The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-04-27
JOHN WILSON
EARLY PIONEER
CIVIL WAR SERVICE IS RECORDED
Natives Of Indiana, Mr.. Wilson and His
Family Came to Oregon by Way
OF California in 1876

Among the early pioneers of the
Hood River valley, are Mr.. and Mrs.
John A. Wilson, whose home is on
Seventh street. Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson
arrived in Oregon from Illinois in 1876,
coming by way of the Union Pacific
line to San Francisco, and thence by
boat to Portland. The Journey from
Omaha to Sacramento consumed eight
days.
Mr.. Wilson took up homestead in
the district, known at the time as the
Belmont district, but which is now
considered part of the Barrett dis
trict. At the time of his arrival there
was but one school in the community.
It was conducted in a little frame
structure that now forms the kitchen
at the Cottage Farm resort OF Mrs.
Alma Howe. The school was tauhgt by
Mrs. Mary Henderson, mother of Prof.
L. F. and John Leland Henderson.
The next year after the arrival of
Mr.. Wilson the Barrett school district
was formed, MIR. Wilson, Newton Clark
and v. Hodge being the first directors.
DR.. P. G. Barrett was clerk of the
district. Mr.. Wilson served on the
board for nine successive years.
Mr.. Wilson's place number of years
ago was purchased by H. R. Albee,
now mayor of Portland. Mr.. Albee
subdivided the tract and resold it. A
portion of the homestead is at present
owned by s. G. Oxborrow.
''Newton Clark" says MIR. Wilson,
when he was on his way to the shingle
camp near Parkertown, stopped at my
place and inquired the way"
Mr.. Wilson is q native Of Indiana,
while his wife was born in Ohio. Their
wedding occurred in Livingstone coun-
ty, ILL.,. in February, 1869. Mrs. Will
sons maiden name was Nancy A.
Chamberln.
On May 81 Mr.. Wilson will have
reached his 18th birthday, having been
born in l84l in Fayette county. near
Connersville, Ind.
In 1852 Mr.. Wilson moved with his
parents to Wabash county, where he
resided on farm until the outbreak Of
the Civil war, when he enlisted on APP
ril 23, 1861, with the Eighth Indiana
Volunteers for 80 day service. When
this enlistment was up he became
member of the 46th Indiana Volunteers
for three year service, or so long as
the war should last.
During the first 80 days Mr.. Wilson
saw active service in West Virginia,
and on July II, 1861, participated in
the battle of Rich Mountain.
With the 46th Volunteers he marched
through Kentucky and thence to New
Madrid. NO., which was taken by Fed
eral forces during March, 1862. From
New Madrid he went to Fort Pillow,
80 miles above Memphis. After the
evacuation. of Corinth his regiment
went to Memphis on a gunboat feet.
Mr.. Wilson was at Memphis the day
the city was taken in June, 1862. The
regiment was then sent on an expedi-
tion up White River, Arkansas, with
supplies for Curtis army, which was
at Batesville. Low water. however,
prevented the relief expedition from
resulting successfully. The regiment
then returned to Helena. Ark.
Mr.. Wilson and his fellow comrades
in the spring of 1868 we're sent to
Vicksburg. A battle engaged them on
May ! at Port Gibson, and on May l6
the battle of Champion Hill was
fought. On July s MIR. Wilson partici-
pated in the siege of Vicksburg and
was sent thence to engage the army Of
General Johnson at Jackson. He was
sent thence to New Orleans, and in
1854 went on the Red river expedition.
On April 8. 1864. Mr.. Wilson was cap
tured by the Confederate forces at Sa-
bne Crossroads. He was in prison for
eight months. four months at Tyler,
Tex, and four at Hampstead. After
his release he did garrison duty until
he was mustered out on September a.
1865.
MIR. and Mrs. Wilson have the fol-
lowing seven children: Austin Wilson,
of Klickitat county, WASH; George
and Lewis Wilson, of National, New. |;
Mrs. George Hinish. of Portland, and
Misses Grace, Laura and Flora Wilson,
of this city.
Mr.. Wilson Is a past commander of
Candy Post, G. A. R. He has story
of the wilds of pioneer times that
equals the bear story told recently by
Newton Clark. One day doe and two
fawns, curiosity overcoming the usual
discretion of the deer family, boldly
walked up to his kitchen window and
peered in to see what the habitation of
man might look like.
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