Husband Charles Alfred Miller
Born: Nov 6, 1848
Christened:
Died: Sep 22, 1923 - Rickreall, Oregon
Buried:
Father: John Andrew Miller (1815-1896)
Mother: Mary Jane ( -1883)
Marriage: Sep 19, 1875
Wife Susan Makala Parker
Born: Dec 4, 1854
Christened:
Died: Feb 18, 1924 - Rickreall, Oregon
Buried:
Father: Living
Mother: Living
Children
1 M John Frank Miller
Born: May 19, 1884 - Polk County, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Oct 17, 1957
Buried:
Spouse: Thelma Harriet Wilson (1902-1985)
Marr: Sep 18, 1928 - Tacoma, WA
2 F Mary Ethel
Born: Jul 21, 1876 - Polk County, Oregon
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Notes: Marriage
Alt Marriage: Susan M. Parker Date: 19 Sep 1875 Location: , Polk, Oregon 89
Husband John Frank Miller
Born: May 19, 1884 - Polk County, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Oct 17, 1957
Buried:
Father: Charles Alfred Miller (1848-1923)
Mother: Susan Makala Parker (1854-1924)
Marriage: Sep 18, 1928 - Tacoma, WA
Wife Thelma Harriet Wilson
Born: Jan 27, 1902 - Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Sep 17, 1985 - Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
Buried:
Father: John Emerson Wilson (1875-1963) 41
Mother: Clara Margaret Bennett (1864-1941)
Children
1 F Virginia E. Miller
Born: Jul 7, 1930
Christened:
Died: Jun 16, 1997
Buried:
Spouse: Robert Joseph Logan (1929-1986)
Marr: Jul 21, 1949 - Tacoma, WA
General Notes: Wife -
Thelma Wilson was reared in the western Washington communities of South Bend and Bremerton. She and her husband were longtime residents of Tacoma, Washington, where Thelma worked as a receptionist in medical offices. At the time of her death at 83, Thelma was residing at Gig Harbor, Washington
Husband William Charles Wilson 56,61,67,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99
Born: Feb 21, 1833 - Licking County, Ohio
Christened:
Died: After 1900
Buried:
Father: Daniel Pegg Wilson (1804-1890) 32,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63
Mother: Rosanna Hough Moul (1814-1850) 64
Marriage: Nov 27, 1858 - Portland, Oregon 100
Other Spouse: Lobiah Richmond (Abt 1836-Abt 1857) 56 - Mar 3, 1852 - Morgon County, Illinois (Death of one spouse)
Wife Mary Jane Mills 100,101
AKA: Mary Jane Mill
Born: Jun 29, 1840 - Wood County, Ohio
Christened:
Died: Feb 6, 1910 - Melrose, Oregon
Cause of Death: Chronic Intestitial Nephritis
Buried: - Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, Oregon
Father: Robert Mill (1803-1886) 102,103,104,105,106
Mother: Margaret McGregor ( -1846)
Children
1 M William H. Wilson 100
Born: 1860 - Portland, Oregon
Christened:
Died: 1860 - Clackmas County, Oregon
Buried:
2 M Frank Emerson Wilson 91,94,96,107
Born: Jan 25, 1861 - Portland, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Mar 2, 1937 - Portland, Oregon
Buried:
Spouse: Margaret Elizabeth (Lizzie) Guild (1872-Abt 1929)
Marr: May 3, 1889 - Portland, Oregon
3 F Rosanna Moul Wilson
Born: Jul 4, 1864 - Portland, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Jun 16, 1926 - Seattle, Washington
Buried:
Spouse: Van Marion Bullard (1861-1952)
Marr: Jan 23, 1886 - Astoria, Oregon 65
4 F Ida M. Wilson
Born: 1867 - Clackmas County, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Apr 10, 1888 - Portland, Oregon
Buried: - Lone Fir Cemetery In East Portland, Oregon
Spouse: Thomas D Richardson (Abt 1860-1920)
Marr: Feb 17, 1887 - Portland, Oregon 108
5 M Howard E. Wilson
Born: Sep 12, 1869 - Clackmas County, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Feb 14, 1937 - Roseburg, Oregon
Buried: - Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, Oregon
6 M Herman Andrew Wilson 109
Born: May 23, 1872 - Portland, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Jan 29, 1942 - Roseburg, Oregon
Cause of Death: General Edemia from Cardiovascular Renal Disease
Buried: - Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, Oregon
Spouse: Mary Ella Pierce (Abt 1874-1917)
7 F Daisy Elizabeth Wilson 110
Born: Feb 18, 1875 - Portland, Oregon
Christened:
Died: May 7, 1972 - Roseburg, Oregon
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Buried: - Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, Oregon
Spouse: Living
Spouse: Thomas Frazier Ward (1874-1965)
Marr: Jun 26, 1906 - Douglas County, Oregon 111
8 F Blanche A. Wilson
Born: Jan 3, 1878 - Portland, Oregon
Christened:
Died: Dec 28, 1968 - Roseburg, Oregon
Buried: - Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, Oregon
Spouse: Charles E. Kyes (1875-1961)
Marr: Oct 8, 1896 - Roseburg, Oregon
9 M George Marion Wilson 92,108
Born: Oct 30, 1881 - Portland, Oregon 92
Christened:
Died: Mar 11, 1963 - Portland, Oregon
Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest caused by pneumonia.
Buried: - Section 9, Lot 137 Of The River View Cemetery In Portland, Oregon
Spouse: Estella Florence Beckwith (1891-1951)
Marr: Dec 8, 1908 - Portland, Oregon 112
General Notes: Husband -
The William C. Wilson Family -
William Charles Wilson was born 21 February 1833 probably near the town of Utica in Licking County, Ohio. William is the second son of Daniel Pegg Wilson and Rosanna Moul.
William's father's family took up the call for it's westward destiny and in about 1836 migrated from Ohio to Illinois taking up a farm near Springfield, Illinois. The family in 1850 was living near Beardstown, Morgan County Illinois.
The great western movement was at that time under way. Economic depression and epidemics prompted more and more families to sell their farms, buy covered wagons and start the long journey across the plains. William's father had not given much thought to making the move himself until William's mother, Roseanna became ill with cancer and passed away in February of 1850. The family felt lost and discontented to remain where Roseanna had so long been a guiding spirit. After due deliberation with his father, brothers and sisters they decided to make the move, so William's father sold out, bought supplies and in April 1852, William Wilson, at the age of 19, set out with his father's family on the historic westward trek to the Oregon country. Just prior to starting on the trip, William married Lobia (also spelled Lobier or Lobiah) Richmond, the daughter of Alexander W. Richmond and Mahala Hassler. William and Lobia were married on 11 February 1852 in Morgan County, Illinois.
The present-day counties of Cass and Scott were part of Morgan County until 1837 and 1839, respectively. The boundary line with Cass County was originally further north than the current boundary, which was established in 1845.
The pioneer party consisted of William, along with his new bride Lobia, William's father, William's two brothers, his five sisters, the wife and infant son of William's brother George.
After a long trip the Wilson family arrived in Oregon City, Oregon on the 25th of October 1852. They made camp there to rest a few days then sold their wagons and animals, then hired some Indians to take them by two canoes down the Willamette River to Portland, Oregon. One of the canoes capsized and much of the Wilson family's precious supplies were lost. The Wilson's first home in this new western frontier was near what is now Old-Town Portland's 1st and Stark Streets. At that time there were few buildings near them mostly uncleared land and stumps.
