This information donated by Larry Rader
If you have any obituaries you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.
The death of Catharine E., wife of J.S. Darr, occurred at the family home north of this city, Sunday March 25, 1905. Mrs. Darr had been suffering ill health for several months.
Deceased was born in Virginia March 5, 1836, being a few days over 69 years of age. She moved from Missouri to this section with her husband in 1881. Besides her husband, she leaves nine children and a host of friends to mourn her loss.
Services were conducted in the M.E. Church Monday afternoon by Rev. D.S. Smith and interment took place in the city cemetery.
Elgin Recorder Friday March 31, 1905
Fatally Hurt in Explosion of Blasting Caps
Delbert Darr was fatally injured and his brother, George, received a score of painful bruises and cuts about his head and shoulders between 7 and 8 o'clock Tuesday morning when a quantity of dynamite caps which they were preparing to take with them to work, exploded. Immediately after the accident Dr. Thompson of Elgin was notified who called an ambulance from La Grande, and went to the scene of the accident, the John Darr place. Delbert died in the Grande Ronde hospital about 20 minutes after reaching La Grande.
The men, in preparation for work on the road at a point about a half mile above their home, took a few of the caps from a building on the ranch, placed them in the kit of tools, and started out of the yard.
In a conversation with the editor of the Recorder, George, who is now recovering satisfactorily from his injuries, in the hospital at La Grande, said that his brother, Delbert, was carrying the kit, and either dropped it or laid it down, causing the explosion. Delbert received the full force of the blast in the face and chest, tearing off his face and arms, and mangling the upper portion of his body beyond recognition. George stated that had he not been standing behind Delbert, he too would have received injuries equally serious.
Funeral services for Delbert will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the auditorium of the city hall in Elgin. The body will be laid to rest in the Elgin cemetery. The services at the cemetery will be in charge of the Rock Wall Grange, of which Delbert was a member.
Delbert, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Darr, was born March 25, 1904, and was a few months over 25 years of age. He was born and raised in this community, where his parents have lived since the early days of Union county.
The Elgin Recorder
July 1929
MRS. DARR PASSES AT ELGIN - BURIAL SET FOR SUNDAY
Mrs. Margaret Eleanor Darr, a resident of Elgin the last 51 years, died Thursday night a the home of her daughter after a long illness. Funeral services will be held a the Christian church at Elgin Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock with burial at the Elgin cemetery with Snodgrass and Zimmerman in charge.
Mrs. Darr was born Feb. 19, 1859 in Kentucky, and was 76 years 10 months and seven days of age. She was married to John M. Darr in January, 1881, and nine children were born to this union. All survive except Delbert, youngest son, who was killed in a dynamite blast in 1929.
Survivors include James, Mrs. Kate Cowan, Mrs. Minnie McCall, Mrs. Ruth Rogers, George and Cecil, of Elgin; Mrs. Mary Hansen of Enterprise, and Mrs. Ethel Salisbury, of Winchester, Ida., also seven grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Alexander, of Elgin.
La Grande Evening Observer December 26, 1935
(Her name was actually Eleanor Margaret, called "Ellen" by family.)
Funeral Services for George Darr To Be Saturday
Funeral Services for George Darr, who was born in Elgin in 1892, will be held Saturday, March 20, at 10:30 a.m., at the Elgin Nazarene Church. Mr. Darr died March 16 at the Veterans Hospital at Walla Walla Wash., at the age of 72. He had been in poor health for several years.
Rev. Leonard Gallivan will officiate at the services, and interment will be at the Island City Cemetery. Pallbearers are Charles Whittemore, Tom Williams, Earl Moore, Bob Wiles, Jr., Dalles Harwood, and Delmer Galloway.
Honorary pallbearers are Dempsey Hathron, Ben Bendshadler, Orville Wayt, Tom Diggins, Dr. Hartley Smith, and Arnold Waelty.
George J. Darr was born in Elgin April 5, 1892, the son of John and Ellen Darr, Elgin pioneers. He received his schooling in Elgin and worked for the state forestry department for many years. He retired about 10 years ago, when his health began to fail.
He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, the American Legion and was a veteran of World War I. He was married to Nora Brooks April 27, 1948 at Asotin, Washington.
