Notes identify these gentlemen as (left to right): Everett Hawthorne, Fred Moe, Joe Sheirbon, Leonard Sheirbon, and Joe W. Sheirbon Jr. Can you provide some more details?
These men, all farmers, were friends as they all basically grew up together.
Everett Hawthorne was the son of Monte Hawthorne who wrote the wonderful books of his adventures in Alaska. Guess I should say he provided his niece Martha Ferguson McKeown the information and she wrote them.
Leonard Sheirbon was the husband of Georgianna Moore, of Pine Grove, the daughter of Earl Moore and Mary Whitecotton.
Joe was his brother, adopted brother I understand and the junior would be his son.
Fred Moe was the son of Forrest and Edith (Becker) Moe.
They all basically lived in the Odell area most of their lives….
Roger Sheldrake
My uncles Joe & Leonard Melquist were adopted by Wilbur H. & Della L. Sheirbon in 1927. Leonard was 5 and Joe was 9 years of age. They grew up on the old Netherby Ranch which had Odell creek & Davis Creek on it Leonard wife Georgianna was a nurse in Hood River-maybe? Joe’s wife Gertrude was a homemaker and avid painter
JULIE MOE
Wow! I am Fred Moe’s daughter and my cousins and I have a great story to share of how one friend and neighbors can change 4 little orphan boy’s lives and future. The wonderful 4 men are all brothers, with our cousin Joe jr at the Parkdale cemetery were their parents are buried. They were orphaned when my dad, the youngest survivor was 3 ish, their mother (Eva) had died the year before. Joe Mellquist senior knew his death was near and asked his friend W.I. Kirby, ( they were building roads in Parkdale. Cooper spur rd was one) to find his sons homes, after his death so they wouldn’t go to an orphanage as his children from his first marriage did when their mother died. We are eternally grateful to mr. Kirby for keeping his word and talking to many farmers in Odell to keep them here, during the depression. during the time it took to place them all some families in Parkdale would take them food to their house on the road to Lawrence lake and McIsaac’s store extended their credit and mr Kirby kept them with his family and children for a while. He not only found them homes but checked up on them, if not treated well he would remove them and try again elsewhere. We are so grateful to all that helped and because of them our dads even though separated, went to the same school, church and remained as close as ever as are us cousins!
ArthurB
Great story/ history. I had no idea there would be so much behind a visually unexceptional image. I’m so glad I posted it.
Judy Judd
I worked with Ken Kirby & Leonard Sheirbon for many years at the Hood River County Courthouse.Ken spoke of the relationship between himself & Leonard as far as adoption, brothers etc. At the time, Ken was the Director of Records & Assessments. When an opening was made in the County Commissioners Office, Ken took that job & appointed Leonard to his position. Georgianna was a dietitian with the HR Hospital for many years. Leonard was an avid bicycle rider & at one point rode with a group to the East coast where he along with his bike flew back to Portland. He was struck down on his bike near Westside Elementary School. He & Georgiana had 3 sons( I believe) He & his wife were living at Down Manor at the time, but his injuries were not overcome. He was a diabetic & had to watch his sugar constantly. He was a great boss!! .
Roger Sheldrake
Wow! What a great addition to my own (Sheirbon) family history. My Mother Lois Sheirbon Sheldrake was always very proud of her brothers and of her parents involvement. Have a few early pictures of Joe & Leonard
L.E.
Thank you everyone for some great history reading. The stories put real meaning to the faces.
Kathie A.
I’ve heard the story of those little boys for years. Thanks Julie for reminding me and clarifying this wonderful happy ending to their story.They all were a big part of my life in Odell at the stores there, great customers of ours!
Arlen Sheldrake
Thanks Roger, et all for all this history on our Uncles. My intention is to share this posting with our two sons and our 3 grandchildren as I always thought highly of our Uncles. One of my favorite stories about Joe was how he dealt with his many pickers and the "network" the fruit growers had to warn of impending raids. Abd our father John L. always saying his favorite vacation (therapy) from the school business would be to go pick some fruit for Joe. Again, the value of Arthur and this site is beyond words.
Kirk Paige
I’m looking for information on Gertrude Sheirbon the artist married to Joe. I’m boxing items from my In-Laws place and saw this picture she made and they loved. Is there any information you can provide me?
Jeffrey Bryant
History of Hood River County 1852-2982 page 350 has an article on Joe and Gertrude Sheirbon. Other histories also mention the family. The Historical Society has the copyright.
Arlen L sheldrake
thanks Kirk for reminding me of Gertrude’s artistic talents…..my memory of Uncle Joe’s wife is that she was the salt of the earth and Joe’s right hand. somewhere I have a picture from a “few” years ago of a family picnic at their place at Summit that I need to get to the Museum.