William C. Wilson and his father Daniel Pegg Wilson set out making their way by boat down the Columbia River. They landed at a place called Chinookville, located on the north bank of the Columbia River near what is now called Baker's Bay, Washington. Chinookville was the first county seat of Pacific County, Washington, it had been a thriving Indian village, home to the Chinook Indians.
William C. Wilson explored the wild areas north of Chinook and around Shoalwater Bay, which is now known as Willapa Bay, Washington. William must have thought that the area looked very promising with its abundant wild life, timber, mild climate and waterways for transportation. William C. Wilson and his wife, Lobia, claimed and settled on a 326 acre Donation Land Claim there.
Donation Land Act of 1850
The Donation Land Act called for the orderly and legal ownership of property in Oregon Territory. It voided all laws previously passed making grants of land, but was worded to take into account existing claims in the Oregon Country. It granted every white settler and "American half-breed Indian" above the age of 18 already living in Oregon a free half-section of land if single or a full section (640 acres, the same as allowed under the Organic Act) if married, with half in the wife's name. Residence and cultivation for four years was required. Settlers arriving after 1850 were granted half a section if married, or one-quarter of a section if single.
The William C. Wilson Donation Land Claim is listed in Volume I of the Olympia Land office Certificate # 114, DLC #1284, patent dated Sept 27, 1865, recorded in Vol. 2, page 140; sent to Registrar at Olympia on Sept 30, 1865. The description of William Wilson's land claim is as follows:
Lots 8, 9 and 10 and NE 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Section 20 and Lots 21 of the W 1/4 of SW 1/4 and East 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 17 and Lot 5 in Section 18, all in Township 10 West and Range 10 North. The claim is located East of the Bear River near the southern part of Shoalwater Bay.
William and his family afforded assistance to travelers going to or coming from the Shoalwater Bay area. James G. Swan in his book, "The Northwest Coast" described how a Wilson family afforded assistance to travelers going to or coming from the Shoalwater Bay area. James Swan mentions the name "James' Wilson in this account, however, I believe that description of the location of the Wilson home and circumstances indicate that he was in error. The name "James Wilson" that James Swan mentions should be in fact William Wilson. William became an associate of an industrious man named Joel Brown. William, with Joel Brown and others including his father Daniel Pegg Wilson, Job Lamley, Samuel Woodward, Henry Whitcomb, Job, Mark and Seth Bullard and Captain Jackson had cut a wagon road on the portage, crossing from Shoalwater Bay and connecting to the Columbia River. Joel Brown died before he could finish his dream of developing the Shoalwater Bay area, so William C. Wilson and his associates carried on where Joel Brown left off. Their intention was to induce a large immigration of pioneers from Portland to settle on Shoal-Water Bay. Job Lamley ran an advertisement in the Oregonian newspaper in 1853 describing his route to Shoalwater Bay. Job solicited settlers to travel on the U. S. Mail Boat Union from Portland to Astoria, then to Chinook, then up the Wappalooche River to William McCarty's Landing, thence by their wagon road to William C. Wilson's Landing and Hotel, then via the Bear River to Shoal water Bay....... " Having the best of sea boats on this line are prepared to take passengers and freight safe and with dispatch from Astoria via Chinook, Shoalwater Bay, and back the same route. Accommodations rough and charges high "....... Quite an interest was excited by them among immigrants of Oregon to make Shoalwater Bay their home.
Two children were born to William C. Wilson and Lobia Wilson; a daughter Isadora and a son Wiley, both born in Washington Territory. The family may have lived on William's Donation Land Claim from 11 March 1853 until about 1858. His wife Lobia died from causes unknown about 1857.
William C. Wilson was remarried in Portland, Oregon to Mary Jane Mills in 1858. Mary Jane Mills was the daughter of Robert Mill and Margaret McGregor who were from Scotland. Mary Jane was born in Wood County, Ohio. Her father and older brother, John Mill, were already in Oregon when she made the journey to join them in 1857. She traveled from Ohio with her younger brother William (Billy) Mills to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama. William and Mary Jane Wilson eventually had nine children: William H., Frank, Rosa, Ida, Herman, Howard, Blanche, Daisy and George.
William had an adopted brother named William or Will Buchannan. Will Buchanan was a steam ship builder and a river boat captain.
The 1860 Clackamas County, Oregon Census lists William and Mary Jane Wilson as living in Milwaukie, Oregon along with William's daughter, Isadora from his first marriage to Lobia Richmond. Willliams occupation is listed as blacksmith. The 1860 Clatsup County, Oregon Census lists Wiley R. Wilson, William C. Wilson's son from his first marriage, as living with and under the guardianship of Matthew McCreary in Astoria, Oregon. William and Mary Jane's first child William H. Wilson apparently died as an infant in 1860, as evidenced by the 1860 Clackamas County Mortality Schedule.
From about 1861 to 1864, the William C. Wilson family was living in a house on the corner of Third and Mill Streets, the location where the "Market Building" now exists in Portland, Oregon. Their second child Frank and third child Rosanna was born in that house.
From about 1864 to about 1870 William and Mary Jane Wilson lived on a large farm that they owned in Clackamas County on Rock Creek near Damascus, Oregon. The land was 160 acres of a Donation Land Claim which Mary Jane Wilson was eligible for. William and Mary Jane purchased additional lands adjoining this property. This property, was described in the Clackamas County, Oregon Agriculture Productions Report of June 1870, as 160 acres of improved land and 160 acres of woodland, $380 of livestock, producing 50 bushels of winter wheat, 100 bushels of oats and 10 bushels of buckwheat. According to the 1870 Census of Clackamas County, Oregon, William C. Wilson's son, Wiley R. Wilson, from William's first marriage to Lobia Richmond, was then living with William C. and Mary Jane Wilson. Mary Jane's Father, Robert Mill, her brothers John Mill and Billy Mills occupied farms next to William and Mary Jane's. William C. and Mary Jane Wilson's children Ida and Howard were probably born while they lived on their farm in Clackamas County.
From about 1871 until about 1887, the William C. Wilson family lived in East Portland in a house located on the northwest corner of 6th Street and Alaska (Alaska is now known as Harrison Street). The 1874 East Portland (Multnomah County) City Directory lists him as Wilson W. C., teamster, res NW corner of Sixth, Stephens add.
Their children: Herman, Blanche, Daisy and George M. Wilson were probably born while they lived in East Portland. George was the last child born to William and Mary Jane Wilson. George was born at the time when William was forty-eight years old. During this time when the Wilsons were living in East Portland, William was a blacksmith and had a horse and wagon drayage business in Portland located at 50 Ash Street. William's occupation was listed in the city of Portland's directory from 1873 until 1887 as " teamster, dray man or truck man ". William may have had business ties with Aaron Meier who founded the Meier and Frank stores. William got his son Frank a job working as the Meier's first employee in their first store on Front Street in 1873. William sold part of his Donation Land Claim on the Bear River in Washington to Aaron Meier.
William C. Wilson traveled with his son Frank to California in the summer of 1876. William was originally trying to finance a trip to Pennsylvania for "The Centennial Exposition", celebrating one hundred years since the signing of The Declaration of Independence. The exposition was to be held in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. He wanted to hear Theador Thomas' famous orchestra, which was scheduled to lead the ceremonies. William contrived a plan to exhibit a seven-legged calf along the way to Pennsylvania, thus paying for the trip as they traveled. He bought the calf for a few dollars from a farmer near William's home in Portland. He and his son Frank took the calf to San Francisco where that city was holding their own Centennial Exposition. William there hired a " fire eater ", bought a large tent and set it up along side the Grand Central Hotel on Market Street. There he put the seven-legged calf along with " fire eater " on exhibition and at fifty cents a person he started raking in the money. William and son Frank also found time to view the Fourth of July Grand Centennial Parade there. William then sold the calf for $3,000, but changed his mind about going east. Instead William bought a team of horses, a buckboard and together with son Frank they went on a tour of California, prospecting for gold and coal claims. They traveled through the Mother Load country working south as far as the Mexican boarder.
