Reminiscences of Wallowa County Excerpts and Local Industry
A long readers’ memoir recounts early travel through Wallowa County Oregon from Eureka camp to Joseph, sharing river journeys on the Imnaha, stagecoach treks, and a stop at a humble home with a famed cook. It notes Pomona College’s enrollment surge, the Activated Sludge plant project near Le Verne, and a glimpse of orange packing in California, highlighting local people and places from 1908 onward.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pomons
California
Wallows County
Eureka Camp
Imnaha
Imnaka
Buake
Mt. Sheep Rock
Baughman
Fargo
Elgin
Joseph
Wallowa
Mountain Road
Jerry Walk
Rudd
Buckhorn
Jerry
Editor
Jewell
Pomona
le Verne
Pomonia
LaVeras
Itm
Iting
Sig
Jan
Plazit
Pioneer of 1881 Remembers Wallowa Settling
An 1881 settler recalls arriving in Wallowa county in fall 1881, homesteading northeast of Joseph, living there until 1903, selling to the Schluer and Wurzweiler brothers, then moving to California to Stanislaus county and later Modesto. He notes good health and mentions other Wallowa veterans in Stanislaus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Modesto
California
Enterprise
Wallowa
Joseph
Schluer
George
Mike
Wurzweiler
Stanislaus County
My Alister’s Long Trek to Wallowa Valley Fifty Years On
In Portland and later Oregon I recall a half century of visits to Wallowa County. The 1870s accounts tell of early settlers like Henry Schaeffer and family, claims on upper Prairie Creek, and a clash with Indigenous land rights that forced settlers to abandon work or risk mark on claim posts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Portland
Oregon
Wallowe Valley
Wallowa County
Henry Schaeffer
Wallowa
Wallowa Valley
C. A. Hunter
A. R. Hunter
Union County
Upper Prairie Creek
Racelne S
Misses Mountains and Good Friends in Wallowa County
Letter from Bernice McGarry Pearce in Enterprise Oregon recalls life in Wallowa County. She praises the mountains the climate and local farms while noting relatives friends and neighbors in Enterprise Westfall Vale and Portland. Pearce invites friends to visit and hints at river and ranch life in the early era.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Westfall
Oregon
Enterprise Record
Wallowa County
Enterprise
Woodall
Amd
Wallowa
Aees
Vale
Ore
Wes Tippatt
George Hunt
Jack Welch
J. W. Young
Portland
Chase Pearce
Bernice McGarry Pearce
McKinnon Family Seeks Roots in White Pine Belt
Greer Idaho letter from the McKinnon family greeting Wallowa county friends. They live eight miles from Greer on a farm and report farming and logging in the white pine belt. They note railroad extension and a Lewiston mill aiding the area and compare climate to Iowa.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greer
Idaho
Wallowa County
United States
Lewiston
George Ocannon
Lewinton
Song of Friendship Ada Robinson Pitapatrick
A verse fragment describes a paper full of letters from distant friends that lifts spirits when opened. The poem mentions jolly notes from absent friends and a sense of camaraderie and shared kindness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Song of
Friendship Ada Robinson Pitapatrick
Bing
Wallowa County Sendoff from Mrs A McKinngon
A cordial closing from Mrs A McKinngon extends warm greetings to friends in Wallowa County praising a good climate and healthy, strong state of affairs. She signs with sincere regards.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wallowa County
Beautify Wallowa Lake Banks With Local Plantings
Ada Robinson Fitzpatrick urges public action to replant lake banks near Wallowa Lake with native trees shrubs and flowers. She cites irrigation drawdowns that eroded scenery and urges a community effort by civic groups to restore beauty for residents and future generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Walla Walla
Wash
Record
Wallowa County
Enterprise
Lostine
Wallowa
Comaty
Ada Robinson Fitzpatrick
Quiet Life of Kathryn Lay in Van Nuys California
