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Wallowa County Obituaries

Cussins

Contributed by  Orvetta Harmon.  Visit Orvetta's family genealogy at Cussins Family Genealogy

ARTHUR E. COUSINS

     Arthur E. Cousins, 93, a retired sheepherder and farmer, died Aug. 16 at the local hospital.
     He was the son of Samuel J. and ElizabethCousins and wa born April 24, 1877 in Pickrell, Neb. He came to Wallowa county 83 years ago.
     Graveside services were today (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. in the Enterprise cemetery, with Rev. Lester T. Wells officiating. He has no known survivors.

August 18, 1970

MRS. ELIZABETH N. CUSSINS

     Elizabeth N. Cussins passed away Saturday morning, Sept. 4, 1926. She had been as well as usual, gathering the eggs Friday night and working about the house but Saturday morning when she failed to appear at the breakfast hour, one of her two sons, who were at home with her, went to her room and found that she had passed away.
     The funeral services were held at the Cussins home at 2 p.m. Sunday, conducted by Rev. W.F. Shields, and she was laid to rest beside her husband, S. J. Cussins, who died May 5, 1919.
     Elizabeth Nelson was born at Athens, Iowa, Octo. 19, 1842, and died at the age of 83 years, 10 months and 15 days. She was married to S. J. Cussins Sept. 4, 1862, having passed away on the 64th anniversary of her wedding. After their marriage they moved to Missouri and in 1866 they moved to Nebraska, driving an ox team. They were one of the pioneer families of Wallowa county, having come to Lostine in the year 1889, and settling on the ranch 1 1/2 mile west of town, where Mrs. Cussins has lived ever since.
     Nine children were born to this union, eight of whom are living. Wm. F. died in early childhood; Joseph S. lives in Beatrice, Nebr.; Frank A., George O., Leander, Arthur E., Kate M. Gastin, Edelia M. Jacobs and Henry N., all live in Wallowa County. There are 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
     Mrs. Cussins was a faithful and industrious wife and a good and loving mother.

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MRS. CUSSINS PASSES SUDDENLY AT LOSTINE

     Mrs. Elizabeth Cussins, pioneer resident of Wallowa county, passed away at the family home about two miles west of Lostine, early Saturday morning, Sept. 4. Mrs. Cussins was enjoying, apparently, her usual good health on the preceding day, having been engaged n doing light work about the house. She retired at her usual time Friday evening. Her two sons F. A. (Bert) and Henry N. who lived with the mother and operated the home ranch, had been doing the morning's work and prepared breakfast. When they called her to breakfast and she did not respond they went to her room and found she had passed away, having died apparently during sleep.
     Mrs. Cussins was born at Athens, Ill., Oct. 19, 1842, having attained the age of 83 years, 10 months and 15 days. She was married to S. J. Cussins 64 years ago on the day of her death. The family came to this county in 1889 and settled on the farm west of Lostine where they have lived continuously since.
     The husband passed away May 1, 1919.
     Mrs. Cussins was the mother of nine children, eight of whom survive, the oldest son, William having died in childhood. Those who survive are: Joseph Cussins of Beatrice, Neb., F. A., George, Leander (Dan), Arthur E., Mrs. Katie Gastin, Mrs. Odella Jacobs and Henry N., all residents of this county; besides 17 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren.
     Funeral services were conducted at the home at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, by Rev. W.F. Shields of Wallowa. Burial was in the Lostine cemetery.