William's son, Wiley R. Wilson from his first marriage to Lobia Richmond, was married in Astoria, Oregon to Ida Hardesty in 1878. Wiley was killed in 1880 while working as an engineer on a steamboat. Wiley was scalded to death when the boat's boiler blew up near Portland.
In 1884 William's business was listed in the city of Portland directory as " Wilson, W.C. (Wilson and Poinsett) transfer agent ". In 1886 William's business was listed in the directory as " Wilson, W.C. and Company (Wm. C. Wilson and Fred R. Lownsdale), Drayman and Forwarders, 50 Ash ".
William C. Wilson in about the year 1887 moved his family to a large ranch that he owned in Melrose near Roseburg, Douglas County Oregon. The Wilson ranch house still existed in 2003 as the Carl Eder home located at 572 Cleveland Hill Road in Melrose, Oregon 97470. The ranch there at one time consisted of 1608 acres comprised largely of: sections 25, 26 and 36 of Township 26 South, Range 7 West; section 1 of Township 27 South Range, Range 7 West; section 31 of Township 26 South, Range 6 West, also the Donation Land Claim of Augistine Foisy, Number 41 located in Township 27 South, Range 7 West and his Claim number 48 in Township 26 South, Range 7. The Wilson ranch was at one time one of the largest in Douglas County and here the family raised fine work horses and whippet dogs. William and Mary Jane's children: Frank, Rosanna and Ida stayed in Portland.
William and Mary Jane's son Frank became employed in the riverboat business and became a captain. Frank married Elizabeth Guild, a niece of R. D. Inman, founder of the Inman Poulsen Lumber Company. They had no children.
William and Mary Jane's daughter Rosanna married her first cousin, Van Marion Bullard, together they had six children: Ivan, Trevor, Marion, Flossie, Kenneth and Jean. They lived on a ranch in Menlo, Washington.
William and Mary Jane's daughter Ida married Thomas D. Richardson in 1887 but she died only nine months later, no children were born to them. She is buried in the Lone Fir Cemetery in East Portland.
William's gold fever in the 1880's led him venturing into a gold mine in southern Oregon along with his father Daniel Pegg Wilson and William's son Frank. The mine was on a tributary of Cow Creek located near Azalia, Oregon, it was called the Green Mountain Mine. William's son Frank described the mine as: " It was a five-stamp mill and they had quite a lot of stock in this mine but not enough for the controlling interest. The only hold Pa had on the property was a three-year lease. When this ran out, they wouldn't renew the lease so he lost out, except for the stock ". William and his father Daniel invested a great deal of money into the mine. William's speculation in gold mining caused him to loose almost everything he owned.
William's father, Daniel Pegg Wilson, died in 1890, after which William was sued by his father's estate. The executor of the estate, William's brother George W. Wilson, claimed that moneys invested by Daniel Pegg Wilson in gold mining were in fact loans made to William C. Wilson and that this money should be paid back to their father's estate. William fought this case all the way to the Oregon State Supreme Court where William lost the case in 1894. This family dispute over William's father's estate was the apparent cause of a rift between the William C. Wilson and George W. Wilson families for which the two families seldom associated with one another again.
It was soon after the year 1900 that William C. Wilson, the father of eleven, then disappeared, never to be heard from again by his family. The last story concerning William C. Wilson is that he was last known by his family to be heading south, possibly for California to prospect for gold. The 1900 Douglas County, Oregon Census lists William C. Wilson as the "Head of Family". The 8 February 1910 Obituary of William C. Wilson's wife, Mary Jane, states that "she leaves a husband". I have found no later records concerning him.
William C. Wilson's wife, Mary Jane, died in Melrose in 1910 and she is buried in the Melrose Cemetery.
Frank Wilson had various jobs over the years with riverboats. Frank became a riverboat captain. He was also employed as a carpenter, building contractor, house painter and mining engineer. Frank and his wife owned a restaurant in Neuberg, Oregon in the 1920's and 1930's.
William and Mary Jane's son Howard became blind as a result of an accident while taking apart a shotgun ammunition. He became a self-sufficient farmer, was an accomplished musician, never married and lived the rest of his life in Melrose, Oregon. Howard is remembered by still living neighbors as always having a happy disposition.
The Wilson's son Herman married Mary Pierce and they lived in Melrose, Oregon. Herman and Mary had two sons, Alva and Lloyd and a daughter Ione or also called Cleo.
Blanche, the third daughter of William and Mary Jane Wilson was married to Charlie Keys. They had only one child, a daughter named Leona who died at the early age of eighteen. Charlie Kyes was in the real estate business in Roseburg.
The William C. and Mary Jane Wilson's youngest daughter Daisy was married briefly to a man named Frank Nelson who treated her badly. Daisy moved to California and worked in a candy factory there. Daisy returned to Oregon and married Tom Ward and together they lived the rest of their lives in Melrose and Roseburg. Daisy was well known for selfless concern for others, she was a charter member of the Melrose Comfort Society. Daisey had no children.
George M. Wilson grew up in Melrose and graduated from high school there. He became a mail carrier and drove a stagecoach.
The family was musically inclined. George Wilson played the fiddle, Blanche played the guitar and her husband Charley Keys played the banjo. Howard Wilson played many instruments and together with Daisy and her husband Tom Ward, they would all travel and perform at barn dances and Grange halls around the Roseburg, Oregon area.
George M. Wilson, in about the year 1900, moved to Portland where he worked for the Inman Poulsen Lumber Company and later became involved with a life long career in the food flavoring business. George married Estella Beckwith and they had two sons, one that died shortly after birth and a second son, Donald R. Wilson. George and Estella lived the rest of their lives in Portland.
The Van Marion and Rosanna Bullard families remained close to the rest if the W.C. Wilson families. The families of W. C. Wilson and V. M. Bullard often visited between the Bullard ranch in Menlo, Washington, the Wilson families around Roseburg and the George M. Wilson family in Portland. Rosanna Bullard died in 1926 and is buried in the Firndale Cemetery of Menlo, Washington.
Frank Wilson died in 1937 in Portland.
Howard Wilson died in 1937 and is buried in the Melrose Cemetery.
Herman Wilson died in 1942 and is buried in the Melrose Cemetery.
George M. Wilson died at the age of 81 in 1963 and is buried in the River View Cemetery of Portland.
Blanche Keys died in 1968 in Roseburg, Oregon and is buried in the Melrose Cemetery.
Daisy Ward was the last of the William C. and Mary Jane's children to pass away. Daisy died in 1972, having lived to be 97 years old. She is buried in the Melrose Cemetery.
The only known families to continue the line of William C. and Mary Jane Wilson to this day are from their children Rosanna Bullard, and George M. Wilson. The Bullard families often have large family reunions in Menlo, Washington. The last of the males to carry on the Wilson name from William C. Wilson are his grandson Donald R. Wilson of Salem, Oregon and William's great grandson Clark J. Wilson of West Linn, Oregon.
Information compiled as of October 2003.
General Notes: Wife -
Mary Jane Mills traveled to Oregon by way of the Isthmus of Panama and the ship Golden Gate in 1857.
