Obituary Notices

The Newberg Graphic, August 1902

Dr. H. J. Littlefield No More

Though such a sad event was not altogether unexpected, the town was shocked and saddened last Sunday morning when it became known that a little after seven o'clock, Dr. H. J. Littlefield, who had been lying low for several days with what the doctors finally determined Spinal Meningitis, had passed away. For the most part, he had been unconscious for days, arousing only now and then to answer a question or recognize loved ones, and was unconscious when the hand of death was gently laid upon him. The people of this vicinity have long watched with mingled pity and admiration the brave fight the doctor has so long made with his grim enemy, which seemed to attack him in so many directions, and a wave of pity swept over the community when it was learned that he had at last succumbed; that he who had saved others, himself he could not save. In his death Newberg loses an efficient physician and one of its most popular citizens.

The funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Friends church and were probably more widely attended that any ever before held in this part of the county. There are few homes in this neighborhood which Dr. Littlefield had not some time visited in times of trouble and distress, when his visits seemed more than professional calls, and when ties of relationship were knit, which largely explained the tribute expressed in the large audience which attended his funeral. As the funeral party entered the church, an organ voluntary was played by Miss Eleanor Satchwell. The following named prominent citizens served as pall bearers: S.M. Calkins, Jesse Edwards, B.C. Miles, N.C. Christenson, Clarence Butt, and J.C. McCrea. Following the family and relatives came the Masons, who had charge of the exercises at the cemetery.

Rev. J.F. Day of Carlton, formerly pastor of the Baptist church here, had charge of the services, assisted by Pres. H.E. McGrew. Music was furnished by a quartet composed pf Mrs. J.W. Barrie, Mrs. H. Gould, and Messrs. I.E. Holt and W.C. Woodward. Selections rendered were "Walking by Faith," "Lead Kindly Light," an especial favorite of the deceased, and the sacred anthum "Abide With Me." Following a prayer by Pres. McGrew, eloquent with tenderness and sympathy, the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Day from the text, "And the last enemy which shall be conquered is death." At the close of the services, the audience viewed the remains, it taking the better part of a half hour for the people to pass the bier, and the crowd was handled with pleasing dispatch.

Among those in attendance from a distance, were, from McMinnville, Judge R.P. Bird and son Guy, D.I. Asbury, editor of the Yamhill Reporter, Deputy Sheriff W.C. Hagerty, School Superintendent E.V. Littlefield and wife, Rev. and Mrs. Jos. Hoberg, Goe. Hendershott and Eli Branson; from LaFayette, Pete Olds, Mrs. Vede Olds, Clabe Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. Al Fletcher, Jo Huston, Jas. Derby, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Vickrey, Mr. and Mrs.

Chas. Bryant, Dug Nelson; from Dayton, Dr. A.J. Rossiter, John Nichols and Adam Rossner; from Carlton, Rev. Day and family and Mr. and Mrs. Wash Laughlin; from Butteville, O.H. Cone and John Vaughan; from Portland, Dr. H.R. Littlefield, father of the deceased, and wife, and Tom Belcher, proprietor of the St. Charles hotel; from Dallas, Mrs. D.M. Metzger, from The Dalles, Judge Bradshaw, brother-in-law of the deceased.

Horace J. Littlefield was born in Mackinaw, Taswell county, Illinois, October 2, 1868. He came to Oregon in 1871 with his parents who settled in this county at LaFayette, in the public schools of which place he received his early education. In June 1888 he was graduated from the Monmouth State Normal, and on December 7^th of the same year he was united in marriage with Maggie L. Nelson, of West Chehalem. In the years 1889 and 1890 he attended Rush Medical College at Chicago, and the next two years he spent at St. Louis in Missouri Medical College, where he was graduated with high honors. He has since resided continuously in Newberg where he has always had a very extensive practice. Within the last two years he has twice received the appointment of Surgeon on the United States Revenue Cutter Perry, twice making an extended cruise in Alaskan waters.

A devoted wife, two young daughters, and a little son are left to mourn the loss of a faithful husband and loving father. The deepest sympathy of all goes out to the grief stricken family.

Obituary Notices

The Newberg Graphic, Thurs Oct. 27, 1955:

Maggie Littlefield, Lifetime Resident, Rites Held Tuesday

Funeral services for Mrs. Maggie L. Littlefield, 85, life-long resident of this community who passed away at the Good Samaritan hospital in Portland Friday, were at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist church, with Rev. Gustav A. Storaker and Rev. C.P. Gates officiating. Interment was at Friends cemetery.

She was born in Chehalem valley Nov. 6, 1870. Her father, Josiah Nelson was one of the early settlers of the Chehalem valley and came here in 1844. In 1888, she married Dr. Horace Littlefield, a prominent physician of Newberg, who preceded her in death in 1902.

Mrs. Littlefield had made her home in the family residence at 401 Howard street for the past 66 years.

Highly honored and revered by all who knew her, Mrs. Littlefield was a charter member of Newberg chapter No. 55 of the Order of Eastern Star and its first worthy matron and for nearly 25 years was secretary of the Past Matrons club of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Lelia L. Eldridge, Newberg; Mrs. Hazel Davidson, St. Paul; a son, Hobart Littlefield, Portland; a sister, Mrs. May Fletcher, Lafayette, and a brother, Hugh Nelson, Portland.

