Ira Elbert “Bert” Conner's cremated remains were not initially taken after his death and for many years were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2020 a relative received the ashes.
Although his name is spelled BURT on his death certificate, most other documents refer to him as BERT.
His father, Job Conner, was born in 1827 in Ohio and emigrated to Oregon in 1847 with his brothers Nathan & William and sister Sarah. Arriving long before statehood they were among the earliest white settlers in the Oregon Territory. Job settled in Polk County in a community that was later known as Ballston and is a ghost town today. Job was first married to Polly Ann Riggs in 1855. She died in 1871 giving birth to their seventh child. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Robert Scott (born in 1856), Thomas Edgar (1858), Cordelia Jane (1861), Leander (1863), Roswell Lampson (1866), Marie Louisa (1869), and Nancy Ann (1871).
Bert’s mother, Martha A. Hicklin, was born in Indiana in September 1842 and came to Oregon as a child in September 1851. Her family initially settled in Portland and later moved to Polk County. She first married Edward James on 10/27/1859. They divorced before 1870 when Martha moved back with her parents. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Andrew (born about 1864), Charlotte (about 1861), Mary (about 1866), and Frank (about 1868).
Bert’s parents were married on 5/16/1872 in Polk County. Bert was born in Oregon on 2/18/1879. Among Bert’s full siblings were: Sarah Elizabeth (born in 1874), Lowman Harvey (1876), Amanda Belle (1880) and Ella Martha (1883). In all, Bert’s mother had 14 children with 8 being alive in 1900.
During the census of 1880, Bert was listed as Ira. He was a toddler, living in Jackson precinct in Polk County with his parents, full siblings and half-siblings. His father who was able to read but not write, was described in newspaper accounts as a “wealthy farmer.” In January 1886, Bert’s father went missing. He was found or returned home on his own, but wandered away again in November. He reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver in November 1886. Some people in the community speculated that Job may have been murdered or “gone insane.” Bert was 7 years old when his father died. In the 1900 census, Bert was living in Polk County with his widowed mother and three of his siblings. He was a farm hand working on his mother’s farm.
On 12/10/1900 when Bert was 21, he married 15 year old Katie Ivie of Yamhill County, Oregon. Katie was from Sheridan, Yamhill County, Oregon. A year later, on 12/18/1901 in Yamhill County, Oregon they had a son, Kenneth Eugene Conner. The marriage did not survive. Their divorce which began in 1901, continued on into 1903. Bert lived in Condon, Gilliam County, Oregon after 1900. About 1908 he married a woman named Carie. It was a second marriage for each of them. She was born about 1878 in Missouri and had no children. During the census of 1910, Bert and Carrie lived in Ferry Canyon, Gilliam County where Bert was farming. During that same census, Bert's son Kenneth was living in Polk County in the home of his aunt Cordelia (Conner) Baxter. Cordelia was Bert’s half-sister. It is not known what became of Kenneth’s mother.
Bert’s mother, Martha Conner, died at her home near Ballston on 2/24/1913 and was survived by seven of her children. She was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Polk County with her husband and many others from the extended Conner family.
In 1920 Bert was living in Elgin, Union County in eastern Oregon and was listed as divorced. Periodically in the 1920s he would get a temporary permit to enter Canada as "harvest help." At the time of the 1930 census, he was living in Spokane, Washington where he was a boarder and a laborer.
On 4/9/1920 Bert’s son Kenneth married Marion Rolston in Canada. They had a son, Gordon Rolston Conner. He was born in Toronto on 1/19/1921. Kenneth and Marion divorced in the 1930s. She married Roger Hefling on 12/17/1938. In 1938 Bert’s son Kenneth married Esther Sandow in Portland. They had a daughter 5 years later.
In 1935 and during the census of 1940, Bert was a residential patient at the Eastern State Hospital for the Insane in Espanola, Spokane County, Washington. Now known as Eastern State Hospital, the facility is a psychiatric hospital in Medical Lake, a small community 20 miles southwest of Spokane. The census listed Bert as married.
In 1951 he was living in Dallas in Polk County. On 10/29/1951 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Seven years later he died of pneumonia at the institution on 10/18/1958. Shortly after Bert was institutionalized his son Kenneth died on 12/20/1951 in Portland. Bert’s grandson Gordon married, but never had children. He died of a stroke due to high blood pressure in Sparks, Nevada on 7/21/1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Although his name is spelled BURT on his death certificate, most other documents refer to him as BERT.