DEATH COMES SUDDENLY TO FRANK CUSSINS,
PIONEER LOSTINE RESIDENT
(By Lostine Correspondent)

     Frank Albert Cussins, one of Wallowa County's pioneers, died Friday, December 18, 1836 at his home, one and a half miles northwest of Lostine, where he had lived most of his life. He came here in 1881 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Cussins having been born at Beatrice, Nebraska September 20, 1868.
     Mr. Cussins had been in poor health for some time, but was able to be about until the day of his death. On Friday he walked to his neighbor Burl Caudle's to see if Mr. Caudle would take him to Wallowa to see a doctor. The doctor pronounced him in a very critical condition, and he was taken home where he passed away at 7:30 Friday evening from a heart attack.
     Funeral services were held at the Lostine cemetery Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, with Rev. Halverson of Enterprise, conducting the service.
     He was 68 years, two months and 28 days old.
     He leaves five brothers, Daniel and Norris who still live on the old home place, Dock of Wallowa, Arthur of Enterprise and Joe who lives near Beatrice, Nebraska and two sisters, Mrs. Kate Gastin of Wallowa and Mrs. Odelia Jacobs of Imnaha.

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank the many friends for their kindness to us in our bereavement and for the many floral offerings.

Cussin Brothers.
Mrs. Kate Gastin and family
Mrs. Odelia Jacob and family

George (Dock) Cussins Passes At LaGrande

     George Oscar (Dock) Cussins, for 53 years a resident of Wallowa county, died at the Grande Ronde hospital yesterday morning as the result of a heart ailment which had followed a siege of bronchial pneumoia suffered by Mr. Cussins last winter. Last Thursday Mr. Cussins was taken to the hospital by his nephew, Roy Gastin, and his condition gradually grew worse until the end came.
     No funeral arrangements had been made late yesterday, pending the arrival of a sister and brothers.
     Mr. Cussins was born in Beatrice, Neb., in September, 1870, and when a lad of 17 came to Wallowa. He first landed on Alder Slope and engaged in sheep herding, working for several sheep men, among them the late Jonathan Haas.
     He saved his earnings and with Frank Cook as partner went into the sheep business, but that was prior to the depression of 1893, and during those hard times they lost their sheep.
     After this misfortune Mr. Cussins worked as a herder and laborer again until 1900 when he and his brother-in-law J. B. Gastin, purchased the 683 - acre ranch in the Lower Leap which had since been his home. In 1924 Mr. Gastin died and since that time Mrs. Gastin, her son Roy, and Mr. Cussins, had continued operating the farm and he had made his home with his sister and nephew.
     Mr. Cussins is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Gastin of Wallowa, and Mrs. Tom Jacob of Imnaha, and four brothers, Dan and Norris of Lostine, Arthur of Enterprise, and Joe of Nebraska. Norris is a patient in the Walla Walla hospital recuperating from a recent operation. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

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Funeral Rites Held For George Cussins

     Final rites for George Otto (Dock) Cussins, old time risident of Wallowa county, who passed away in the hospital at LaGrande last week, were held in graveside services in the Wallowa cemetery last Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with Rev. E. E. Callahan, pastor of the Christian church at Enterprise, officiating.
    Pall bearers were L. W. Minor, F.(?) A. Bakke, Martin Peterson, Joe Rounsavell, C.A. Hunter and Bruce Cox.
     Mr. Cussins was born September 25, 1870, and died June 19, 1940, making his age 69 years, eight months and 24 days.

World War Vet Dies in Portland

     LOSTINE (special) - Norris Cussins, 54, World war veteran, died at theVeteran's hospital at Portland Saturday morning.
     He was born November 14, 1886 in Gage county, Neb., and came to Oregon at the age of two years. He spent most of his life on the Cussins' homestead a mile west of Lostine.
     He entered the World war and spent 18 months over seas.
     He was taken to the Veterans' hospital in Walla Walla last summer and later transferred to the Veterans' hospital at Portland. He was buried at Portland.