Arlen L sheldrake
My wife reminds me that Gertrude had an art showing some years ago at what is now the Best Western complex near the HR toll bridge.
Charlott
These men, all farmers, were friends as they all basically grew up together.
Everett Hawthorne was the son of Monte Hawthorne who wrote the wonderful books of his adventures in Alaska. Guess I should say he provided his niece Martha Ferguson McKeown the information and she wrote them.
Leonard Sheirbon was the husband of Georgianna Moore, of Pine Grove, the daughter of Earl Moore and Mary Whitecotton.
Joe was his brother, adopted brother I understand and the junior would be his son.
Fred Moe was the son of Forrest and Edith (Becker) Moe.
They all basically lived in the Odell area most of their lives….
Roger Sheldrake
My uncles Joe & Leonard Melquist were adopted by Wilbur H. & Della L. Sheirbon in 1927. Leonard was 5 and Joe was 9 years of age. They grew up on the old Netherby Ranch which had Odell creek & Davis Creek on it
Leonard wife Georgianna was a nurse in Hood River-maybe? Joe’s wife Gertrude was a homemaker and avid painter
JULIE MOE
Wow! I am Fred Moe’s daughter and my cousins and I have a great story to share of how one friend and neighbors can change 4 little orphan boy’s lives and future. The wonderful 4 men are all brothers, with our cousin Joe jr at the Parkdale cemetery were their parents are buried. They were orphaned when my dad, the youngest survivor was 3 ish, their mother (Eva) had died the year before. Joe Mellquist senior knew his death was near and asked his friend W.I. Kirby, ( they were building roads in Parkdale. Cooper spur rd was one) to find his sons homes, after his death so they wouldn’t go to an orphanage as his children from his first marriage did when their mother died. We are eternally grateful to mr. Kirby for keeping his word and talking to many farmers in Odell to keep them here, during the depression. during the time it took to place them all some families in Parkdale would take them food to their house on the road to Lawrence lake and McIsaac’s store extended their credit and mr Kirby kept them with his family and children for a while. He not only found them homes but checked up on them, if not treated well he would remove them and try again elsewhere. We are so grateful to all that helped and because of them our dads even though separated, went to the same school, church and remained as close as ever as are us cousins!
ArthurB
Great story/ history. I had no idea there would be so much behind a visually unexceptional image. I’m so glad I posted it.
Judy Judd
I worked with Ken Kirby & Leonard Sheirbon for many years at the Hood River County Courthouse.Ken spoke of the relationship between himself & Leonard as far as adoption, brothers etc. At the time, Ken was the Director of Records & Assessments. When an opening was made in the County Commissioners Office, Ken took that job & appointed Leonard to his position. Georgianna was a dietitian with the HR Hospital for many years. Leonard was an avid bicycle rider & at one point rode with a group to the East coast where he along with his bike flew back to Portland. He was struck down on his bike near Westside Elementary School.
He & Georgiana had 3 sons( I believe)
He & his wife were living at Down Manor at the time, but his injuries were not overcome. He was a diabetic & had to watch his sugar constantly. He was a great boss!!
.
Roger Sheldrake
Wow! What a great addition to my own (Sheirbon) family history. My Mother Lois Sheirbon Sheldrake was always very proud of her brothers and of her parents involvement. Have a few early pictures of Joe & Leonard
L.E.
Thank you everyone for some great history reading. The stories put real meaning to the faces.
Kathie A.
I’ve heard the story of those little boys for years. Thanks Julie for reminding me and clarifying this wonderful happy ending to their story.They all were a big part of my life in Odell at the stores there, great customers of ours!
Arlen Sheldrake
Thanks Roger, et all for all this history on our Uncles. My intention is to share this posting with our two sons and our 3 grandchildren as I always thought highly of our Uncles.
One of my favorite stories about Joe was how he dealt with his many pickers and the "network" the fruit growers had to warn of impending raids. Abd our father John L. always saying his favorite vacation (therapy) from the school business would be to go pick some fruit for Joe.
Again, the value of Arthur and this site is beyond words.
Kirk Paige
I’m looking for information on Gertrude Sheirbon the artist married to Joe. I’m boxing items from my In-Laws place and saw this picture she made and they loved. Is there any information you can provide me?
Jeffrey Bryant
History of Hood River County 1852-2982 page 350 has an article on Joe and Gertrude Sheirbon. Other histories also mention the family. The Historical Society has the copyright.
Arlen L sheldrake
thanks Kirk for reminding me of Gertrude’s artistic talents…..my memory of Uncle Joe’s wife is that she was the salt of the earth and Joe’s right hand. somewhere I have a picture from a “few” years ago of a family picnic at their place at Summit that I need to get to the Museum.
Arlen L sheldrake
My wife reminds me that Gertrude had an art showing some years ago at what is now the Best Western complex near the HR toll bridge.