His father, Job Conner, was born in 1827 in Ohio and emigrated to Oregon in 1847 with his brothers Nathan & William and sister Sarah. Arriving long before statehood they were among the earliest white settlers in the Oregon Territory. Job settled in Polk County in a community that was later known as Ballston and is a ghost town today. Job was first married to Polly Ann Riggs in 1855. She died in 1871 giving birth to their seventh child. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Robert Scott (born in 1856), Thomas Edgar (1858), Cordelia Jane (1861), Leander (1863), Roswell Lampson (1866), Marie Louisa (1869), and Nancy Ann (1871).
Bert’s mother, Martha A. Hicklin, was born in Indiana in September 1842 and came to Oregon as a child in September 1851. Her family initially settled in Portland and later moved to Polk County. She first married Edward James on 10/27/1859. They divorced before 1870 when Martha moved back with her parents. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Andrew (born about 1864), Charlotte (about 1861), Mary (about 1866), and Frank (about 1868).
Bert’s parents were married on 5/16/1872 in Polk County. Bert was born in Oregon on 2/18/1879. Among Bert’s full siblings were: Sarah Elizabeth (born in 1874), Lowman Harvey (1876), Amanda Belle (1880) and Ella Martha (1883). In all, Bert’s mother had 14 children with 8 being alive in 1900.
During the census of 1880, Bert was listed as Ira. He was a toddler, living in Jackson precinct in Polk County with his parents, full siblings and half-siblings. His father who was able to read but not write, was described in newspaper accounts as a “wealthy farmer.” In January 1886, Bert’s father went missing. He was found or returned home on his own, but wandered away again in November. He reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver in November 1886. Some people in the community speculated that Job may have been murdered or “gone insane.” Bert was 7 years old when his father died. In the 1900 census, Bert was living in Polk County with his widowed mother and three of his siblings. He was a farm hand working on his mother’s farm.
On 12/10/1900 when Bert was 21, he married 15 year old Katie Ivie of Yamhill County, Oregon. Katie was from Sheridan, Yamhill County, Oregon. A year later, on 12/18/1901 in Yamhill County, Oregon they had a son, Kenneth Eugene Conner. The marriage did not survive. Their divorce which began in 1901, continued on into 1903. Bert lived in Condon, Gilliam County, Oregon after 1900. About 1908 he married a woman named Carie. It was a second marriage for each of them. She was born about 1878 in Missouri and had no children. During the census of 1910, Bert and Carrie lived in Ferry Canyon, Gilliam County where Bert was farming. During that same census, Bert's son Kenneth was living in Polk County in the home of his aunt Cordelia (Conner) Baxter. Cordelia was Bert’s half-sister. It is not known what became of Kenneth’s mother.
Bert’s mother, Martha Conner, died at her home near Ballston on 2/24/1913 and was survived by seven of her children. She was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Polk County with her husband and many others from the extended Conner family.
In 1920 Bert was living in Elgin, Union County in eastern Oregon and was listed as divorced. Periodically in the 1920s he would get a temporary permit to enter Canada as "harvest help." At the time of the 1930 census, he was living in Spokane, Washington where he was a boarder and a laborer.
On 4/9/1920 Bert’s son Kenneth married Marion Rolston in Canada. They had a son, Gordon Rolston Conner. He was born in Toronto on 1/19/1921. Kenneth and Marion divorced in the 1930s. She married Roger Hefling on 12/17/1938. In 1938 Bert’s son Kenneth married Esther Sandow in Portland. They had a daughter 5 years later.
In 1935 and during the census of 1940, Bert was a residential patient at the Eastern State Hospital for the Insane in Espanola, Spokane County, Washington. Now known as Eastern State Hospital, the facility is a psychiatric hospital in Medical Lake, a small community 20 miles southwest of Spokane. The census listed Bert as married.
In 1951 he was living in Dallas in Polk County. On 10/29/1951 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Seven years later he died of pneumonia at the institution on 10/18/1958. Shortly after Bert was institutionalized his son Kenneth died on 12/20/1951 in Portland. Bert’s grandson Gordon married, but never had children. He died of a stroke due to high blood pressure in Sparks, Nevada on 7/21/1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Ira Elbert “Bert” Conner's cremated remains were not initially taken after his death and for many years were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2020 a relative received the ashes.
