A Tradgic Story: The dead are the daughter-in-law and grandchildren of Andrew Jackson Ashbaugh and Mary Cordelia Rudisell. Andrew and Mary's son Edward C. Ashbaugh was b. 26 Sep 1866 (IGI info) or 1867 (obit) in Bremen, Fairfield Co, OH. At some time in the 1880's the family moved to eastern Oregon. Edward married Cora May Stanton. They were running a hotel in Heppner on the fateful day an earthen dam broke on Willow Creek. Cora and all seven of their children drowned.
Cora's battered body was identified only by an unusual wedding ring. Edward was in Portland selling cattle and so survived to marry again, have at least one son, and die in Boring, OR.Here's an excerpt from the Oregonian newspaper, June 19, 1903:
"Perhaps the greatest loss occurred at the Heppner Hotel. This house, which was run under the management of Jones & Ashbaugh, was carried away. It is supposed there were about 50 guests in this hotel, all of whom are reported to be lost. The proprietors themselves were saved, but their families are among the dead."
Article of this date says 250 died in Heppner. A monument to the flood victims stands in Heppner.
Cora and her 7 children all died in a tradgic flood.
Etta is a descendant of John Ashbaugh, Sr. The exac route is not known at this time.
Never married.