday, April 21, 1922
Fossil, Or., April 23 – (Special) – The funeral of Mrs.
Walter Brinkley, who died on the train between Arlington
and The Dalles Wednesday as she was being taken to a
hospital in Portland, was held Friday. Interment was
made in the Oddfellows’ cemetery. Mrs. Brinkley is
survived by her widower, two small children; her mother,
Mrs. Ellen Lee of Fossil; three sisters, Mrs. Charles
Hicks of Clarno, Mrs. Eustance McCoy of Vancouver, Wash.,
and Mrs. M. E. Gage of Mitchell; and one brother, Frank
Lee of Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Monday, April 24, 1922
|
Robbins, Horace
Services Held
for Robbins
Doctor Long Active In
Eastern Oregon
Funeral services for Dr. Horace M. Robbins, 80, veteran
Eastern Oregon medical practitioner and one-time mayor of
Fossil, Or., were held July 18 from the chapel of J. P.
Finely & Son. Vault entombment was at Riverview
cemetery.
Dr. Robbins, who lived at 1871 S. W. 10th avenue, died
July 16, at Hahnemann hospital. He had lived in
Portland for the past four years.
Dr. Robbins was born April 22, 1867, in Robbins
Tenn. He was graduated from an academy near
Knoxville, Tenn., and taught school there for three years
before studying at Maryville college, Maryville, Tenn.
Following a four-year term as county school
superintendent, he studied medicine at Tennessee Medical
college, now the University of Tennessee, Knoxville,
graduating in 1901.
Several Offices
Filled
His wife, the former Ella Smith of Jellico, Tenn.,
accompanied him to Bend, Or., where the couple first
settled. He practiced medicine principally in
Wheeler county, establishing his headquarters at Fossil,
where he served as mayor from 1933 to 1941. He also
served as county coroner and public health officer.
He was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Fossil chapter
of the IOOF, the Oregon Medical society and the Fossil
Baptist church.
Survivors include his widow and two sons, H. M .Robbins
Jr. of Portland and Kenneth T. Robbins of San Joe, Cal.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, July 27, 1947
|
Meteer, Mary
Fossil, Or., Nov. 28 – (Special) – Mrs. George Meteer was
born in Iowa October 3, 1843 and died at Fossil, Or.,
November 24, 1919. She came to Oregon with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Smith, in 1852. They
settled in the Willamette valley near Salem. She was
married to George Meteer and they moved to Wheeler county
47 years ago. Seven children who survive, George,
William and Fred Meteer, all of Fossil; Mrs. Fannie
Wilkers, Winlock, Or.; Mrs. Jerusha Griffiths of Malheur
county, and Mrs. Alice Steiwer of Salem. The funeral
was held Wednesday.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Saturday, November 29, 1919
|
Whitehead, Edwin
Fossil, Or., Jan. 30 – (Special) – Edwin Whitehead, who
died at his home in Fossil, January 27, aged 55 years,
left England at the age of 21 years and came to America,
settling at Corvallis, Or. After working at his
trade, a shoemaker, he moved to Fossil in 1884. Soon
after he arrived in Fossil his wife died, leaving him with
a small boy and a baby 6 months old. He leaves a
wife, whom he married eight years ago, and two sons, James
and Wayman, of Portland.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, January 31, 1909
|
Van Horn, William
Funeral services were held Sunday at Fossil for W. J. Van
Horn, 89, who died at his home there last Thursday.
Burial was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery at Fossil.
Mr. Van Horn, father of 16 children, was born February 6,
1857, in Own county, Ind., and came to Oregon in
1897. Mrs. Van Horn, his third wife, died about a
year ago. They celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary a number of years ago. Mr. Van Horn was
the oldest resident of Wheeler county at the time of his
death, relatives said.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Tuesday, May
28, 1946
|
Steiwer, Annie
A member of a pioneer Oregon family, Mrs. Winlock Steiwer,
96, Fossil, died here Thursday in a convalescent
home. Funeral will be Saturday in Fossil with
interment in the family plot there.
Mrs. Steiwer was born Jan. 5, 1866, in Hillsboro, and
moved with her family to Fossil in 1870. Her husband
died in 1920.
The family suggests that any remembrance be in the form of
contribution to the Shriners Hospital.