Hodson-Olson mortuary was in charge of funeral arrangements. Organ selections were played by Mrs. Gustav Storaker. Pallbearers were Wayne Nelson, Homer Nelson, Joe Nelson, Horace Nelson, Claude Searls and Dr. C.A. Eldriedge.

Gunmen Halt Family Enroute To Funeral Here

Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Littlefield and their three small daughters of Medford, who were enroute here to attend the funeral of Mrs. Maggie Littlefield, were held hostage by two gunmen who had escaped from the Lane county jail at Eugene Monday night. Both gunmen were captured.

The Littlefields later were released and allowed to continue their journey. They subsequently were contacted in Newberg through the local police department and requested to supply some routine information to the police officails of Corvallis, through which the gunmen's trail led.

The gunmen, Martin Reyes, 23, San Francisco, and Jose M. DeNasa, 21, San Francisco, used a concealed weapon to escape from the county jail at Eugene, then stole a sheriff's car from a deputy and headed toward Corvallis.

En route, they flagged down a car containing the Littlefields. At first, they continued toward Corvallis with them, then changed plans, locked the family in the sheriff's car, and continued on in the Littlefield car.

Corvallis police were watching for them, having been notified by Littlefield, who made his escape from the sheriff's car with his family. They apprehended DeNasa and jailed him.

Reyes fired at point-blank range at Jimmy Applegate, 39, when he accosted him and his family at a service station. He was wounded in the chest, side and abdomen. Reyes then fired at Officer William C. Bottemiller but missed, then fled on foot. Volunteer searchers, state, county and Corvallis city police formed a posse in search of him.

Obituary Notices

The Newberg Graphic, April 21, 1921

City Honors Memory of Dr. Littlefield - Funeral Services Held Today

Newberg Lodge A.F. & A.M. Cooperate With American Legion in Ceremonies - Stores Close

All Newberg was shocked and saddened last week to learn of the death of Dr. Harry Littlefield, which occurred at Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, April 15. Dr. Littlefield had gone to that place last September to get relief from a consumptive condition brought on as a result of being gassed in the Argonne, and although at first his condition seemed to improve, it soon was apparent to those who knew that he could not overcome the handicap of the disease.

Dr. Littlefield was born at Lafayette, Oregon, April 11, 1875. He graduated from the University of Oregon Medical college in 1897 and soon after enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, being sent to the Phillippines, where he was stationed for the duration of the hostilities. He came to Newberg in 1903 and took over the practice of his brother, Dr. Horace Littlefield, who passed away shortly after this. From that time up to the time of his going to Arizona last fall, he followed his profession here in Newberg continuously with the exception of the time spent in the service during the late world war. He was a captain in the medical corps during his service in the Spanish-American war and during the late war was raised to the rank of major.

For many years he was associated with Dr. E.A. Romig in his practice, but upon his return from the late war he became associated with Dr. J.W. Barcroft.

The remains were brought to Newberg on Wednesday and were escorted to the Littlefield home that afternoon by a guard from the American Legion and lay in state at the home up to the time of the funeral.

Dr. Littlefield was one of Newberg's most prominent citizens and in token of this, the city council at its session this week issued a proclamation asking that all business houses close during the hours of the funeral, and this request was largely complied with by the business men. The funeral was one of the most largelt attended of any held in Newberg in many years and was under the joint supervision of the Masons and American Legion.

Services were conducted at the Presbyterian church at 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Rev. Bowersox, pastor of the Portland Evangelical church officiating. Music for the service was furnished by Mrs. Georgia Babcock and Miss Evah Hadley and consisted of a solo by the former, "Face to Face," and two duets, "Beautiful Isle" and "Lead Kindly Light."

A caisson was secured from the Vancouver barracks for the occasion and the casket placed on this for transportation, a team of four large horses being used. A bugler from the Vancouver barracks was also present. Six active pallbearers were furnished by the American Legion were: A.P. Fessler, George Nichols, A.W. Heater, W.E. Thomas, V.M. Groff, and C.A. Evans. The honorary pall bearers were: Dr. E.H. Tucker, Dr. Cornelius and Dr. Venney, all of Portland, and Dr. John W. Barcroft, George Lutz, Lynn B. Ferguson, R.J. Moore, and Walter Mills of Newberg. The casket was draped with the American flag and color guard was appointed by the Legion, as follows: J.R. McDonald, sergeant; E. Duncan, J.C. Nelson and Walter Zurick.

Interment took place in the local cemetery and here the Masons had charge of the service, using their impressive burial service. A firing squad from the Legion gave a salute. The squad was composed of B.J. Groth, lieutenant in charge; Ray Russell, corporal; E.S. Moore, C.J. Zumwalt, W.C. Newman, D.C. Morris, I. J. Morris, H.H. Rockwell, R.E. Wanless and A.D. Livengood. Taps were then sounded at the close of the service.

A brother, Judge E.V. Littlefield, of Portland; a step-mother, Mrs. H.R. Littlefield, of Portland, and the following nieces and nephews, Robert Bradshaw of The Dalles, Hobart Littlefield of Oregon City, Mrs. Lelia Eldredge of Newberg, and Mrs. Hazel Davidson of St. Paul and Forest Littlefield of Portland were all expected to be in attendence at the funeral.

Dr. Littlefield was too well known in Newberg to call for any eulogistic remarks from us. He always was active in civic affairs and was considered to be one of the very best physicians and surgeons in the state. His genial disposition and general good nature won for him the friendship of a very large number of people who will feel keenly his being taken away.