Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1917-02-16
NEWPORT


Died at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. DR.. F. M. Carter,
after lingering illness of elev-
en- years, Feb. 9th, 1917, Mrs.
Rebecca Caroline Blair aged,
"a years lacking two days. Mrs.
Blair nee Montgomery was
born In Clark County, Indiana,
February 11th, 1888, and moved
with her parents to Iowa in 1845,
and from there crossed the plain
with schooner wagons and OK
teams to Oregon in 1858; coming
with the large pioneer train, +.
composed of the Blair, Walker,
Montgomery and Henkle fami- ;
lies of which Ichabod B. Henkle
was the Captain. = Mrs. Blail
could relate many interesting in
cidents that occurred on the trip
across the continent which took
six months to accomplish. The
Blairs, Walkers and Henkles
took up donation land claims on
Marys river and around Philo-
math and the Montgomerys set
tied on the Luckamute in Polk
county. In 1860 she was united
in marriage to James H. Blair.
After living in Polk county five
years the family moved in 1866
to Elk City, taking up n home
stead on the Big Elk river where
Mrs. Blair spent the most Of her
life. From Elk City the family
moved to Newport where she
lived up to the time of her death.
much of her time was spent set
ting at the window looking out
upon the beautiful Yaquina Bay
and the green hills that rise be-
yond, making a most beautiful
picture. She often said this ty-
pifies the future world where she
hoped all would be happy, free
from sickness, sorrow, pain and
death. The latch string of the
Blair home was always hanging
out and Mrs. Blair was noted for
whole souled hospitality and
kindness to her nelghbors which
was so charfstic of the early pio-
neers. They helped each other
in sickness or trouble without
any thought Of pay. Mr.. anG
Mrs. Blair always took the side
Of temperance, schools and
churches and many happy hours
were spent at their home by
friends and neighbors in years
long gone by. 1t might be in
teresting to mention some of the
pioneers contemporary with
Mrs. Blair who are still living on
the Bay, but the most of them
have passed on over the Great
Divide. These men and women
helped to conquer the wilderness
and assisede in laying the foun-
dations upon which the great
star OF Oregon is being built.
Here are the names of some of
these pioneers: Mr.. and Mrs.
NJ. w. Simpson, Mrs. Thos. Ferr
and Mrs. George King, Mr.. and
Mrs. ID. B. Ranlsdell,, James E.
Dixon, Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. L. Trapp,
Harry and Andrew Porter, Joe
: Bryant, Thomas Rude and John
Butler, Mrs. Dan Grady, William
Mackey, Dudley Perkins. MI.
and Mrs. John-McCluskey, Clark
Copeland, John Robertson, Mrs.
F. NJ. Stanton, Mrs. Thomas Es-
py, Mrs. w. H. Rich, Mr.. and
Mrs. B. F. Jones, Lon Dundon,
T. p. Fish, Mrs. Samuel Case,
Mr.. and Mrs. r. A. Bensell, Mr..
and Mrs. Ira Miller, Mrs. John
Jeflries, Mrs. John Nye, l.. e.
Davis, John and Steve Logan.
The funei al services were held
at the residence, conducted by
Rev. George T. Pratt, pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church of
Newport. Mrs. Blair was a
member of Twilight Rebekah
Lodge No. 92 Of Elk City. The
Elk City and Newport Rebekah
Lodges attended tho funeral eX-
ercises in body. A large num-
ber of friends and neighbors
were present as well as a num-
Der Of old pioneers. James
Montgomery, a brother, and
wife from Prineville were pres
ent. Mrs. Fred Stenshoff, q
niece from Salem. was present
and Mr.. and Mrs. M. l.. Trapp OF
Toledo were also present. De-
ceased is survived by her hus-
band, one daughter, Mrs. DR..
Carter, and one brother, James
Montgomery, and a number of
grand and great-grand children
who live in different parts of the
State. The interrment took
place in the Eureka Cemetery.
The floral offerings were
beautiful, typical of the life and
character of deceased.