Survivors include three children, Mrs. W. L. (Susan)
Reinhart, Fossil; Mrs. Ruth S. Latourette, Portland, and
son, William J. Steiwer, Fossil; sister, Mrs. Elizabeth
Bowerman, Toledo; brother Thomas B. Hoover, Fossil; nine
grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and six
great-great-grandchildren.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Friday,
January 26, 1962
|
Chapman, Isaac
Fossil, Or., June 1 – (Special) – Isaac Chapman, 77 died
at his home in Fossil Sunday. He was born in Des
Moines, Ia. He crossed the plains with his parents
in 1852 and settled in Polk county.
In 1863 he moved to Richmond, Wheeler county, then Wasco
county, and has lived in this county since. His
widow, Sarah Giles Chapman, survives him; also five
children. They are: Charles of Clarno, William of
Antone, Henry of Fossil, Mrs. R. Hankins of Richmond and
Mrs. Clay Shawn of Mitchell. Two sister and one
brother survive. They are: Mrs. Bunnel of
Goldendale, Wash.; Mrs. Osborn of Wasco and Joe Chapman of
Fossil. The funeral was held in the Methodist church
in Fossil and interment was in the Oddfellows’ cemetery.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, June 2, 1921
|
Hamilton, David
Condon, Or., Aug. 1 – (Special) – After having celebrated
his golden wedding on May 8 last, David Hamilton died at
his home in Fossil, July 21, at the age of 78 years.
He was one of the early settlers of Wheeler County and was
highly respected. He is survived by a wife and two
sons, Ralph and Wayne Hamilton, and one daughter, Mrs.
Charles Prindle, all of Fossil.
David Hamilton was born in Alleghany County, New York,
February 27, 1830. When at the age of three years
his parents moved to Jo Davis county, Ill. In 1850
he crossed the plains for the gold fields of California,
locating at Yreka, where he prospected and worked in the
mines until the Spring of 1855, when he came to Southern
Oregon. Later in the same year he located in what is
now Douglas County, where he was married to Miss Mary C.
Byars on May 8, 1858. The moved to Eastern Oregon in
1871 and settled on Cottonwood Creek, three miles from
Fossil, where Mr. Hamilton died.
He was a Baptist and a member of the Masonic lodge of
Fossil.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, August 2, 1908
|
Welsh, Fred
Fossil, Or., Oct. 9 – (Special) – Fred A. Welsh, age 40,
died of pneumonia at his home in Fossil October 7.
He was one of the largest and wealthiest sheepmen of
Wheeler County. He was buried at the I.O.O.F.
cemetery in Fossil by the B.P.O.E. lodge of Heppner, Or.,
of which he was a member. He is survived by his
widow and infant daughter and by his brother, John Welsh,
all of Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, October 10, 1918
|
Helms, Anthony
Fossil, Or., Oct. 14 – (Special) – Anthony Helms, editor
and owner of the Mitchell Sentinel, died at his home in
Mitchell Wednesday and was buried in Fossil Friday
afternoon. Anthony Helms was born in Missouri
October 6, 1842, and was a veteran of the Civil war, in
which he served until November 11, 1865, when he came to
the Pacific coast.
He is survived by his widow and three sons, Walter Helms
of Big Eddy, Or.; P. C. Helms of Fossil, and O. V. Helms
of Beaverton.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Monday, October 15, 1923
|
Beard, Ambrose
Fossil Stock Man
Dies
Ambrose Beard Pioneer
Settler of Wheeler County
Fossil, Or., Aug. 2 – (Special) – Ambrose Beard, a pioneer
settler of Wheeler county and prominent stock man, died
suddenly Tuesday of heart disease at his home on Pine
creek, nine miles south of fossil. Mr. Beard was
born at Albany, in Linn county, on April 4, 1855, and was
married to Laura Reading of Albany on May 9, 1886.
He settled on Rowe creek, Wheeler county, in 1884, and had
since lived in this vicinity except about two years at
Albany.
Mr. Beard was a member of the Masonic lodge of Fossil and
of the Elks’ lodge at Albany. Besides his widow,
Laura Beard, he leaves a son, Thomas B. Beard, and a
daughter, Mrs. Otto Brandt of Fossil, and a large circle
of friends. Mr. Beard was buried in the Masonic
cemetery at Fossil and the funeral was conducted under the
auspices of the Masonic lodge. The funeral sermon
was delivered by Rev. A. S. Simmons at the Baptist church.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, August 3, 1919
|
Hawk, Lennie
Fossil, Or., Dec. 3 – (Special) – Mrs. Lester Hawk, 20
died at her home near Fossil November 28. The
funeral was held in the Methodist church, Rev. Mr.
