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The original newspaper obituary for Mary Grace [Linebarger] Knighten which was from Ellensburg, Kittitas County , Washington shortly after her death on 27 January 1909, which provides some interesting info about the family and their early days in Oregon.
Mrs. Mary Knighten passed away at home of her son near Baird

Mrs. Mary Knighten died near Baird Jan. 27, at the age of 76 years, four months and fourteen days. She was born in Illinois Sept. 13, 1833. When ten years of age with her parents, emigrated to Oregon in the year 1843. Crossing the plains with ox teams they met with many hardships on their tiresome journey, and when near their destination, while coming from the Dalles , Oregon on the Columbia River to Portland , one of the canoes, which was piloted by Indians, was overturned, running into a whirlpool, loosing [sic] almost everything it contained. Three of her brothers had a miraculous escape from being drowned, while one young man of the party was lost, and his body left buried in the cold waters of the Columbia . His father, his only parent, was rescued, but heart broken over the loss of his only son. Her parents settled in Washington County near Forest Grove. In 1852, she was married to Lovell Knighten. To this union eleven children were born, five who are living, two dying in infancy and four, Mrs. Ella Wilkes, in 1888, Mrs. Minnie Walker in 1900, Mrs. Ada K. Long in 1906 and L. D. Knighten in December 1908.

Those who are living are I. T. of Wapato, Wash , and C. D. of Spokane, O. A. and Mrs. Anna M. Swank of Baird , Washington , and H.C. of Mabel, Oregon . Soon after her marriage she with her husband moved to Linn County , near Tangent, where she lived continually on a donation claim for over 46 years. In the year 1899, the family moved to Crawfordsville , Oregon where they lived until July 1905. Her husband having died June 11, 1905, she came to Washington where she made her home with her son Oliver, until the time of her death. She was a member of the M.E. church for many years and a woman of sterling character, and loved by all that knew her. Her remains were shipped to Oregon and were laid to rest in the Albany cemetery, by those of her husband, where two of her daughters were interred.

We miss thee in our honor, Mother
We miss thee from thy place
A shadow o’er our life is cast
We miss the sunshine of thy face
We miss thy kind and willing hand
Thy fond and earnest care
Our home is dark without thee
We miss thee everywhere.


The small print: Contributed by Ron Stephens who maintains rights to this information. Used by permission.