These are obituaries that I and many others have donated. Mine were transcribed from old newspapers. I got the microfilms through interlibrary loan from the University of Oregon. There are also many others who have donated. If there is no contributor on it, it is something I have transcribed. If there is no link on the contributor's name, they have no further information about that person. It is someone extra on a copy of their families information.
If you have any obituaries you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.
Caroline D. Blakeslee, age 90 years, 4 months and 22 days, died in La Grande Monday last, and the funeral took place from the Episcopal church, Union, Wednesday afternoon, the 30th inst.
Mrs. Blakeslee was 90 years old, having been born in Lewiston, New York, September 6, 1827. She was married to Chas. L. Blakeslee, May 12, 1850, and lived in Battle Creek, Mich., until 1865, when they crossed the plains to Union, where she lived until 1910. Since that time she has loved with her daughter, Mrs. Oliver.
Mr. Blakeslee passed away June 1, 1905.
She is survived by one son, Dr. L. K. Blakeslee, of Pendleton, and two daughters, Mrs. W. A. Hall, of Union, and Mrs. J. R. Oliver, of La Grande.
Funeral services were held in Union at the Episcopal church of which she was a member since 1869, having helped to organize the church at Union.
January 28, 1918
This information donated by Larry Rader
Charles Lewis Blakeslee was born in Berlin, New York, in the year 1827. At the age of thirteen years he removed to the state of Michigan. In 1850 he was married to Caroline Dewey, and made his home in Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1863 Mr. Blakeslee moved to Union County, Oregon, with the pioneers of that year, and his family followed him in 1867. Mr. Blakeslee taught some of the first schools in the Grande Ronde Valley, in Summerville, Cove and Union, and in the old school house still stands in Union that was the scene of his early labors.
Five children survive him, as also does his wife-W. B. Blakeslee, of Pine, Oregon; Dr. L. K. Blakeslee, of Pendleton, Oregon; Mrs. W. H. Stafford and Mrs. W. A. Hall, of Union, Oregon; Mrs. J. r. Oliver of La Grande, Oregon.
Mr. Blakeslee became a Mason in 1853, and for 52 years has been an ardent craftsman. For more than twenty years he has been the appointed lecturer in Grande Ronde Lodge No, 56, and of its one hundred members, more than half have received their Masonic teaching from the lips and tongue of this Masonic brother. From his life and conduct many valuable lessons may be had and sublime encomiums pronounced. He was a firm believer in the existence of a Supreme Being, and the fervency with which he repeated the Lord's prayer came as a benediction to the balance of his brethren. It was his constant endeavor to walk and act according to the pure principles of virtue and morality. He may have had his faults-we do not for a moment say that he was faultless-but those of us who knew him during the latter part of his life, can say that it was given to the spreading of the principles of virtue and morality. He has taught the young to walk uprightly; he has admonished the middle-aged likewise; he has set an example for the aged that they must ever remember that they are traveling "that broad level of time toward that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." Therefore, let it be served for him who is without sin to undertake to mention a single item of fault. With the valor of one famous in Masonic history, he came to his death with fortitude based upon the holy principles of the Christian religion. The end was peacable and quick, painless and happy. If he had a care, it was for those he left behind, and especially for the noble woman that was his wife, whose grief knew no bounds, and who was his companion for more than fifty years and can testify to his life and the manner in which it was lived. We cannot but believe that he is better now. He was laid to rest under the auspices of the church he adored and the fraternity he loved. Of him it can certainly be said that he lived a life that when his summons came to take his departure to the realms of light, he did not go in fear and trembling, like "one scourged to a dungeon," but sustained and soothed with a faithful and unfaltering trust, he approached the end like one who "wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."
1905 Newspaper Obituary
This information donated by Larry Rader