Hazelton conducting the services. Interment was in
the Oddfellows’ cemetery. Mrs. Hawk had lived in
Fossil all her life. She leaves a widower and a
daughter only a few days old.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, December 4, 1921
|
Huston, W. H.
Fossil, Or., April 24 – (Special) – W. H. Huston,
father-in-law of District Attorney John A. Collier, died
at the latter’s home in Fossil yesterday of pneumonia,
after an illness of one week. Deceased came here
from Pendleton three years ago. He leaves a wife and
one daughter.
Mr. Huston was born in Ohio, May 22, 1846. He joined
the Union Army at the age of 19, being a member of Company
A, One Hundred and fiftieth Illinois Infantry. He
was a member of the Kit Carson Post of G.A.R.
In 1878 he settled in Albany and lived there until
1899. He then moved to Pendleton, where he lived
until three years ago, when he came to Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Saturday, April 25, 1908
|
Lamb, A. B.
County Treasurer
Dies
A. B. Lamb, Druggist and
Civic Leader, Passes at Fossil
Fossil, Or., March 24 – (Special) – A. B. Lamb, aged 64
years, an early settler of Wheeler county, died at his
home in Fossil March 21 of heart trouble, after a
lingering illness. He was born in Indiana December
16, 1856. He came to Oregon when 27 years old.
He taught school for a number of years and then took a
course in pharmacy, and has had the only drug store in
Fossil for a great many years.
He had been clerk of the school board for 25 years and
county treasurer for 20 years.
He was a member of the Masonic and Eastern Star orders and
was also a member of the Oddfellows.
At the time of his death he was worthy patron of Arcadia
chapter No. 84, Order of Eastern Star.
He is survived by his widow and one son, Howard, of
Fossil, and one daughter, Mrs. Abbie Gore, recently of
Prineville.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, March 25, 1920
|
Henderson, Ira
Ira Albert Henderson, who died at Fossil, Or., June 26,
following an illness of less than 24 hours, was one of
Oregon’s early pioneers. He was born in Cassopolis,
Mich., June 28, 1833. Crossing the plains in 1853
with his widowed mother, he settled near Brownsville, in
Linn County, and married Julia Ann Baird there in
1858. The moved to Heppner in 1871, later to
Mayville, and had been residents of Fossil for 16 years,
where he was a prominent church worker, active in the
cause of prohibition and also a Mason. The widow and
a daughter, Mrs. J. D. Hogan, of Spokane, survive him.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, July 8, 1917
|
Watson, Emma
Mrs. Frank
Watson Dies
Resident of Wheeler
county for 40 Years Succumbs
Fossil, Or., June 30 – (Special) – Mrs. Frank Watson, aged
71 years, died suddenly of heart trouble Friday at her
home three miles east of Fossil. She came to Wheeler
County with her husband about 40 years ago. Her
husband died three years ago.
She is survived by three sons and one daughter.
Frank left last Monday for Fort McDowell, Cal., having
been called in the last draft; her second son, Claud, will
leave for service July 5. Her youngest son, Fred,
and daughter, Melvina, reside in Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Monday, July 1, 1918
|
Myers, Edward
Fossil, Aug. 29 (Special) – Funeral services for Edward
Elmer Myers, farmer and stockman who died at his home here
August 22, were conducted Saturday.
Mr. Myers was born July 8, 1880, in Mr. Pleasant, Ia., and
in 1888 was brought to Oregon by his parents, who settled
at Arlington, Later the family moved to 30-Mile
creek in Wheeler county.
Surviving are the widow, Lola; two sons, Edgar M. of
Fossil, Charles T., of Portland; two brothers, Arthur of
Fossil and John of Condon; three grandsons.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Friday,
August 30, 1946
|
Van Horn, George
Fossil, Or., Jan. 24 – (Special) – George Van Horn, 42,
died at the home of his brother, John Van Horn, in Fossil
Thursday. He was born in Missouri and lived there
until about 14 years ago, when he came to Fossil, and had
made his home here since that time. He is survived
by three brothers, John, Ranseleer and William, all of
Fossil, and two sisters living in Missouri.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, January 25, 1920
|
Walls, Lyle
Memorial service for Lyle Steiwer Walls, who grew up on a
family donation land claim in Marion County, will be at 11
a.m. Saturday, June 7, in First Unitarian Church.