Notes: Marriage
Husband William Mills 105
AKA: Billy Mills
Born: May 8, 1843 - Wood County, Ohio
Christened:
Died: Jun 16, 1915 - Vancouver, Washington 113
Buried:
Father: Robert Mill (1803-1886) 102,103,104,105,106
Mother: Margaret McGregor ( -1846)
Marriage: Nov 17, 1865 - Vancouver, Washington
Wife Ann Eliza Clark Wilson
AKA: Analiza Wilson
Born: Jul 13, 1849 - Illinois
Christened:
Died: Jan 30, 1880 - Pacific County, Washington
Buried:
Father: Daniel Pegg Wilson (1804-1890) 32,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63
Mother: Rosanna Hough Moul (1814-1850) 64
Children
1 F Ada Francess Mills
AKA: Addie Mills
Born: Abt 1867 - Oregon
Christened:
Died: Abt 1943
Buried:
Spouse: Zacharias Tabell (1858-1938) 114
2 F Bertha Leona Mills
AKA: Bertie Mills
Born: Jan 20, 1869 - Bay Center, Washington
Christened:
Died: Aug 8, 1960 - Montgomery, Alabama 113
Buried:
Spouse: David E. Crandall (1868-1954)
Marr: Aug 15, 1894 - Bay Center, Washington
3 M Roy Wilson Mills
AKA: Rody Mills
Born: Abt 1871 - Bay Center, Washington
Christened:
Died: 1946 - Woodland, Washington
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Klager (1878-1956)
Spouse: Living
4 M Daniel Robert Mills
AKA: Robert Daniel Mills
Born: Jul 23, 1873 - Bay Center, Washington
Christened:
Died: Jan 11, 1892 - Bay Center, Washington
Buried:
5 F May Ella Mills
AKA: Ella May Mills
Born: Abt 1875
Christened:
Died: After 1960 - Seattle, Washington
Buried:
6 F Rosa June Mills
AKA: June Rose Mills
Born: Jun 19, 1877 - Bay Center, Washington
Christened:
Died: Aug 13, 1970 - Bay Center, Washington
Buried:
Spouse: Harry Eply Bochau (1876-1954)
Marr: Nov 22, 1900 - Bay Center, Washington
7 M Lloyd Roland Mills
AKA: Roland Lloyd Mills
Born: Dec 6, 1878 - Bay Center, Washington
Christened:
Died: Aug 24, 1964 - Portland, Multnomah , Oregon
Buried:
Spouse: Sara Foster Sutherland (1884-1939)
Marr: 1903
Spouse: Margarett McCabe (1890-1972)
General Notes: Husband -
William Mills was the youngest son of Robert Mill and Margaret
McGregor who were from Scotland. William Mills was born in Wood County, Ohio. His father and older brother, John Mill, were already in Oregon when he made the journey to join them in 1857. He traveled from Ohio with his older sister, Mary Jane Mills, to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama and on the ship Golden Gate.
From about 1857 to 1867, William probably lived in on his father's large farm in Clackamas County on Rock Creek near Damascus, Oregon. It was here probably that William met his future wife, Ann Eliza Wilson. Ann Eliza was a sister of William C. Wilson. William Mills' sister, Mary Jane Mills, was married to this same William C. Wilson. William C. Wilson, John Mill and Robert Mill all had adjoining farms in Clackmas County, Oregon.
The following was taken from the Pacific County Edition of the South Bend Journal dated 1900:
William Mills of Bay Center, one of the pioneers of the oyster business on Willapa Bay, and the leading merchant in Bay Center, was born in Wood county, Ohio, in the year 1843. When he was fourteen years of age his parents removed to Oregon, coming by way of Panama and setting in Clackamas county, where worked on a farm for nearly ten years, married and departed for western Washington, reaching Pacific county in September 1867 and Iocating on the Palix river, where he took up a ranch. In that region at that time there was little else but ducks, oysters and Indians that lived, breathed and had their being.
The possibilities of this region were not unknown, but that he would ever live to see the resources developed was problematical. Naturally, however, having come here for that purpose, he set about in a small way to develop them himself. He farmed for some time and oystered some, devoting whatever spare time he had to keeping peace with the wary Indian, of whom there were some three hundred in his immediate vicinity. Finally he dropped the farm and confined his efforts to oystering and merchandising and has followed this joint enterprise for twenty-five years. He is now enjoying the fruition of his labors, owning large and profitable oyster beds and a prosperous mercantile business. When he had gotten fairly started in the oyster business he began shipping to California about 1200 baskets of the bivalves annually, and from that the annual shipments gradually grew to 3000 baskets and upwards. Up until the first of August this year he shipped 2100 baskets. Mr. Mills store at Bay Center is one of the best kept, most largely patronized and prosperous merchandising establishments in the county. For quarter of a century it has stood as a monument to the integrity, thrift and industry of its Pioneer proprietor. Personally Mr. Mills is much esteemed as an upright man, an enterprising citizen, a good neighbor and a firm friend.
Sometime after 1902, William Mills moved to and lived the remainder of his life in Portland, Oregon. He was a member of The Oregon Pioneers Association. William died at St. Josephs hospital in Vancouver, Washington, while visiting his daughter, Bertha Crandall. His estate was valued at $12, 000. He was buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery , alongside his wife, Anelisa, in Bay Center, Washington.
Notes: Marriage
Husband James Mitchell
Born: May 16, 1776 - Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: Nov 16, 1809 - Washington, Green County, Pennsylvania
Wife Sarah Wilson
Born: Nov 5, 1792 - Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Christened:
Died: - Corydon, Indiana
Buried:
Father: Thomas Wilson (Abt 1760-Abt 1828) 33,32,37,38
Mother: Nancy Anna Pegg (Abt 1763-Abt 1832)
Other Spouse: Living
Children
General Notes: Wife -
The Wilson Surname Message Board
Message #4086 Friday, August 04, 2000
Subject: Descendents of Thomas Wilson
Posted by: James Mitchell
Message: Sarah Wilson b 1792 was my GGGGrandmother. She is buried in
Corydon, IN.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Sarah's headstone reads "Sarah Barnard Mitchell". Makes sense since William
Barnard was her first husband. She's buried beside her Father in Law and I
don't know yet if her husband is buried there. Their son, John Wilson
Mitchell is my GGGrandfather. They followed the custom of picking up the
Maternal surname for the middle name. Any info I find out I'll be glad to
send you.
James (Butch) Mitchell
North Carolina
Notes: Marriage
Husband Daniel Pegg Wilson 32,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63
AKA: Cougar Wilson
Born: May 1804 - Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Christened:
Died: Nov 14, 1890 - Pacific County, Washington
Cause of Death: Cancer complicated by Small pox.