Survivors include his wife Nora of Elgin; a daughter, Mrs. E. A. (Jaqueline) Zenger of Portland; two brothers, Jim and Cecil Darr of Elgin; four sisters, Mrs. Ruth Rogers of Elgin, Mrs. Mary Hansen of Enterprise, Mrs. Ethel Salisbury of Lewiston, Ida., and Mrs. Kate Cowan of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; four grandchildren, and seven great grand children.
Elgin Recorder March 18, 1965
Graveside Services Held For James Darr, 84
Graveside services for James Darr were held Saturday, Sept 3, at the Elgin cemetery, with Rev. Dennis Mullins of the Elgin Methodist church officiating.
James Darr was born near Imbler on July 27, 1882, and passed away at the Valley View Manor Aug 31. After a long illness. He was 84 years of age. Mr. Darr was a retired farmer and well known here.
Survivors include his widow, Opal Darr, Elgin; one brother, Cecil Darr, Elgin; four sisters, Kate Cowan and Ruth Rogers, Elgin; Mary Hanson, Enterprise, and Ethel Salisbury, Lewiston, Idaho; numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.
(Note says 1966-newspaper not identified)
John M. Darr, resident of Union county and Elgin the past 59 years, passed away quietly at his home here Tuesday, following a period of several months during which his health steadily declined. He was 86 years, 4 months and 18 days of age.
Funeral services were conducted from the Elgin Christian church at 2:00 o'clock this afternoon, with Glen R. Ballard pastor, delivering the discourse. Interment followed in the Elgin cemetery. The services, both at the church and at the graveside, were under the auspices of Orion Lodge No. 73, Knights of Pythias, of which deceased was a veteran member, and of which lodge he was a regular attendant until declining health prevented his attendance. The lodge of which he had been a faithful member so many years conducted graveside services.
John Marcus Darr was born at Enterprise, Missouri June 5, 1859 the son of Mr. And Mrs. Jesse Darr. As a young man he came with his parents and other members of his family to Union county in 1886. Several families composed the train who made the long trip, and most of the members settled around Elgin. He is believed to be the last of that party of settlers who arrived here in 1886.
John Darr was a large man, standing over 6 feet and weighing around 300 pounds and every inch of his height and ounce of his weight were permated with good nature and kindness.
He was the father of a large family of children, eight of whom survive. The survivors include three sons: James, Cecil and George, of Elgin. The surviving daughters are: Mrs. Katie Kowan and Mrs. Ruth Rogers, of Elgin; Mrs. Mary L. Hanson, Enterprise; Mrs. Minnie McCall, and Mrs. Ethel Salisbury, Winchester, Ida. There are also surviving sisters: Mrs. Martha Farley, Salem; Mrs. Alta George, Yreka, Calif., and Mrs. Emma Patten, Joseph. In addition there are 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
The Elgin Recorder Thursday, October 25, 1945
This information donated by Larry Rader with the following notation:
The date of 1886 in John Darr's obituary is misleading because it does not line up with the other news item(s) and the facts of the journey from Missouri.
The wagons departed Browning MO in the spring of 1881, and arrived at Walla Walla in August. That fall, John Darr, and others, moved into the valley of the Grande Ronde. For a few years prior to his permanent settlement north of Elgin, John operated the ferry at Farewell Bend. My speculation is that 1886 may be the year he came back to the Elgin district after his venture into the transportation business. Birth locations of his children would seem to support that notion. -llr
Nora Darr, age 83, of 16901 S. E. Division, Portland, a former resident of Elgin, died last Thursday in Portland.
Mrs. Darr was born on November 18, 1895 at Bald Knob, West Virginia, the daughter of William and Ida (Perry) Brooks. She moved to Elgin in 1946 and to Portland two years ago. Her husband, George Darr, preceded her in death on March 16, 1965.
Mrs. Darr was a member of the First Christian Church of Elgin; Elgin Rebecca Lodge and Elgin Pythian sisters.
Survivors include her daughter, Jacque Zenger, Portland; granddaughters, Marlene Rahn, Kelso, Wash.; Kay Millspaugh, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Carol Williams, Denver, Colo.; Kim Zenger, Portland; sisters, Vivian Van Horn, Portland; Helen Berry, La Grande; seven great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and other relatives.
Services were held last Saturday at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel with Bill Miller of the Elgin Christian Church officiating. Private interment will follow at the Island City cemetery.
Newspaper item: Wed., Oct 17, 1979