Mrs. Walls, who was 89, died Thursday in a Portland
nursing home.
She was born in Fossil. Both sides of her family had
traveled to Oregon Territory by wagon train in the 1840s.
She was a 1915 graduate of the University of Oregon, where
she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She was
an active member in the Oregon congress of Parents and
Teachers Association and served as state president of that
organization from 1936 to 1940.
Survivors include her daughter, Florence W. Lehman,
Portland; a son, John S. Walls, Wenatchee, Wash.; and nine
grandchildren.
Burial will be private.
The family suggests remembrances be contributions to Reed
College of the Oregon Historical Society.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Monday, May
26, 1980
|
Munger, Orin
Eugene, Or., Aug. 11 – (Special) – Orin S. Munger, a
resident of Fossil, Or., died suddenly some time last
night at the home of his sister, Mrs. L. Simons, whom he
was visiting. He was found dead in bed at 6 o'clock
this morning. He was a veteran of the Civil war and
65 years old. He leaves a wife and five
children. They are 70 miles from a telegraph station
and will not hear of his death for a couple of days.
The remains will be buried here tomorrow.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Wednesday, August 12, 1903
|
Montgomery, Mrs.
J. V.
Mrs. J. V. Montgomery, of Fossil, died last Wednesday
night, during childbirth. The child, a 12-pound
girl, is alive.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Tuesday, July 24, 1900
|
Brown, John
Thrown From
Horse To Death
Fatal Accident to a Wheeler County Rancher, J.
W. Brown
Fossil, June 22 – Wednesday evening John W. Brown was
thrown from a horse about four miles east of Fossil, and
died within an hour. He had lived here a great many
years. He left a family of six or seven young
children.
He had sold his ranch for $1500, and was to leave for the
harvest fields of Eastern Washington next morning with his
family. He was returning home from the ranch of a
neighbor, with whom he had traded horses, and was riding
the new horse, a 3-year-old colt, bareback, when the
accident occurred. His skull was badly fractured,
but he was conscious, and sent his boy to Fossil for a
doctor, who arrived after Brown was dead.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Saturday, June 23, 1900
|
Fox, N. E.
Petty, Martha
Two Oregon
Pioneers
Mrs. N. E. Fox died at her home near Fossil, Or., May
16. She was born in Terre Haute, Ind., November 15,
1846, and was an Oregon pioneer of 1852. she was
married at Waterloo, Or., in 1870 to Ephraim Fox, who died
but a few months before her.
Mrs. Martha Petty, wife of P. P. Petty, died near Fossil,
May 14, after many years of sickness, aged 57 years.
She was a pioneer of Oregon, having crossed the plains
when 9 years old, and in recognition of this the
pallbearers were composed of prominent pioneers and native
sons of Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Tuesday, May 22, 1900
|
Hurley, Mrs. W. L.
& Son
Mother and Son Die
Fossil, Or., Dec. 14 – Mrs. W. L. Hurley, wife of a farmer
living in Ferry canyon, near Condon, and their 1 ½ year
old boy, both died at their home Sunday, and were buried
in Condon cemetery, Monday. The mother had been ill
for some years with consumption.
Source: The Dalles Daily Chronicle (The Dalles, OR)
- Saturday, December 16, 1899
|
Knox, Banna
Her Suffering
Ended
The Fossil Journal tells the story of little Banna Knox
and the efforts to save her by skin grafting:
On Thursday, June 11, 1896, Banna Knox, third daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. George Knox, died at Fossil, Or., aged 6
years, 6 months and four days.
Little Banna sustained the injuries which resulted in her
death, through being accidentally burned at the Knox farm
at Lost Valley, on March 19th last.
She was playing in the yard when her clothes caught fire
from the embers of a pile of rubbish that had been burned
the day before, and on which the child sat down thinking
there was no fire left in them. When she found
herself afire, she became frightened and ran in an
opposite direction from the house, so that she was
fearfully burned before her mother caught her and wrapped
a blanket around her, thus extinguishing the flames.
