Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Wilderville Cemetery, Wilderville, OR

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
We visited more pioneers on our Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program.

 

The Wilderville Cemetery sits on a beautiful, shaded knoll just south of town.

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
This lady was the first person to move into this hillside resting place.  Martha McCollum died December 24, 1902.

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
A pleasant breeze was helping cool a 96 degree day, and as we walked among the quiet pathways, a rain shower came over just long enough to dust of the monuments.

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
Stringer was the name of the person who first built the Wilderville Store here, I wonder, is this he?  Could be, as there were no dates on this marker.  As you can see here, William Stringer fought in the Indian War as part of Company B in the Second Oregon Mounted Volunteers. 

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
There is a Hosea Brown in the Granite Hill Cemetery in Grants Pass who served in the War of 1812.  Could this be a relative, who also served our country?  We thank the family!

 

Our search went awry in trying to find Mary Jillson and her two children; Frankie and Hannah.  They share a stone with the driver of their stage coach, Alex Jones, since they all drowned fording the Applegate River in 1885, when the coach overturned.

 

Also interred in the Wilderville Cemetery is Luther and Elsie Akers, who were murdered after church on February 27, 1916, by Marshall Bouseman over a boundary dispute.  It was reported, he even killed their horses.

 

After the killing, Bouseman tried to poison himself, but was unsucessful, so they sent him to prison for most of his remaining life.  

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
Life for our pioneers in Southern Oregon was never easy.  The settlers were constantly in danger of the Native Americans retaliating for the mistreatment by the transient and hostile gold miners.

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
It was hard for people back East to realize, but while they were prospering with their well-lit streets, fancy carriages, and wearing fancy clothing; the Oregon wilderness settlers were living with camp fires and candlelight, walking untold miles through rough, mountainous terrain, and cleaning their home-made clothes in streams.

 

These brave pioneers perservered and settled what is now known as some of the most beautiful country in the world!

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery
The Wilderville Cemetery was established in 1903, and is still currently in use, providing a peaceful resting place for those who have gone before us.

 

Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery

Please visit the Josephine County Historical Society's website Josephine County Historical Society Passport To History - Wilderville Cemetery for more information on the Passport To History program.

Below are the links to my earlier Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History blogs.


Introduction        Caveman        Schmidt House

Blind George's Newsstand      Grants Pass Historic Homes Tour

Historic District Tour      Grants Pass Pharmacy      Rogue Theatre

Hugo Community Church      Haines Apple Tree      Ament Dam

Grants Pass Cemeteries        Pottsville        Sportsman Park

Griffin Park        Lake Selmac        Granite Hill Cemetery

Pleasant Valley Cemetery        Josephine County Bridges

Grants Pass Fire Department      Reinhart Volunteer Park      Wolf Creek Inn

Applegate Trail Interpretive Center        Golden Townsite

Grave Creek Covered Bridge        Robertson Bridge

Wilderville Store and Post Office

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This post has been included in Oregon Real Estate News Josephine County, OR Real Estate News Wilderville, OR Real Estate News
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1 Comments on Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Wilderville Cemetery, Wilderville, OR

JUL
12
2010
584,338 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I had a couple of uncles that fought in the southern Oregon Inidan wars.

They lived long and are buried in Lane County,
4:46am • #1


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