Buried: - Wilson Cemetery, Wilson Point, Pacific County, Washington
Father: James Wilson (1779-Abt 1860) 32,38,52
Mother: Mary Emory (Abt 1784- )
Marriage: May 31, 1827 - Belmont County, Ohio (Death of one spouse)
Wife Rosanna Hough Moul 64
AKA: Rosannah F
Born: Apr 25, 1814 - Virginia
Christened:
Died: Feb 24, 1850 - Morgan County, Illinois
Cause of Death: Cancer
Buried: - Mount Vernon Cemetery, Morgan County, Illinois
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Marriage Fact, Feb 1850
Children
1 F Mary Jane Wilson
Born: Aug 20, 1828 - Ohio
Christened:
Died: Feb 4, 1884 - Pacific County, Washington
Buried: - Wilson Cemetery, Wilson Point, Pacific County, Washington
Spouse: John S. M. Van Cleave (1823-1889)
Marr: Jan 21, 1855 - Pacific County, Washington
2 M George Washington Moul Wilson 42
Born: Sep 17, 1830 - Ohio 66
Christened:
Died: Apr 17, 1911 - Pacific County, Washington
Buried: - Wilson Cemetery, Wilson Point, Pacific County, Washington
Spouse: Ann Eliza Clark (1829-1868)
Marr: Dec 22, 1850 - Cass County Illinois 67
Spouse: Elizabeth Goodpasture (1836-1925)
Marr: Jan 22, 1873 - Eugene, Oregon
3 M William Charles Wilson 56,61,67,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99
Born: Feb 21, 1833 - Licking County, Ohio
Christened:
Died: After 1900
Buried:
Spouse: Lobiah Richmond (Abt 1836-Abt 1857) 56
Marr: Mar 3, 1852 - Morgon County, Illinois. (Death of one spouse)
Spouse: Mary Jane Mills (1840-1910) 100,101
Marr: Nov 27, 1858 - Portland, Oregon 100
4 M John Emory Wilson
Born: Nov 20, 1836 - Illinois
Christened:
Died: Nov 25, 1843 - Morgan County, Illinois
Buried: - The "Angle" Cemetery Near Concord, Morgan County, Illinois
5 F Martha Elizabeth Wilson
Born: Mar 3, 1839 - Near Springfield, Illinois
Christened:
Died: May 9, 1872 - Pacific County, Washington
Cause of Death: Small Pox
Buried:
Spouse: Job Bullard (1828-1911)
Marr: Oct 11, 1857 - Pacific County, Washington
6 F Sarah Frances Wilson
Born: Nov 7, 1841 - Illinois
Christened:
Died: Dec 22, 1913 - Tacoma, Washington
Buried: - Washington Cemetery, Raymond, Washington
Spouse: Job Lamley (1830-1911)
Marr: Jun 5, 1856 - Pacific County, Washington
7 F Nancy Louiza Wilson
AKA: Louisa Or Lee Wilson
Born: Jan 2, 1844 - Illinois
Christened:
Died: Apr 1, 1890 - Pacific County, Washington
Buried:
Spouse: John Marion Louderback (1832-1906)
Marr: Abt 1861 - Pacific County, Washington
8 M Daniel Fuller Wilson
Born: May 7, 1847 - Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois
Christened:
Died: 1881 - Pacific County, Washington
Buried:
Spouse: Living
9 F Ann Eliza Clark Wilson
AKA: Analiza Wilson
Born: Jul 13, 1849 - Illinois
Christened:
Died: Jan 30, 1880 - Pacific County, Washington
Buried:
Spouse: William Mills (1843-1915) 105
Marr: Nov 17, 1865 - Vancouver, Washington
10 M Living (details have been suppressed)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
11 M Living (details have been suppressed)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband -
Daniel Pegg Wilson, the son of James Wilson and Mary Emory, was born in May of 1804 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Daniel's middle name "Pegg" originated from his ancestor, Daniel Pegg I, who was a prominent early individual in the colony of Pennsylvania even before William Penn. Daniel Pegg Wilson may also be related to James Wilson, one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence, however, I have been unable to make a positive connection. Daniel Pegg's early rearing must have prepared him well, for he grew into a man of tenacious spirit and resourcefulness. A taste for wanderlust was kindled when in 1815 the Wilson family, including Daniel's father James, took up the call for adventure and a better life and moved westward. They traveled in wagons until they reaching the Ohio River. There they stopped and cut trees, which were split and hewed into lumber. They made a scow and floated down to the mouth of the river, where they unloaded the three good wagons and drove to their new home in the promising Ohio. The wild Ohio frontier forged Daniel's skill as a frontiersman.
Daniel married Roseanna Hough Moul on 31 May 1827 in Belmont County, Ohio. Roseanna, before her marriage she was under the guardianship of John Ethel. Ohio was the birthplace of Daniel and Roseanna's first two children: Mary Jane, born 20 August 1828 and George Washington, born 17 September 1830.
The Wilson family may have lived in Licking County, Ohio near Utica. Licking County is where Daniel and Roseanna's third child, William Charles was born in February 1833.
The family again took up the call for it's westward destiny and in about 1836 migrated to Illinois taking up a farm in the Walnut Grove area near Springfield, Illinois. The land there bore dense groves of black walnut trees and Daniel, who was a millwright, built a sawmill for cutting them into lumber. This mill was the old pony saw type, running continuously as the flow of water turned the mill wheel. Logs were placed in position and when the saw came down, it cut the wood in the desired spot. When the lumber was cut, the wagon was loaded and Daniel with his wife Roseanna hauled it by ox team the eight miles to Springfield, young son George riding the oxen as they went on their way. The trees that were not used for lumber were simply cut down, piled and burned to get rid of them in the process of getting the land ready for planting crops. Later, Daniel built a gristmill and also a cooperage, as he was efficient at making wooden barrels and buckets. Daughter Martha Elizibeth was likely born near Springfield on 3 March 1839. Abraham Lincoln may have been a neighbor as there is an account of Daniel Pegg's sister Sarah remembering " sitting on Abe Lincoln's lap listening to him tell stories ". Five more children were born to Daniel and Roseanna. Daughter Sarah Frances was born on 7 November 1841. Son John Emory died young in 1843. Daughter Nancy Louisa was born on 2 June 1844 and son Daniel Fuller was born about 1846. Their last child Annliza C. was born about 1849. Daniel's oldest son George Washington married Ann Eliza Clark in Cass County, Illinois in December 1850. Daniel's family is listed in the 1850 Census of Morgan County, Illinois. Daniel owned at least 55 acres of land between the towns of Beardstown and Jacksonville in the Concord Township, in the N1/2 of Section 22, 16 N Range 11 W of Morgan County, Illinois.
The great western movement was at that time under way. Economic depression and epidemics prompted more and more families to sell their farms, buy covered wagons and start the long journey across the plains. Daniel had not given much thought to making the move himself until his wife Roseanna became ill with cancer and passed away in February 1850. The family felt lost and discontented to remain where she had so long been the guiding spirit. In the Fall of 1851, after due deliberation the family decided to make the move, so Daniel sold out, bought supplies and in April of 1852, Daniel Pegg Wilson, at the age of 48, led his family in the historic westward trek. The party consisted of Daniel, his eight children and one grandchild, as follows:
George (age 21 years), with his wife Ann Eliza and infant son Orlando.
Mary Jane (age 23 years).
William (age 19 years), with his new bride Lobia or Lobier Richmond.
Martha (age 13 years).
Sarah (age 10 years).
Nancy (age 7 years).
Daniel Fuller (age 6 years).
Annliza (age 3 years).
The undertaking seemed to be a great adventure to all of them and the excitement in that helped overcome their fear of the unknown. They said tearful good-byes to friends and relatives who they would never see again as they drove off with their ox teams and a milk-cow to St. Louis, Missouri. The Wilsons boarded at St. Louis one of the two stern wheel steamers making the run to Independence, Missouri. The vessels proceeded to put on a race. This caused some alarm to the passengers when their smokestacks glowing red-hot. Son George, who had operated steam grist and saw mills, investigated, assured everyone that steam pressure in the boilers were kept at a safe levels and that all was well.