Dr. Howard was called from Fossil, and after examining the
burns, informed the parents that her only hope of life lay
in skin-grafting, and advised them to move her to Fossil
so that she could be under his constant care. This
they decided to do, and so, when the child was able to be
moved, two weeks after the accident, eight sturdy, noble
fellows tenderly carried the little one on a covered
litter to Fossil – twenty miles over the mountains through
snow, mud, rain and swollen creeks.
Grafting was commenced and continued about four weeks,
during which time the skin took hold and spread, and would
soon have covered the whole surface of the sores – about
one foot wide by two feet long on her back, hips and legs
– had it not developed that the burns were so deep that no
human aid could save her. The whole flesh was burned
off the hips and the fire must have penetrated to the
kidneys, as Bright's disease soon set in, and this it was
that was the immediate cause of death, which, however, was
hastened by a severe attack of la grippe, which at the
same time prostrated the other members of the family, who
were weak and worn out with incessant watching over
their suffering loved one. Loving friends from their
bodies supplied the skin for grafting.
Source: The Dalles Daily Chronicle (The Dalles, OR)
- Thursday, June 18, 1896
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Farlow, Florence
Florence M. Farlow, 62, former co-owner and operator of
the Aloha Pharmacy, died Sunday in Redland.
Mrs. Farlow, born June 7, 1907, in Fossil, was a member of
a pioneer family. She and her husband started the
pharmacy in 1934, selling it in 1960. She continued
to work in the business until November of this year,
however. Her husband, Leonard, died March, 20, 1966.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Fuiten’s Chapel,
Beaverton. Entombment will be in Valley Memorial
Park, Hillsboro.
She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge of Aloha and the
Tuality Hospital Auxiliary.
She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Edith Mathews of
Portland; a daughter, Mrs. Marvin (La Rita J.) Heckmann of
Redmond; a son, L. Kenneth, Bellevue, Wash.; three
brothers, Orval E. Mathews of Fossil, C. Wilbur Mathews of
Portland and Robert Mathews of Yosemite National Park;
three sisters, Bertha Hauser of Tygh Valley, Ruth Hutchins
of Goldendale, Wash., and Betty Johnson of Gresham and
five grand children.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Wednesday,
December 17, 1969
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Thompson, W. S.
Fossil, Or., Jan. 7 – (Special) – W. S. Thompson died of
heart failure here last evening at 8 o’clock. He had
lived at Fossil 37 years, and was widely known in Eastern
Oregon.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Friday, January 8, 1909
Fossil, Or., Jan. 10 – (Special) – W. S. Thompson, who
died here January 4, was born in Monmouth, Ill., February
16, 1856. At the age of 1 year, with his parents, he
moved to California. Here he grew to manhood, then
his parents and brother and sister moved to Fossil,
Or. He was married to Miss Ida Oglesby at
Jacksonville, Or., November 6, 1881. Of this union
four children were born.
Mr. Thompson was an active worker in the Methodist
Church. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, under
whose auspices he was buried. He leaves an aged
mother, one brother, one sister, a widow, four children
and two grandchildren.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Monday, January 11, 1909
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Steiwer, William
Former Oregon State Sen. William H. Steiwer Sr., who was
born and spent his life-time ranching in Fossil, died at
the age of 75 Tuesday in a local hospital.
Mr. Steiwer was born Sept. 18, 1896, the son of pioneer W.
W. Steiwer, who was also a rancher. The Steiwer
ranch is on 35,000 acres used to raise cattle and sheep.
Mr. Steiwer was educated at Portland Academy and Stanford
University. He was a member of The University Club,
the Elks, American Legion and was a World War I veteran.
Mr. Steiwer served in the Oregon Senate from 1933-43 as a
Republican and during his last term he was president of
the Senate.
He was president of both the Oregon Wool Growers and
Nation Wool Growers associations; a director of the
American Sheep Producers Council; president of the
Northwest Livestock Production Credit Association; and a
director of the Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve
Bank of San Francisco.
Mr. Steiwer also was a director of the Columbia Basin
Electrical Co-op in Heppner and a director of the Keep
Oregon Green Association.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; two sons, William H.
Jr., and Johan, and three grandchildren, all of Fossil.
Service for Mr. Steiwer will be 11 a.m. Friday in Portland
Memorial funeral home with vault interment to follow.
