|
This William Earl born 7 January 1823 in Indiana was the son of Joseph (born in England) and Margaret Gibson Earl (born in Ohio). Joseph died at DesMoines,Iowa while on their way shortly before the family arrived at St. Joseph Missouri where the mother and most of their children joined the Oregon Trail with Hackleman Wagon Train of 1845. The family finally arrived in the Oregon Territory in November of 1845 after eight months of travel and by April of 1846 arrived onto the Albany/Knox Butte area of Linn County Oregon. William had one older brother John, and younger brothers Joseph and Robert, sisters Margaret, Nancy,and Ellen. Two older sisters remained in Iowa. I have a partial transcribed diary written by brother Robert while a child, along with articles written about Robert as well as some interviews.
I've been searching for clues as to the death of this William, my gr-grandfather, who died at only 40 years of age, leaving a large family for his wife Louisa (Wood) to raise along with the large acreage and livestock. William was instrumental in searching out the best land that he could find for the rest of his siblings and his mother to claim after arriving in the Oregon Territory.
|