Although his name is spelled BURT on his death certificate, most other documents refer to him as BERT.
His father, Job Conner, was born in 1827 in Ohio and emigrated to Oregon in 1847 with his brothers Nathan & William and sister Sarah. Arriving long before statehood they were among the earliest white settlers in the Oregon Territory. Job settled in Polk County in a community that was later known as Ballston and is a ghost town today. Job was first married to Polly Ann Riggs in 1855. She died in 1871 giving birth to their seventh child. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Robert Scott (born in 1856), Thomas Edgar (1858), Cordelia Jane (1861), Leander (1863), Roswell Lampson (1866), Marie Louisa (1869), and Nancy Ann (1871).
Bert’s mother, Martha A. Hicklin, was born in Indiana in September 1842 and came to Oregon as a child in September 1851. Her family initially settled in Portland and later moved to Polk County. She first married Edward James on 10/27/1859. They divorced before 1870 when Martha moved back with her parents. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Andrew (born about 1864), Charlotte (about 1861), Mary (about 1866), and Frank (about 1868).
Bert’s parents were married on 5/16/1872 in Polk County. Bert was born in Oregon on 2/18/1879. Among Bert’s full siblings were: Sarah Elizabeth (born in 1874), Lowman Harvey (1876), Amanda Belle (1880) and Ella Martha (1883). In all, Bert’s mother had 14 children with 8 being alive in 1900.
During the census of 1880, Bert was listed as Ira. He was a toddler, living in Jackson precinct in Polk County with his parents, full siblings and half-siblings. His father who was able to read but not write, was described in newspaper accounts as a “wealthy farmer.” In January 1886, Bert’s father went missing. He was found or returned home on his own, but wandered away again in November. He reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver in November 1886. Some people in the community speculated that Job may have been murdered or “gone insane.” Bert was 7 years old when his father died. In the 1900 census, Bert was living in Polk County with his widowed mother and three of his siblings. He was a farm hand working on his mother’s farm.
On 12/10/1900 when Bert was 21, he married 15 year old Katie Ivie of Yamhill County, Oregon. Katie was from Sheridan, Yamhill County, Oregon. A year later, on 12/18/1901 in Yamhill County, Oregon they had a son, Kenneth Eugene Conner. The marriage did not survive. Their divorce which began in 1901, continued on into 1903. Bert lived in Condon, Gilliam County, Oregon after 1900. About 1908 he married a woman named Carie. It was a second marriage for each of them. She was born about 1878 in Missouri and had no children. During the census of 1910, Bert and Carrie lived in Ferry Canyon, Gilliam County where Bert was farming. During that same census, Bert's son Kenneth was living in Polk County in the home of his aunt Cordelia (Conner) Baxter. Cordelia was Bert’s half-sister. It is not known what became of Kenneth’s mother.
Bert’s mother, Martha Conner, died at her home near Ballston on 2/24/1913 and was survived by seven of her children. She was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Polk County with her husband and many others from the extended Conner family.
In 1920 Bert was living in Elgin, Union County in eastern Oregon and was listed as divorced. Periodically in the 1920s he would get a temporary permit to enter Canada as "harvest help." At the time of the 1930 census, he was living in Spokane, Washington where he was a boarder and a laborer.
On 4/9/1920 Bert’s son Kenneth married Marion Rolston in Canada. They had a son, Gordon Rolston Conner. He was born in Toronto on 1/19/1921. Kenneth and Marion divorced in the 1930s. She married Roger Hefling on 12/17/1938. In 1938 Bert’s son Kenneth married Esther Sandow in Portland. They had a daughter 5 years later.
In 1935 and during the census of 1940, Bert was a residential patient at the Eastern State Hospital for the Insane in Espanola, Spokane County, Washington. Now known as Eastern State Hospital, the facility is a psychiatric hospital in Medical Lake, a small community 20 miles southwest of Spokane. The census listed Bert as married.
In 1951 he was living in Dallas in Polk County. On 10/29/1951 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Seven years later he died of pneumonia at the institution on 10/18/1958. Shortly after Bert was institutionalized his son Kenneth died on 12/20/1951 in Portland. Bert’s grandson Gordon married, but never had children. He died of a stroke due to high blood pressure in Sparks, Nevada on 7/21/1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Although his name is spelled BURT on his death certificate, most other documents refer to him as BERT.