The family suggests remembrances be contributions to the
Oregon Historical Society or to a charity.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Thursday,
January 20, 1972
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Butler, Effie
Service Creek, Or., Jan. 6 – (Special) – Funeral services
were conducted January 3 at Richmond, Or., for Mrs. Effie
Brown Butler, 62, pioneer of eastern Oregon, who died at
The Dalles hospital January 2. Rev. Mr. Bailey of
John Day officiated. Members of the Rebekah lodge of
Fossil, Or., had charge of the graveside services.
Mrs. Brown was born December 7, 1870, and was married to
John B. Butler in 1886. The couple moved some time
later to The Dalles, and then to Richmond. Mr.
Butler was one of the prominent stockmen of Wheeler
county. Mrs. Butler was prominent in civic and club
affairs in eastern Oregon, and was a member of the Blue
Mountain Rebekah lodge of Fossil, the Pioneers’
association of Wheeler county and the Service Creek
grange.
She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Pansy Stinchfield,
Mayville, Or., and Bessie V. Butler of Service Creek; one
son, Randon R. Butler of Ukiah; three sisters, Mrs. Ellen
Keyes, Halfway; Mrs. Molly E. Johnson, Portland, and Mrs.
Jessie Butler, Richmond.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Saturday, January 7, 1933
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Keyes, Henry
Henry Dick Keyes, Wheeler County rancher, and former
county judge, died Monday at St. Vincent Hospital after a
long illness.
Funeral will be at the Methodist church in Fossil on
Wednesday at 2 p.m. with interment in the Fossil IOOF
Cemetery.
Mr. Keyes was born on Keyes Flat near Mitchell on Jan. 5,
1885, the son of Zachary T. Keyes, one of Wheeler County’s
pioneer sheep ranchers. Mr. Keyes’ grandfather was
Robert Booth, who came to Oregon Territory in 1852 and was
a Methodist circuit rider.
A lifetime resident of Wheeler County, Mr. Keyes attended
schools in Grants Pass and Willamette University.
Following his retirement several years ago he moved from
his Twickenham ranch to Fossil where he worked as a real
estate salesman.
He was Wheeler County judge from 1913 to 1925 and was
active in the county’s Republican Party. He was a
member of the Heppner Elks Lodge for 51 years.
Survivors include four children, William Z. Keyes,
Portland; Mrs. Harry Van Horn, The Dalles; Mrs. Robert
Williams, Mitchell, and Mrs. James Kenny, Lake
Oswego. Survivors also include 13 grandchildren and
one great-grandchild.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Wednesday,
November 14, 1962
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Fritz, James
Fossil, Or., Feb. 24 – (Special) – James Fritz, the Fossil
and Spray stagedriver, died at Spray last night of heart
failure. He was formerly employed in the Spray
Mercantile Store, but on account of poor health had to
seek outdoor work. He was a native of Michigan, and
came here about nine months ago with his brother. He
was 22 years old.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, February 25, 1909
|
Van Colton, Belle
Fossil, Or., May 11 – (Special) – Mrs. Belle Van Colton,
26 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Palmer of
Fossil, died at her home in Albany, Or., Saturday.
Mrs. Van Colton was born in Wheeler county. The body
was brought to Fossil for burial, the funeral taking place
from First Christian church Tuesday afternoon.
Interment was in the Oddfellow’s cemetery. Rev. C.
A. Sias had charge of the service.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Friday, May 12, 1922
|
Busby, Jerry
Ranch worker
Dies In Wreck
Fossil (AP) – A ranch worker, Jerry Busby, died Thursday
night when his pickup truck failed to make a turn on
Highway 218 near Clarno, west of Fossil.
His was the fifth death of the new year on Oregon
highways. Last year at this time 20 had died.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Saturday,
January 11, 1969
|
Duff, M. F.
Dr. M. F. Duff of Fossil, Or., died September 23 at the
home of his daughter in Multnomah, Or. Dr. and Mrs.
Duff came from eastern Oregon a month ago to spend the
winter in Multnomah.
Dr. Duff was born February 27, 1848, in Abingdon, Va.,
where he lived until ten years ago, when he came to
Oregon. He was a veteran of the confederate army,
having enlisted when he was 16 years old. He lost a
leg on the battlefield at Saltville, Va. Dr. Duff
came from a family of dentists and practiced dentistry for
more than 50 years.