Mrs Kathryn E Lay writes from Van Nuys California expressing contentment with her life after illness and influenza. She recalls connections to Wallowa County Oregon Pennsylvania roots neighbors and friends, notes California climate and springlike landscapes, and thanks local church minded neighbors for support while living alone.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
van Nuys
California
Bir
Wallowa County
Pennsylvania
Folka
Selwyn Miller
Kathryn E. Lay
Regretted to Leave Friends in County in Indiana
A letter to the editor from Columbia City Indiana recalls residence in Wallowa County Oregon. The writer left in 1917, returned among familiar faces, noting changes yet a sense of home, and expresses warm regards to old friends.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Columbia City
Indiana
Wallowa County
Old Ties Bind County Residents Across Distances
A letter from a longtime Oregon reader reflects on moving from Wallowa County to southern Oregon six years ago. The writer laments distance from hometown, noting how family and neighbors remain central despite relocation and how life still ties them to the county.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wallowa
Oregon
Burchett Family Letter From Drain Residents Reach Out
A fragmented note from D. Burdett and family describes visits from former Wallowa county residents Mrs Arch Alford and others now living near Drain. They recount travels from Canada to Medford and invite friends to visit Drain, a small town midway between Eugene and Roseburg.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wallowa
Watson
Jeel
Arch Alford
Gery
Burdett and Family
Landis Family Reaches Out From California
W. J. Landis and family greet old friends of Wallowa County in a letter from BeaFerando, California. They enjoy California sunshine for three years, William working as a John Lucas Paint salesman in San Francisco. They celebrate the birth of a nine month old daughter and send best wishes for happiness and success to all in Wallowa County.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
BeaFerando
California
Chteftain
Wallowa County
John Lucas Paint Company
San Francisco
Summer Weather on Border in National City California
The Record Chieftain notes warm, sunny conditions with readings around 82 degrees. Residents report green, thrifty conditions after rainfall and describe local activity including dairy farming by J. W Powers, visits by Homer Wella and Rennie Roberts, and a winter stay by Mr and Mrs Joe Sitko and Waldo Chase in Wallows County.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
National City
California
Wallows County
J. W Powers
Jersey
Joe Sitko
Waldo Chase
Homer Wella
Rennie Roberts
Chet Gaylord’s
Turlock
YRS
Surber
Wallowa Valley Echoes From Forty Years Past
Resident recalls early Wallowa life long ago with family arrival from Missouri in 1885. Stories cover farms near Joseph, Alder store, Prarris Creek, Ham McCully flour mill, and canyon travel by wagon with rough roads and toll bridge. Continued on page.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Casaveat
Alta
Canada
Record Chieftain
Wallowa Valley
R. L. Cole
Bob
Joseph
Alder
King
Enterprise
Wallowa
Canyon
F. Pr. McCully
T. F Rich
Prarris Creek
8. P. Williams
Ham McCully
Heo
Upper Prairie Creek
Missouri
Slater
March Frolic in South Described by Averius
A narrative from Los Angeles recalls a trip near Venice and Culver City to view the Al G Barnes circus. The account praises Tusko the elephant and a gorilla interaction, notes Long Beach Montana Day with locals, and mentions neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Jap Wark preparing to return to Hood River with their farm.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Averius
Los Angeles
Calif
Venice
Culver City
al G. Barnes Circus
Tusko
Noy
Rited States
Sujyw
Gue Keapere
Creay
J P
Long Beach
Montana
Oregon
Jap Wark
Hood River
Also Mentioned on This Page
Canyon House
Tehear
W. E. Howard
Mrs
Brumowa
Halley
Andy McCall
Riley
Thomas Jones
Fred Proebster
J. R.hunter
Mr. Hunter
McKinnon
Big White Pine Belt
Sincerely
Mrs. A, McKinngon
Wallowa Lake
Kathryn Lay
W.J. Landis
Bert Cole
Cape Horn
The
Wallows
Walley 'Walleyalley
Leese
Loat Prairie
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!