LaGrande Evening Observer, Feb 26, 1923, Page 4

WILLIAM CANTRELL DIED SUNDAY MORN

William Jasper Cantrell, 89 years, eight months and two days of age, passed away yesterday morning at two o'clock at the the home of his son, A.H. Cantrell; 2404 Birch Street, following a long illness. He was born June 23, 1833. Mr. Cantrell was buried this afternoon at two o'clock at Hilgard, the funeral services being in charge of Snodgrass and Zimmerman.


LaGrande Evening Observer, Feb 27, 1923, Front page

The funeral of William Jasper Cantrell, who passed away Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the home of his son, Albert, 2404 North Birch St., was held at Hilgard at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. Reverend O.W. Jones delivering the funeral sermon. A large gathering of friends was present and sympathized with his relatives in their bereavement. Mr. Cantrell was a pioneer resident of Eastern Oregon and was 89 years, eight months and two days of age at the time of his death.

William Jasper Cantrell was born in Woodberry, Warren County, Tennessee, on June 23, 1833, and during the Civil War he was drafted into the southern Army. After serving six months he contracted a fever from which he suffered for several months, finally being discharged from the Army. He then went to Texas, where he was married to Sarah McDonald. To this union was born eight children, of which three boys survive him, William Cantrell, of Hilgard, Amos Cantrell, of Huntington, and Albert Cantrell, of LaGrande.

Mr. Cantrell joined the Texas Rangers, serving four years during the Indian wars, then, with his family, he moved to Nevada and a few years later he came to Oregon, locating on a farm near Lime, Baker County, in 1880. Mrs. Cantrell passed away in 1897 on the thirteenth of September. In September, 1904, he was married to Jane Curtis, who survives his death.

In July, 1922, he gave up his farm and came to live with his son, William, of Hilgard, and on December 8, 1922, came to LaGrande with his son Albert. Mr. Cantrell, in addition to leaving his widow and three sons, is survived by 23 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.