Dr. Duff is survived by his widow and four daughters –
Mrs. C. A. Johnson of Fossil, Mrs. Charles Carr of Capitol
Hill, Mrs. D. E. Florey and Mrs. Carl I. Garber of
Multnomah.
Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon from
Finley’s mortuary, with interment in Rose City cemetery.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Wednesday, September 27, 1922
|
Douseman, Julia
Fossil, Or., Jan. 16 – (Special) – Mrs. Julia A. Douseman
died here January 6 aged 84 years. She was the widow
of the late Henry Douseman, to whom she was married in
Lasalle, Monroe County, Mich., June 18, 1843. Her
maiden name was Julia Ann Cuyler. Mrs. Douseman came
to California with her husband in 1850-1 by the way of the
Isthmus of Panama. In 1883 she and her husband moved
to Fossil. She left three children, seven
grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, January 17, 1909
|
Trapold, Alfon
Alfon Trapold, 74, a long-time Portland resident, died
Sunday in Fossil.
Mr. Trapold was born in Hohenstadt, Germany, and
immigrated to the United States in 1926, settling in the
Portland area in 1928. He worked for a local
furniture company from 1928 until 1941, when he left the
business to become a farmer in the Parkrose area.
Survivors include his wife, Ella of Portland; two
daughters, Gloria Bradford and Sharon Shaw, both of
Portland; three sons, James of Castro Valley, Calif., and
Alvin and Tom, both of Portland; three sisters, Anna
Kappus of Boxberg, Germany, and Lutia Renz and Matilda
Woerner, both of Heidelberg, Germany; two brothers, August
of Heidelberg, and Allen of Detroit, and nine
grandchildren.
Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Therese Catholic
Church, with interment following at Mount Calvary
Cemetery.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Thursday,
September 23, 1982
|
Johnson, Isaac
Fossil Man, Long Ill, Dies
I. A. Johnson, 80, long-time merchant in Fossil and once
mayor of that Wheeler county town, died Christmas day at
Physician’s and Surgeon’s hospital after a long
illness. Mr. Johnson, who was widely known in
Oregon, was born August 7, 1874, in Mountain City, Tenn.,
and moved to Wheeler county in 1895. He soon became
owner of the Fossil Mercantile company and had been its
owner 50 years at his retirement in 1947. He moved
to Portland in 1952 and made his home at the Ione Plaza.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his widow, the former Maud
Flaugher, whom he married in Portland November 10, 1904;
three daughters, Mrs. Isobel Edwards, Fossil, and Miss
Margaret Johnson and Miss Helen Johnson, both of Portland;
one brother, Victor Johnson, Fossil, one sister, Mrs. Ida
Pierce, Richmond, Va., and two grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements had not been made Saturday night.
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Sunday,
December 26, 1954
|
Richards, Martha
Fossil, Or., Oct. 17 – (Special) – Mrs. J. W. Richards, 83
years old, died at her home in Mitchell last
Thursday. She was born in Virginia and came to
Oregon with her husband in 1905. Since that time her
home had been in Mitchell. She is survived by her
husband and two children, Geo4ge and Fairline Richards of
Mitchell. Funeral services were held in Mitchell at
the Methodist church, Rev. Mr. Hazelton of Fossil
conducting the service. The body was buried in the
Mitchell cemetery.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Tuesday, October 18, 1921
|
Simmons, Margaret
Fossil, Or., Oct. 7 – (Special) – Margaret Jane Simmons
died at her home in Fossil last Tuesday at the age of 73
years. She was born in Indiana and was married to
Christopher C. Simmons, now dead, in Missouri. They
came to Oregon in 1870. The following children
survive her. Rev. A. F. Simmons, Klamath Falls; Rev.
A. S. Simmons, Madras, Or.; Mrs. Amy McCay, Carning, Cal.;
Mrs. Laura Stanford, Mrs. Edith Matthews and H. J.
Simmons, county school superintendent of Wheeler county,
Fossil. Funeral services were conducted at the
Baptist church in Fossil by Rev. J. F. Moore of
Cloverdale. Burial was at the Mayville cemetery.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, October 8, 1922
|
Ball, Birdie
Fossil, Or., Oct. 23 – (Special) – Mrs. Birdie Ball, 45,
wife of Fred Ball of Fossil, died in Portland
Wednesday. The funeral was held Thursday. Blue
Mountain Rebekah lodge had charge of the services.