Disembarking at Independence, which was their jumping off point for their journey to Oregon, the Wilson family purchased supplies. They looked around at the many outfits getting ready to start the long journey west. Most immigrants at the beginning of the journey believed that the larger the caravan, the less danger of attack from Indians. The Wilson family however, believed that the larger outfits had more dissension, therefore, they joined a small group of ten wagons, each with extra cattle and horses.
A historical perspective of the Wilson pioneer story during the prairie crossing phase of their journey is supplemented by the following descriptions of the Oregon Trail, obtained from "The Great Platte River Road", by Merril J. Mattes.
The first leg of the journey was across the prairie lands to Fort Kearney, Nebraska. This military outpost marked the gateway to the Great Plains. Fort Kearney was the first place of any importance on their route. Upon reaching this point the Wilsons must have felt that they had reached an oasis. Once more they saw evidence of civilization and refinement. The neat and comfortable tenements of the officers, the offices and stores, all reminded them of home, and as they looked aloft at the flagpole, where the stars and stripes were proudly waving to the breeze, they fully realized they were still protected, still Americans. The Wilsons may have had thought and spoken of Fort Kearney as if it were their destination, and nothing beyond it, but now they regarded it as a starting point. Beyond lie the Great Platt River Road, the Great Plains, with its endless level horizon and strange treeless ness.
Leaving Fort Kearney they followed the Platte River which was described as "a wide sheet of water only 3 or 4 feet deep, running over a vast level bed of sand and mica, continually changing into offsets like the shingled roof of a house". One Wilson wagon was lost attempting to cross the Platte River together with a great deal of their supplies. The monotonous trek with endless waves of sand hills occasionally produced spectacular sights such as "Court House Rock", the giant spire of Chimney Rock and Scott's Bluffs. On to Fort Laramie, with Laramie Peak looming to the west marked the transition from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. .
At Fort Laramie they took a short rest over. Supplies were available from the post sutler at Fort Laramie for high prices: 12 to 20 cents for bacon, $20 per hundred pounds for flower, smoking tobacco $1.
They then pressed on, the trail west of Fort Laramie immediately became more rugged and bifurcated because of hills, canyons and a more tortuous North Platte, a condition which would worsen toward South Pass and beyond. They arrived a week later at Fort Bridger. The trail went on to Fort Hall, Pocatello and Twin Falls. By this time it was very warm and dry, the dust was terrible and the water poor. The Wilsons still had their cow to supply milk and butter, which helped a lot. Broken down wagons and discarded household furniture were strewn along the way.
There was much sickness along the trail. Graves became closer and closer together. Roughly one out of ten of the pioneers who started the migration west would perish on the trail, many to accidents with firearms, but mostly due to illness. Cholera or "colery" took many lives during the 1852 migration. A pioneer could feel fine one morning then suddenly become violently ill with the cholera symptoms of bloody stools, sudden, overwhelming dehydration, large vomits, great prostration and could die before the end of the day. The disease was transmitted through water, of which clean water was scarce.
The following account is from Articles written by Hope Wilson Clark and Emerson J. Wilson and published in "The Sou' Wester", a quarterly published by the Pacific County Historical Society of South Bend, Washington.
Early one evening after a hard day's journey, George Wilson said he would take his rifle and see if he could bring down an antelope, as they much preferred that meat to the buffalo. Some distance away, he came upon a lone man camped by the side of the trail. They began talking. The man had been to Oregon and was returning to the East. He told George many things about the Oregon lands, which were hard to believe, but proved later true. He asked just what part of the Oregon territory George was bound for to which he received the reply: " Portland and the Willamette Valley. That is, if we don't all die before we reach that promised land. The water is so bad that the situation is getting serious." The old man replied, "I think I can help you. Take that path yonder, go down the side hill a piece... you will see a spring. Bring me a bucket of water and I will show you something." George got the water. The man then said: "Now you take this axe and go cut down some of those bushes over there and bring it to me." George obeyed the old man and cut down a two-foot length of the scrubs, trimmed off the side branches and carefully peeled the bark from it. Then, placing the stick in the bucket, he began stirring. In a few minutes he stopped. " There, young man, take a look and see what you think of it." The water had been muddy brown, but now it was clear, with all the sand settling in the bottom of the pail. The stick was covered with slime and muck. "Now", he said, "You won't have any more trouble with water. Always remember that God never created a wrong but what he created a remedy." When George and the old man parted, it was a feeling of real friendship. From that time on, the Wilson family had no more trouble with bad water along the Oregon Trail.
There was the fear of unfriendly Indians. The Indians, however, were generally no more than occasional curious observers to the spectacle of seemingly unending stream of wagons. The Indians often extended a helping hand, as they were eager to trade food to the hungry pioneers for articles of clothing, blankets, firearms, etc.
Over and above the difficulties there was Daniel's resourcefulness, an abiding faith in God and the firm conviction that they would find "brighter skies and more indulgent plans. "On they went...to Fort Boise, Lewiston, Baker and over the Blue Mountains to Pendleton and The Dalles. Immigrants arriving at The Dalles had to choose between floating their wagons on rafts or riverboats the rest of the way down the Columbia River or paying a toll for continuing by wagons via the Barlow Road. According to George Wilson's family account of the story, the Wilsons apparently choose the treacherous Barlow route, climbing up and over the shoulder of Mount Hood. This final leg of the journey was the most difficult. There was little grass for the live stock to graze on, the road was rough and there was the infamous Laurel Hill, where wagons had to be wenched by ropes down a steep rocky incline. The weather was starting to turn cold and the rains became constant. The Wilsons finally arrived in Oregon City on the 25th of October 1852. They made camp there to rest a few days then sold their wagons and animals, hired some Indians to take them by canoe down the Willamette River to Portland. One of the canoes capsized and again more of the Wilson family's precious supplies were lost.
Their first home in this new western frontier was near what is now Old-Town Portland's 1st and Stark Streets. Few buildings were near them, mostly uncleared land and stumps. That first winter, the George Wilson became employed as a carpenter. There was much building being done in Portland at that time. Wages were $1.50 for a long 10-hour day. Food was selling at exorbitant prices. The price of flour was $50 a barrel.
Daniel and his son William set out making their way by boat down the Columbia River. They landed at a place called Chinookville, located on the north bank of the Columbia River near what is now called Baker's Bay, Washington. Chinookville had been a thriving Indian village, home to the Chinook Indians, which later became the first county seat of Pacific County Washington. Daniel was one of the first County Commissioners of Pacific County.
Some evidence suggests that the Wilson family may have split-up at some point along the trail. This is supported by a somewhat different account of the journey from The Dalles onward which is given by Van Marion Bullard, son of Martha Elizabeth Wilson. His version of the story, apparently given to him by his mother, who made the trip is as follows:
" Grandpa Peg and family after arriving at the Dallas, had the misfortune of a hard winter to loose all his stock at The Dalles. In the spring of the year in order to got down to the Columbia River in Chinook, Washington they built a raft, and placing their entire holdings of household goods on the raft they started down the Columbia River for Chinook, Washington. At the falls in the Columbia River they had the misfortunes of losing all their household goods except what they had on their backs and arrived in Chinook stranded and pennyless. Captain Hilliar, sea captain gave them a sack of flour to keep from starving. However, as Grandpa Daniel Peg Wilson was an industrious man, and our government which is the best government in the world, were issuing deeds to property, you could have a Homestead, a Preemption Claim, and a Timber Claim, which he secured and put him back on his feet."