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     Funeral services were held in Portland for Norris Cussins, who died at the Veterans hospital in that city Saturday, Feb. 1. Interment was in the veterans cemetery.
     Henry Norris Cussins was born Nov. 14, 1886, in Gage county, Nebraska, and was the youngest of seven children. His parents were Samuel Jefferson and Louisa Elizabeth Cussins, pioneer settlers of Wallowa county. They came to Oregon when Norris was two years of age and lived on a farm west of Lostine all of his life with the exception of about two years. He entered the service of the U.S. army under the first draft of 1917 and spent 18 months overseas in active service. He was in the battle of the Argonnne forest.
     Twice during the last two years he was taken to the Veterans hospital at Walla Walla. The first time he underwent an operation for gallstones. Last summer Norris became ill and returned to the hospital, later being transferred to Portland where he was treated for cancer of the lungs.
     H leaves two sisters, Mrs. Kate Gastin of Wallowa, and Mrs. Delliah Jacobs of Imnaha; three brothers, Arthur and Dan of Lostine, and Joseph, last heard of in Nebraska. The other brother, George, died several years ago; also one daughter, Derynda Cusins of Lostine.

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Court Probates Cussins Estate

     ENTERPRISE (Special) - The Wallowa county court was in session Wednesday. The court appointed Roy Gastin as administrator in the estate of H. N. Cussins, with the will annexed. Real property in the estate is valued at $6,000 and personal property at $4,00, and the value of real property given to to exceed $750 and the total property value belonging to the deceased at the time of his death does not exceed $7,500.
     Heirs to the estate are: Joe S. Cussins, brother, Liberty, Neb.; Odelia Jacob, sister, Imnaha, Ore.; Kate Gastin, sister, Wallowa, Ore. Leander Cussins brother, Lostine, Ore.; Arthur Cussisn, brother, Enterprise, ORe.; and Duranda Cussins daughter, Lostine, Ore.

 
Kate Gastin Laid To Rest Here Wednesday

     Funeral services for Kate May Gastin were held Wednesday afternoon at the Christian church in Wallowa with the Rev. Floyd E. White of Joseph in charge. Burial was at the Wallowa cemetery beside her husband, James B. Gastin, who died in1924.
     Mrs. Gastin was 81 years of age. Though her strength and activity was somewhat reduced since the death of a daughter about a year ago, she remained active in her daily duties to the very hour of her death. Her son, Roy, with whom she lived, had been at home until 2 o'clock last Saturday, and left on an errand to Lostine and Enerprise. When he returned at 5:20 he found his mother seated at a chair at a table in the kitchen. She was, however, dead. Irvin, who also lives at home in the Leap district, had been gone all afternoon doing some work in the Gastin pasture nearby.
     When Roy left, his mother was at work in the garden, gathering cucumbers and squash. Apparently she had come into the house and had done some household work, including putting clean pillow cases on the beds upstairs. She had apparently lain on a couch downstairs for a time. As Roy surmises, his mother suffered a heart attack. perhaps finding it difficult to breath while lying down, she may have risen to take a seat on a chair, and here it was she expired. Because his mother had not yet gone to feed the chickens, as was her custom at 4 o'clock he assumes death may have come about 4 o'clock.
     Mrs. Gastin was born Kate May Cussins on December 24,1879, at Beatrice, Nebr. She was the daughter of Samuel J. and Elizabeth Cussins. When she was seven years of age, the family came by train to Elgin, Ore., bringing their household goods and some horses. They came into Wallowa county by wagon with their horses.
     For seven years the family lived on the then J. A. Tulley place two miles east of Wallowa. This is the same place where Mr. and Mrs. Barton Wade now live. The family then moved to the Leap district where Mrs. Gastin lived to the end. She lived in Wallowa county 74 years.
     Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gastin, three of whom survive. They are Roy and Irvin H. Gastin, who live at the home place in Leap; Laura Andaerson, long-time resident of La Grande who died July 11, 1960; Dee Gastin who died about five years ago; and Eugene Gastin of Wallowa.
     There are 10 grandchildren; Mrs. Carl (Ruby) Smith of La Grande; Jim Anderson of Hollywood, Calif.; Bob Anderson, Cove; Don Anderson in the U.S. Air Force at Omaha; Mrs. Charles (May) Little of La Grande; Ovetta Thomas; fomerly a WAVE of Pennsylvania; Mrs. Bob (Loretta) Moore of La Grande; Teddy Gastin, Fort Ord, Calif.; and Judy Gastin of Pendleton.
     Five of the grandsons, with Sam Meek, of Wallowa, were the pall bearers. These grandsons were Jim Anderson, bob Anderson, Harold Anderson, Bob Moore and Carl smith.
     Two brothers and a sister, all of Wallowa county, survive Mrs. Gastin. They are Leander Cussins of Lostine and Arthur Cussins of Enterpise, both older than their sister; and Mrs. Odelia Jacobs of Enterprise, two years younger than Kate.
     Mrs. Gastin's life was devoted to her husband and the raising of her children. She always had a keen interest in her garden and chickens. Many years ago she was active in Grange work in her community.

