Lost Graves

Gustav Eduard Drahiem: Gustav was born 30 Aug 1880 (or 1878) and died 26 July 1868 in Ceres, CA. A death certificate indicates he was buried in Portland, OR. The Modesto Mortuary arranged to have the body transported to Oregon, but it is no longer in business. Gustav's great niece needs help locating the grave. If you have information about the funeral and burial of Mr. Drahiem (sometimes spelled Draheim), please contact C.M. Draheim.

David Tetherow: David was on the 1845 wagon train captained by Solomon Tetherow and guided by the Meeks. He died within a year of his arrival in Oregon, possibly near Hillsboro in Washington County. His wife Ruth and seven children came with him to Oregon. If you can help, contact Iris Graham.

Harry and Catherine (Tatro) Hepner: Harry and Catherine were born in Portland, OR, he in 1895 and she in 1896. They web in Clark Co., WA in August 1916 and passed away after 1933. If you have knowledge of their burial place, contact Kathie Micko.

Margaret Bailey: "Peggy" Bailey, nee McDaniel, was born ca. 1810 and died ca. 1879. She is said to be buried in Coos County, however, she could be in the Lookingglass or Roseburg area of Douglas County or even in Lane County. If you can help, write to Chris Landes.

Chief John (aka Tecumtom or Elk Killer): Ann Goddard is seeking information on the burial place of Chief John, reported having died in June 1864 at "Fort Yamhill" and buried by Father A. J. Croquet presumably in the Grand Ronde area. Can you help?

Found Gravestones

A Treasure in the Thicket

Photo by Wilma Stahl

While every gravestone qualifies as “unique,” surely all would agree that Echo’s is more than a little unusual. Carved on the back of the stone is a small likeness of a young girl we assume to be little Echo. Below that is a much larger carving of a grown woman and what appears to be the carver’s signature, Avard T. Fairbanks, S.C. The stone is 14” wide, 15” high, and 1 ½” thick.

Photo by Wilma Stahl

Update:

The parents of Echo Booth were Robert Asbury Booth and his wife Clintona Ann La Rout. They were married on May 15, 1881, and their first child was Echo Vivian Booth. Robert was the son of the early Methodist circuit rider, Rev. Robert Booth. The younger Booth commissioned and presented to the State of Oregon a statue of his father, entitled "The Circuit Rider" that now stands at the capital.

Update:

Avard T. Fairbanks, whose signature on this stone has been verified, was a famous sculptor. Born in Provo, Utah in 1897, Avard studied in New York and Paris, and he organized the teaching of sculpture at the University of Oregon in Eugene. According to his grandson, Jefferson Fairbanks, Avard "was an assistant professor at the U of O in 1920." He left Eugene briefly in 1924 to study at Yale, returning again to Oregon until 1929, when he moved to Ann Arbor. Most likely, this piece (the gravestone artwork) was created during his time in Eugene, sometime between 1920 and 1929." (No, "The Circuit Rider" was not one of Avard's works).

Update:

Upon closer examination, a date of 1927 has been found underneath the sculptor's signature. It has also been determined that Echo's parents were cremated and their ashes scattered from a bridge.

Homeless Headstone Found in Clackamas County

William Pennison: Ray and Lou Oglesby have had a tombstone in their garage for some time now. It had been found in the backyard of a Canemah resident (near Oregon City, OR), but the person listed does not appear in the Canemah Cemetery records. The stone reads, "William Pennison, Died November 14, 1902, Aged 66 yrs, Native of England." Contact the OHCA if you can help locate Mr. Pennison's grave.

Stone Found in Deschutes County

Adolph H.A. Wisborg: A tombstone found near Madras, Oregon has the following information: "Adolph H.A. Wisborg, Born in Denmark, 7-7-1826, 7-2-1893." Do you know where Mr. Wisborg is buried? We would enjoy seeing this stone returned to his grave. If you can help, please contact the OHCA.

Linn County Stone Looking For A Home

N. Ashbaugh: Found by the Albany police several years ago, the gravestone of N. Ashbaugh sat in Dick Milligan's garage until last year as he diligently researched in an attempt to return this small marble marker to a gravesite. So far, the effort has been fruitless. Can you help? The information on the stone indicates this person was born Feb. 11, 1831 and died July 28, 1910 (or 16). If you have any information on the Ashbaugh family or where N (Nancy, Newton, Nicholas, ???) is buried, please contact the OHCA.