Daniel Pegg and his son William C. Wilson explored the wild areas north of Chinook and probably thought they had found great potential in the Shoalwater Bay area. The area had abundant wildlife, timber and a mild climate. It is around Shoalwater Bay, which is now called Willapa Bay, that the William C. Wilson and his wife Lobia obtained a 320 acre Donation Land Claim on the Bear River on the southernmost part of Shoalwater Bay and afforded assistance to the travelers going or coming on the portage from Shoalwater Bay to the Columbia River. James G. Swan in his book, "The Northwest Coast" described how the Wilson family afforded assistance to travelers going to or coming from the Shoalwater Bay area. James Swan mentions the name "James' Wilson in this account, however, the location and circumstances indicate that he was in error. The name "James Wilson" should be in fact William Wilson.
Daniel Pegg Wilson became associated with an industrious man named Joel Brown. Daniel, with others including his son William C. Wilson, Job Lamley, Samuel Woodward, Henry Whitcomb, Job, Mark and Seth Bullard and Captain Jackson had cut a wagon road on the portage, crossing from the Columbia River to Shoalwater Bay (now called Willapa Bay). Joel Brown intended to plat a town site and erect a store at the Palix River. Joel Brown died before he could finish his dream of developing the Shoalwater Bay area, so Daniel Pegg Wilson and his associates carried on where Joel Brown left off. Their intention was to induce a large immigration of pioneers from Portland to settle on Shoalwater Bay. Job Lamley ran an advertisement in the Oregonian newspaper in 1853 describing their route to Shoalwater Bay. They solicited settlers to travel aboard the U. S. mail boat "Union" from Portland to Astoria. The settlers would then cross the Columbia River on their boats to Chinook, then up the Wappalooche or Chinook River to William McCarty's Landing, thence by their wagon road to William C. Wilson's Landing and Hotel, then via the Bear River to Shoal water Bay. "Having the best of sea boats on this line are prepared to take passengers and freight safe and with dispatch from Astoria via Chinook, Shoalwater Bay, and back the same route. Accommodations rough and charges high"..... Quite an interest was excited among immigrants of Oregon to make Shoalwater Bay their home.
George Wilson, Daniel Pegg Wilson's oldest son also traveled to Chinookville. He had learned in Portland of the oyster business on Shoalwater Bay and wanted to see that area for himself. George went north to the Bear River, where he obtained an Indian burial canoe and continued north on to Shoalwater Bay. Exploring further to the north, he came to "Goose Point," or what is now called Bay Center. He landed on the east bank of the Palix River, across from Bay Center, Washington and built a log house. George there obtained a 320 acre Donation Land Claim at the mouth of the Palix River and became engaged in the oyster business.
Daniel Pegg Wilson took up a claim on the south fork of the Palix River, and the Indians called it "Yeomstead", and by that name it was known for years.
Daniel Pegg Wilson and the rest of his family lived on his son George's claim for a while which became known as Wilsonville. They had a hard time of it in the beginning, as their supplies depleted before the garden they planted started to yield. But it was then that they realized what a wonderful spot they had found. Oysters, clams, ducks, geese, and fish were there for the taking. For dessert they had salmon berries, thimble berries, and the fruit of the Salal. The location and natural resources of the area must have convinced these early pioneers that this was truly like a garden of Eden capable of becoming the San Francisco of Washington State. Only hard toil and careful planning separated themselves and their descendants from prosperity and happiness.
Many Indians lived in that area but they posed no hazard to the Wilsons as a mutual respect was developed between the Indians and the Wilson families. Pioneers survived by their skill in living off the wild and unforgiving land.
There were few roads in Washington's early days and most transportation was by water. Money was seldom used in the early years. Goods were instead traded. James G. Swan, a neighbor of Wilsonville, described in his noted book "The North West Coast", the early settlers of Shoalwater Bay as: "some of the most hospitable men that could be found in any part of the world. Their isolated position far from any other settlement, the nearest being Chinookville some forty miles distant, seemed to knit them together in a common bond of brotherhood and each seemed to vie with the other in acts of kindness to every stranger that might visit the Bay, either from motives of curiosity or to become permanent settlers."
Daniel Pegg Wilson gained the nickname of "Cougar" for his skill as a hunter and clever entrepreneur. Daniel Pegg decided oystering was not his line of work, so he scouted around for a while, finally settling on a claim on which he filed an "intention", located three miles above the settlement of Willapa, Washington Territory, South of then John Louderback's place near the later Sylvandale School. Then with others, including Job Bullard, he built a sawmill on the creek which got it's name from that installation. Daniel Pegg Wilson's mill was the first sawmill built in this region. In 1855 the mill was operating by waterpower and sawing by means of a rip saw in a up-right frame operated by an eccentric, or crank. An old description of this type of mill: " it was one of those up and down affairs--up today and down tomorrow. Grand pap used to start the saw in the log, then go away, sometimes catch a fish, then, after a while, go back to see what effect the saw had on the log." Lumber from this mill was used in the old homesteads, and the entire output was for local consumption. The trees had to be chopped down and then chopped into logs, there being no saws for the purpose at that time. Logging was by oxen or logging jack.
Daniel Pegg Wilson and his daughters moved with him to Willapa and they all married prominent pioneers. Marry Jane married John S. M. Van Cleave. The Van Cleaves lived in Willapa for a while and then moved to East Portland, Oregon, then back to Wilsonville. Sarah married Job Lambley who was the first sheriff of Pacific County. Martha married Job Bullard. The Bullard family is still well known in and around Menlo, Washington. Nancy married John Louderback. The Louderback boat business continues to this day in South Bend, Washington. Annlisa married William Mills, a brother of Mary Jane Mills who was the second wife of William C. Wilson. William Mills became a prominent oysterman, farmer and merchant of Bay Center, Washington.
The rugged frontier life took its toll, especially on the women. Sarah Frances was the only daughter of Daniel Pegg to live longer than Daniel Pegg himself.
Daniel Pegg's son, Daniel Fuller married Millie Cox and settled on a hill overlooking the Willapa River, now called the River View section of Raymond, Washington.
William C. Wilson's wife Lobia died about 1857 after which William moved to Milwaukie, Oregon and was remarried to Mary Jane Mills in 1858. William and Mary Jane lived in Portland from about 1861until about 1864. William and Mary Jane then obtained a large farm near Damascus, Oregon living there until 1871. William established a horse and wagon drayage business in Portland and the family lived in East Portland until about 1887. William then moved his family to his large 1608 acre ranch near Roseburg, Oregon.