Services Today for L. R. Cussins

     Leander Roy Cussins, a retired farmer and sheepherder, and a resident of Wallowa county for the past 73 years, passed away suddenly at his home near Lostine Sunday, Nov. 12, 1961.
     Graveside services will be conducted by the Bollman Funeral Home at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) in the Lostine cemetery, with the Rev. A. L. Kintner officiating.
     The deceased was born April 14, 1875 in Beatrice, Neb., son of Samuel J. and Elizabeth Cussins. He had never married.
     Survivors include a brother, Arthur Cussins, and a sister, Mrs. Odelia Jacobs, both of Enterprise, and several nieces and nephews, Roy, Eugene and Irvin Gastin, of Wallowa, are among the nephews, and Mrs. John (Sylvia) Bales, of Enterprise, is a niece. A sister, Mrs. Kate Gastin passed away Sept. 2.

(Burial was Nov. 16, 1961)

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Wallowa County Man Stricken

     ENTERPRISE (Special) Leander Roy Cussins, 86, a retired farmer and sheepherder, and resident of Wallowa County for the past 73 years, died at his home near Lostine last Sunday.
     Graveside services were held today at 11 a.m. in the Lostine cemetery with the Rev. A .L. Kintner officiating.
     Mr. Cussins was born in Beatrice, Neb., the son of Samuel J. and Elizabeth Cussins. He had never married.
     Survivors include a brother, Arthur Cussins, and a sister, Mrs. Odelia Jacobs, both of Enterprise, Roy, Eugene and Irvin Gastin of Wallowa, are among the nephews and Mrs. Sylvia Bales of Enterprise is a niece. A sister Mrs. Kate Gastin died Sept. 2.

November 12, 1961

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN.

     That the undersigned has been appointed by the County Court of the State of Oregon, for the County of Wallowa, as administrator of the estate of Leander Cussins, deceased, and has qualified as such administrator and all persons having claims against the said estate are hereby notified and required to present the same, properly verified, as provided by law, and with the proper vouchers attached, to the administrator at the office of Geo. E Richards, in Enterprise, Oregon, within 6 months from the date of this Notice.

Dated this 23rd day of November, 1961.
Roy Gastin
 

Obituary

     Samuel Jefferson Cussins was born in Athens county, Ohio, August 14, 1835 and died at his home near Lostine May 1, 1919, being 84 years, 8 months and 13 days old. When 17 years old he moved with his parents to Lee county, Iowa. In 1863 he was united in marriage to Miss Louise Nelson. To this union were born: Mars. James Gaston and George Cussins of Wallowa; Joe of Beatrice, Neb.; Frank, Leander, Arthur, and Henry (who is in the army service) of Lostine, and Mrs. Odelia Jacobs, of Chico.
     Mr. Cussins was a veteran of the Civil war. He moved wit his family in 1865 to Nebraska, where they resided until 1889 when they came to Wallowa county, which has since been his home.
     Funeral services were held at the house Saturday afternoon conducted by Rev. A.M. Williams, and burial was in Lostine cemetery.
 

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