Ancestry Island: February 2019

A couple years ago I posted some plans to research my 3rd great grandmother Matilda Biddle's obituary. Thankfully Newspapers.com beat me to the punch and I found two variations of her obituary last week. I may eventually see if I can find Newport, Oregon newspapers mentioning her death, but for now at least I have something!

Unfortunately, most of the information given in the obituary is about her father and her ex-husband, not her.

Corvallis Gazette-Times (accessed from Newspaper.com)
(Corvallis, Oregon)
27 Aug 1927, Sat • Page 6

Mrs. Porter Dead
Member of Pioneer Benton Family Dies at Home at Newport
Mrs. Matilda Biddle Porter, wife of Orville T. Porter, one of Benton county's early residents, died late yesterday afternoon at the family home at Newport. The body was brought to Corvallis and prepared for burial and the funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the grave in the I. O. O. F. cemetery. Rev. E. J. Harper of the Madison street Methodist church will officiate.

Mrs. Porter was born February 22, 1846, in Springfield, Ill., but apparently came west during her childhood. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin R. Biddle, pioneers of Benton county. From meagre information that could be obtained, it is believed Mrs. Porter's father was Dr. R. B. Biddle, a prominent dentist in Corvallis in the early '70s, who after retiring to Pleasant Valley, 1 1/2 miles south of Philomath, established a short course in dentistry which was probably the first dental college in Oregon. George Biddle, a brother, is said to have become a leading dentist in Eugene.

Mrs. Porter was aged 81 years. She is survived by a daughter who resides in Albany and a son in Seattle. No definite information regarding the family could be obtained.

Corvallis Gazette-Times (accessed from Newspapers.com)
(Corvallis, Oregon)
30 Aug 1927, Tue • Page 3

Was of Pioneer Family - The remains of the late Mrs. Matilda Biddle Porter, widow of Orville Porter, were interred Sunday in the I. O. O. F. cemeteryq [sic] where a brief service was conducted by Rev. E. J. Harper. Mrs. Porter died Friday at the family home at Newport where she had resided in late years. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin R. Biddle who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850, and rode in a wagon with W. B. Carter, and early editor of the Gazette, as driver. The Porters lived in Corvallis a number of years and Mr. Porter was a teacher here. He organized bands, was editor of a Republican paper in Albany for a time and later was a member of the Indian commission in Alaska. He died 15 years ago. Dr. Biddle, father of Mrs. Porter, was a prominent dentist of the 70's. There is a brother, Dr. E. W. Biddle of Hillsborough, Cal. A daughter residing in Albany and a son in Seattle survive.

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Sunday, February 10, 2019

I Finally Found Matilda Biddle Porter's Obituary!