George's W. Wilson's Wife Ann Eliza passed away in 1865 and he was remarried to Elizabeth Goodpasture, whose family had been neighbors to the Wilsons long ago in Illinois. Daniel Pegg Wilson continued to supervise the operation of his mill in the Willapa Valley while living near his children. Many are the stories connected with this old mill. Some of the stories, not necessarily in the order of their occurrence are:
When Charles and Myra Johnson came to Pacific County from Jefferson County, Kansas, by way of Aberdeen, he went to work for Wilson on Mill Creek. A log shortage soon threatened and some of the moor ambitious of the mill crew went into the woods to "do something about it" and after this Johnson was a faller. Green Berry Riggs gives this account of the Wilson mill: "We met Daniel Wilson who owned a sawmill at what is known as the Wheaton (later Leske) place. George Wilson had it rented. We hired to work for him, cutting saw logs. I worked for him a month for $40. Christmas day Lauderback and I went hunting. I killed a deer and Mr. Wilson gave me $1.50 for it. "Timothy Adams, his son, John, Samuel P. Soule, and Captain Dodge agreed with Daniel Wilson to take over the saw mill situated on Mill Creek, also the claim on which it stood. The four lived together for nearly a year, and the property was then rented to Charles Soule. Ray Wheaton tells the story about the time Ed Soule was superintendent of the night shift. " A water power mill operated continuously, day and night, and of course more lumber could be produced when there was a log under the saw. Ed stayed at the mill, and he would snooze away until the clatter of a slab dropping woke him up---he would rise up, pry the log over, and dive back between the blankets. "The bright prospects in and around Shoalwater Bay attracted a young couple named Lewis H. Rhoades. A short time after their arrival in 1862, Lewis and his father, Alphonso Rhoades, secured employment operating a sawmill, on the property of Daniel Wilson, on Mill Creek, a tributary to the Willapa. The daily output of the mill, if kept in perfect trim and condition, was about 2,000 feet of unplaned lumber. The rough boards and planks were rafted, poled down the creek to tidewater, and loaded onto boats to be carried to Bruceport, Oysterville, and other points of settlement. The price of this lumber was $25 per thousand. About two months of labor with this old-fashioned "up and down" convinced the Lewis Rhodes and his father, Alphonso, that a great waste of time and energy was involved. Premise of financial aid was secured, and they began preparing for the building of a mill to be equipped with machinery of an up-to-date nature. The lumber for the original steam-power mill in South Bend, built by the Riddell Brothers, John and Valentine, was cut in "Cougar" Wilson's mill. It was about 1868 that Van R. Wheaton came to the Willapa River area with his family. Mr. Wheaton obtained employment helping to erect the Riddell Mill at South Bend, using lumber from the Wilson Mill. Mr. Wheaton liked the Wilson's old mill site, and decided to make it his home. He did what was necessary to "prove up" on the claim, and became the first true owner of the land. A large, fine home was moved from the Soule place, the lumber for which had been cut out in the little mill and the siding all hand-dressed. For a time a man by the name of Dedro, a hunchback living on the Giesy farm, ran the mill on shares for Mr. Wheaton. Then A. S. Bush operated it in the 1870's, but the little mill was by now hopelessly out-dated. It's main usefulness being over, the mill was idle for a few years, and then was converted to a gristmill. In it they could make a coarse graham flour, using the local wheat. And the farmers found it handy for grinding oats for their own cattle, or to sell to the logging camps for the oxen. The end of the story came when a freshet took out the dam and demolished the mill.
Daniel Pegg, over the years traveled much of Washington and Oregon, speculating in lands. He built another lumber mill near his son George's place on the Palix River. He built various dams in Pacific County for the loggers.
Daniel Pegg Wilson got the gold fever in the 1880's and ventured into a gold mine in southern Oregon with his son William C. Wilson. The mine was located on a tributary of Cow creek near the town of Azalia, Oregon. It was called the Green Mountain Mine. Daniel and son William invested a great deal of money into the mine.
Daniel Pegg Wilson spent his last years living near his oldest son George W. Wilson in Wilsonville. Daniel Pegg Wilson passed away on 14 November 1890 at the age of 85 years due to the complications of cancer and smallpox. He is buried in the Wilson family cemetery across the Palix River from Bay Center, Washington. Daniel died intestate, that is he left no will when he died. His large estate and the resultant probate dispute may have been the cause of an apparent rift between his sons George W. Wilson and William C. Wilson families.
George W. Wilson continued in the business of oyster harvesting in Willapa Bay, cattle ranching on his land and being the patriarch of Wilsonville. George in the following years took up other lands adjoining his original claim until at one time he had a thousand acres. George became a prominent Pacific County citizen, twice elected as County Commissioner. George died in 1911 after which Wilsonville gradually dissolved until now George's land appears much the same as it did when he first laid claim to it.
William C. Wilson's speculation in gold mining in Southern Oregon caused him to loose almost everything he owned. William the father of eleven, then disappeared in about 1900, never to be heard from again by his family.
Sarah and Job Lamley were divorced but later remarried and lived there last years in Tacoma, Washington.
There are few things left to remind us of the old Daniel Pegg Wilson mill on Mill Creek. Today the Milwaukee bridge near Menlo crosses Mill Creek at almost the identical spot where the old Daniel Pegg Wilson mill once stood and of the mill and most of it's owners, we may say, " the place that knew them shall know them no more". William C. Wilson's land claim on the Bear River is now part of a National Wildlife Refuge. The last descendant of Daniel Pegg Wilson to carry on the surname of this once prolific pioneer family has assembled this historical narrative as a labor of love for all persons who are proud to be descendants of the Daniel Pegg Wilson family.
The information presented here was obtained from the following sources:
*Information from the Daniel Pegg Wilson family Bible.
*Articles written by Hope Wilson Clark and Emerson J. Wilson and published in "The Sou' Wester", a quarterly published by the Pacific County Historical Society of South Bend, Washington.
*The Wilson's mill story in Menlo, Washington was from the Pacific County Historical Society, written by Mary B. Lilly, with additions from interviews and research by Mrs. Harold Dixon.
*Additional perspectives of the Wilson pioneer story was obtained from an article published in "Told by the Pioneers", written by George W. Wilson Jr. and "The Great Platte River Road", by Merril J. Mattes.
General Notes: Wife -
According to the 31 May 1827 Belmont County, Ohio marriage records, Rosanna, at the time of her marriage to Daniel Pegg Wilson, she was under the guardianship of John Ethel.
A John Ethell was born 15 March 1782 in Fauquier County, Virginia, his father was Anthony Ethell and mother was Sarah. William Ethell, John Ethell's brother died in Morgan county, Illinois. (Descendants of Anthony Ethell, by Leona Ethell Kastner).
Rosanna Wilson is buried in the Mount Vernon Cemetery, also known as the MORRIS CHAPEL CEMETERY and also known as the Smith Cemetery. The cemetery is located about two miles north of Concord, Illinois. To find this cemetery, go from the village of Concord, Illinois to the nearby Triopia High School, then drive east on State Aid Road 19 (also known as Road 2150N) for 1.2 miles until you arrive at the intersection with Road 1325E. The cemetery is located in the trees and brush about 100 yards north of this intersection. If the crops and brush are so tall that tombstones can't be seen, evergreen trees in the cemetery serve as sentinels marking the area. Look for an old bent over, worn tombstone in this cemetery that has an inscription which reads:
"ROSANNAH F. Wife of D. Wilson - DIED Feb. 24, 1850 -- Aged 36 yrs, 9 mos, 29 days"
This Rosannah F is the wife of of Daniel Pegg Wilson.
The Morgan County, Illinois 1850 Mortality Schedule has a Rosanna Wilson who died February 1850 of cancer.
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Notes: Marriage
Husband Living (details have been suppressed)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Living (details have been suppressed)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Susan Makala Parker
Born: Dec 4, 1854
Christened:
Died: Feb 18, 1924 - Rickreall, Oregon
Buried:
Spouse: Charles Alfred Miller (1848-1923)
Marr: Sep 19, 1875
Husband Elias Pegg
Born: 1746
Christened:
Died: 1838
Buried:
Father: Daniel Pegg (Abt 1756- )
Mother: Living
Marriage:
Wife Elizabeth Nonsettler
Born: 1823
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Notes: Marriage
Husband
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Alas Nutter
Born: Jan 5, 1871
Christened:
Died: Jan 5, 1971
Buried:
Father: Andrew Jackson Nutter (1845-1923)
Mother: Amelia Marie Scott (1848-1923)
Children
Husband Albert Nutter
Born: Dec 20, 1871
Christened:
Died: May 21, 1872
Buried:
Father: Andrew Jackson Nutter (1845-1923)
Mother: Amelia Marie Scott (1848-1923)
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children