[or-roots] "Reminiscences of a Pioneer" on-line

[Jan S. Gillespie]

Oh, that is so distressful.  I just checked out this book as was 
suggested.  In the chapter describing the 1855 Rogue River Indian War, 
the author identifies the young volunteer soldier who was killed at the 
Battle of Hungry Hill as being "John Gillespie, the SON of Rev. Jacob 
Gillespie."  In fact, he was the NEPHEW of my husband's ancestor, Rev. 
Gillespie.  

Apparently the problem was that young John Gillespie came from Missouri 
in the wagon train with his uncle and cousins (six female cousins and 
one 7-year-old boy cousin) and many people at the time probably assumed 
they were father and son. He would have been the correct age and gender 
to be of more use to Rev. Gillespie, who was the wagon train leader.  It 
was probably a pretty close relationship, nonetheless.  

After the Battle of Hungry Hill, the Oregon Statesman newspaper of the 
day also reported this father-son relationship as "fact."  Perhaps this 
is where the author got this idea and it has been perpetuated over the 
years.

Rev. Gillespie was a well-known community leader of Eugene.  However, 
after John Gillespie died, the Rev. was executor of his nephew's Lane 
County estate.  In those legal documents, he identifies himself as John 
Gillespie's uncle and further states that John Gillespie's father "is 
George Gillespie, who resides in Missouri."  Family genealogical charts 
confirm the correct relationship.

My point is that the author claims that his father drove to Eugene to 
inform the Gillespie family of their son's death.  If this were true, 
they would have known the correct relationship.

Just goes to show.... I guess.

Jan Gillespie

MMDSchwartz at cs.com wrote:

> I just came across a wonderful book on-line about Oregon history.  I 
> thought some of you might enjoy it, also:
>
> Reminiscences of a Pioneer - Colonel William Thompson
>
>
> Introduction:
> The author immigrated to Oregon in 1852, and writes about the trip, 
> gold mining in Washington and Oregon states, the Indian wars, and 
> vigilante actions.
>
> Located at:
>
> http://www.books-about-california.com/Pages/Reminiscences_of_a_Pioneer/Reminiscences_main.html
>
> Marilyn Schwartz


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