Okey Elmer Knighten and Nyna Mildred Cason

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Husband Okey Elmer KNIGHTEN

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           Born: 9 Aug 1899 - Parkers Mill, Morrow County Or
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Oct 1985
         Buried: 

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         Father: Robert Alden KNIGHTEN
         Mother: Margaret Anne COMPTON

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       Marriage: 9 Jun 1931

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Wife Nyna Mildred CASON

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           Born: 9 Jun 1912
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 M Raymond Eugene KNIGHTEN

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           Born: 29 Jun 1932
     Christened: 
           Died: 6 Sep 1960
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Wanda Arlita MATTESON
           Marr: 15 Sep 1952

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2 F Margaret Hazel KNIGHTEN

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           Born: 16 Nov 1933
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Charles Wenzel STANGEL
           Marr: 29 Jun 1952 - Condon, Or.

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General Notes (Husband)

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Condon, Oregon article in newspaper: FARMER HAS HUNTING HORN DATING BACK TO YEAR 1847 Condon - Elmer Knighten, retired Rock Creek farmer, has a relic of pioneer Oregon that has been in the family since 1847. It is a hunting horn, made from the horn of a 3-year old steer that was butchered in Oregon City to provide a barbecue for a wagon train party. The barbecue was to celebrate the safe arrival of the immigrants. Knighten said his grandfather, Isaac Knighten was a 10 yr old ladwith the wagon train. He marveled at the size of the horns on the steer, and asked the owner, Henry Black, if he could have one of them. "Granddad said Henry Black told him 'Sure!' and he cut it off right then and there," said Knighten. The young pioneer cured the horn and converted it into a powder horn for the muzzle loading rifles of that era. "Later, he cut off one end and used it for a horn to call his hunting dogs," said Knighten. When Isaac grew up, he moved to the Palousecountry of Washington for a time, then migrated to Morrow County, where he lived out his years in the Eightmile area. Elmer, born at Parker's Mill, first saw the horn when he visited his grandparents. "It was all dirty, and just thrown into acorner," remembers Elmer. "My brother Wilbert and I played with it, and we could blow it pretty well." Later the relic was forgotten. But last year Elmer found it- still dirty and neglected--at his brother's home. He brought it to his homein Condon and spent long hours cleaning and polishing the horn. He found a mark he is sure was made by the ax of the settler, Henry Black, when he struck it from the body of the steer. After he had cleaned it, he carved the numerals "1847" onthe ivory-like surface. "That is so the next generation will know how old it is," he said. "It won't be too long before there won't be anyone living in Oregon who has heard first-hand the stories of the early settlers. "I wish I'd asked my grand father to tell me more about his trip from Missouri, but I guess kids aren't very much concerned about history." One of Knighten's retirement hobbies is leather craft. So he has made a handsome sling for the ancient horn.End of Article.

Elmer Knighten was born on August 9, 1899 at his grandparents home near Parker's Mill in Morrow County, Oregon. His parents, Robert A. Knighten and wife Margaret moved to Dieringer Washington when he was a small child and there his mother died. Elmer came back to Morrow County and made his home with his grandparents, Isaac and Rebecca Knighten and a beloved Uncle Charles. He attended school at Eightmile Center and came to Lonerock in Gilliam County in 1927 where he worked with sheep for the Huddleston brothers. While working in Gilliam County he met and married Nyna Mildred Cason. In 1930 he and his father-in law, Willis Cason, formed a farm partnership operating the F. B. and Lillian Stevens ranch in the Pine Ridgearea southeast of Condon that was to last until 1942 when the partners purchased the W. B. Best ranch near Rock Creek Station where they raised sheep, cattle and wheat. The farm was sold in 1958 to Alvin A. West, a grandson of William West andthe Knightens came to their home in Condon to live, until his failing health made it necessary for him to move to the Condon Nursing Home. He resided there until its close, and on October 14 he was taken to a care center in The Dalles where he died October 30, 1985. Their children Raymond Eugene, born June 29, 1932 and Margaret Hazel born November 11, 1933. Elmer and Nyna lived all their married lives in Gilliam County until his death October 30, 1985. He was a member of the Mikkaloo Grange and Wheatland Pamona Grange, and a lifetime member of the Oregon Wheat Growers. He served as school director in the Pine Ridge and Rock Creek School Districts. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Nyna, 1 daughter,Margaret Stangel of Lovelock, Nev.; 6 grandchildren and a sister, Myrtle Imel of LaGrande. A son, Raymond and 1 grandson preceded him in death.

A son, Raymond Eugene and daughter, Margaret Hazel were born to them and by the time they were ofschool age, the Pine Ridge School was closed, so Elmer and Nyna bought a house in Condon on the corner of Oregon and Well Streets. This started many years of commuting between ranch and town for Nyna and the kids, except for the years between1942-45 when the childred attended the one room school at the Rock Creek Station. Often Elmer didn't seem to get to the program, but Santa Claus did. When the Rock Creek Ranch was sold Eklmer and Nyna had their son-in-law, Charles Stangel, build them a new home on the site of the house they had purchased so many years before in Condon.

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