His father, Job Conner, was born in 1827 in Ohio and emigrated to Oregon in 1847 with his brothers Nathan & William and sister Sarah. Arriving long before statehood they were among the earliest white settlers in the Oregon Territory. Job settled in Polk County in a community that was later known as Ballston and is a ghost town today. Job was first married to Polly Ann Riggs in 1855. She died in 1871 giving birth to their seventh child. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Robert Scott (born in 1856), Thomas Edgar (1858), Cordelia Jane (1861), Leander (1863), Roswell Lampson (1866), Marie Louisa (1869), and Nancy Ann (1871).
Bert’s mother, Martha A. Hicklin, was born in Indiana in September 1842 and came to Oregon as a child in September 1851. Her family initially settled in Portland and later moved to Polk County. She first married Edward James on 10/27/1859. They divorced before 1870 when Martha moved back with her parents. Bert’s half-siblings from that marriage were: Andrew (born about 1864), Charlotte (about 1861), Mary (about 1866), and Frank (about 1868).
Bert’s parents were married on 5/16/1872 in Polk County. Bert was born in Oregon on 2/18/1879. Among Bert’s full siblings were: Sarah Elizabeth (born in 1874), Lowman Harvey (1876), Amanda Belle (1880) and Ella Martha (1883). In all, Bert’s mother had 14 children with 8 being alive in 1900.
During the census of 1880, Bert was listed as Ira. He was a toddler, living in Jackson precinct in Polk County with his parents, full siblings and half-siblings. His father who was able to read but not write, was described in newspaper accounts as a “wealthy farmer.” In January 1886, Bert’s father went missing. He was found or returned home on his own, but wandered away again in November. He reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver in November 1886. Some people in the community speculated that Job may have been murdered or “gone insane.” Bert was 7 years old when his father died. In the 1900 census, Bert was living in Polk County with his widowed mother and three of his siblings. He was a farm hand working on his mother’s farm.
On 12/10/1900 when Bert was 21, he married 15 year old Katie Ivie of Yamhill County, Oregon. Katie was from Sheridan, Yamhill County, Oregon. A year later, on 12/18/1901 in Yamhill County, Oregon they had a son, Kenneth Eugene Conner. The marriage did not survive. Their divorce which began in 1901, continued on into 1903. Bert lived in Condon, Gilliam County, Oregon after 1900. About 1908 he married a woman named Carie. It was a second marriage for each of them. She was born about 1878 in Missouri and had no children. During the census of 1910, Bert and Carrie lived in Ferry Canyon, Gilliam County where Bert was farming. During that same census, Bert's son Kenneth was living in Polk County in the home of his aunt Cordelia (Conner) Baxter. Cordelia was Bert’s half-sister. It is not known what became of Kenneth’s mother.
Bert’s mother, Martha Conner, died at her home near Ballston on 2/24/1913 and was survived by seven of her children. She was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Polk County with her husband and many others from the extended Conner family.
In 1920 Bert was living in Elgin, Union County in eastern Oregon and was listed as divorced. Periodically in the 1920s he would get a temporary permit to enter Canada as "harvest help." At the time of the 1930 census, he was living in Spokane, Washington where he was a boarder and a laborer.
On 4/9/1920 Bert’s son Kenneth married Marion Rolston in Canada. They had a son, Gordon Rolston Conner. He was born in Toronto on 1/19/1921. Kenneth and Marion divorced in the 1930s. She married Roger Hefling on 12/17/1938. In 1938 Bert’s son Kenneth married Esther Sandow in Portland. They had a daughter 5 years later.
In 1935 and during the census of 1940, Bert was a residential patient at the Eastern State Hospital for the Insane in Espanola, Spokane County, Washington. Now known as Eastern State Hospital, the facility is a psychiatric hospital in Medical Lake, a small community 20 miles southwest of Spokane. The census listed Bert as married.
In 1951 he was living in Dallas in Polk County. On 10/29/1951 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. Seven years later he died of pneumonia at the institution on 10/18/1958. Shortly after Bert was institutionalized his son Kenneth died on 12/20/1951 in Portland. Bert’s grandson Gordon married, but never had children. He died of a stroke due to high blood pressure in Sparks, Nevada on 7/21/1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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