Besides her husband she is survived by her two daughter,
Wanel and Hazel. Her mother, Mrs. W. W. Kennedy, all
of Fossil; one brother, Robert Kennedy of Stanfield, Or.;
one sister, Mrs. Maggie Brown of Lake City, Cal.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, October 24, 1920
|
Pehling, Mary
Fossil, Or., Oct. 9 – (Special) – Mrs. Mary Pehling, aged
69, died at the home of her son, W. A. Pehling, near
Antone, Wheeler county, October 5. The body was sent
to Seattle where funeral services were held. Mrs.
Pehling was born in Germany March 31, 1852. She was
the mother of 13 children, eight of whom survive.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Monday, October 10, 1921
|
Miller, Josephine
Fossil, Or., Dec. 25 – (Special) – Mrs. J. A. Miller died
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. S. Angell, near
Fossil, last Wednesday. She was 56 years old.
She came to Oregon at the age of 12 years and was married
to John Albert Miller in Arlington, Or., in 1887.
Nine children are Charles Albert of Olex, Or.; Dolph of
Yorba Linda, Cal.; Mrs. Hilda Angel, Mrs. Katherine
Anderton, Oscar, Nell and Frank Miller, all of
Fossil. Her husband, J. A. Miller, also survives.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Monday,
December 26, 1921
|
Chapman, Joseph
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the
Baptist church at Fossil, Or., for Joseph A. Chapman, 84,
who died Thursday in Portland.
Mr. Chapman was born in Eola, Or., and had lived in Fossil
for the last 35 years. Until his retirement a few
years ago, he was a prominent farmer and stockman in
eastern Oregon.
Surviving relatives include the wife, Esma C. Chapman of
Fossil, and a sister, Jane Dunlap of Wasco, Or. The
Rev. James W. Black will officiate at the funeral
services. Burial will be at the Odd Fellows’
cemetery at Fossil
Source: The Oregonian (Portland, OR) - Saturday,
March 15, 1941
|
Samson, Gladys
Fossil, Or., Oct. 11 – (Special) – Mrs. Gladys Samson, 30
years old, died last Thursday of blood poisoning at the
Condon hospital. She was born in Fossil and had
spent her entire life in Wheeler county. She
attended and was graduated from Wheeler county high
school. She died suddenly. She leaves her
husband, W. H. Samson, and two small children, her father
and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Linae Kelsay; two sisters, Mrs.
Fred Metleer and Miss Ethel Kelsay, all of Fossil.
The funeral sermon was preached b Rev. Mr. Horace Kaye in
the Methodist church last Saturday. Interment was
made in the Oddfellows’ cemetery in Fossil.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Tuesday, October 12, 1920
|
Cooper, George
Hood River, Dec. 29 (Special) – George David Cooper, 45, a
native of Mount Hood, died near Fossil Monday.
Survivors include the widow, Thelma of Parkdale; three
brothers, James of Mineral, Wash.; John and David of
Parkdale; sister, Mrs. Tena Gribble, Canby; Mrs. Mae
Walton, Parkdale, and Mrs. Harriet Iremonger, Fossil, and
his mother, Mrs. Marian Cooper, Parkdale.
Source: The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Sunday, December 20, 1934
|
Meyer, C. W.
Forty-Niner
Takes His Last Journey
C. W. Meyer, a pioneer who died at Antone, Or., February
11, was born in Bremen, Germany, August 31, 1820.
After following the sea for 15 years he went to California
in 1849, and traveled northward to Jacksonville, Or., in
1861. Two years later he moved into what is now
Wheeler County, which has ever since been his home, except
during a short period in California, during which time he
married Miss Meta Backloh, in Alameda. He followed
farming and stockraising on his ranch, and also kept a
general merchandise store in Antone for many years.
He died February 11, of heart trouble. During his
life-time Mr. Meyer was always in the lead when a helping
hand was needed, and was a well-respected citizen of
Wheeler County. Graduating from an English school at
15, he spoke German, French, English and Spanish.
His widow and three children – William H. Meyer, of
Mitchell, Or., Mrs. Anna C. Scherr, of Portland, and Mrs.
Gussie Keck, of Milwaukee - survive him. Mr. Meyer
was a member of the pioneers of Oregon.
Source: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) -
Thursday, February 19, 1903
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