Notes for Artimisia (Mittie) Willis

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Artimisia (Mittie) Willis

OBITUARY
ARTEMISIA GERKIN DEAD: WAS OREGON PIONEER
Mrs. Artemisia Gerkin, 80, native of Missouri and pioneer to Oregon in 1853, died at Hood River, March 17, on her 80th birthday. She was the widow of Benjamin F. Gerkin, a veteran of the Civil War, who served as a corporal in the Mercer county battalion of the Missouri volunteers. She crossed the plains in 1853 at the age of 6 and later became one of the pioneer teachers in this section.
In December, 1877, she married Mr. Gerkin and seven children were born. N. Dreske of Hood River and Mrs D. M. Jackson of N.E. 1535 Alberta Street, Portland. She had been a member of the Valley Christian Church in Hood River since moving there 17 years ago. Prior to her residence in Hood River she was a member of the Christian Church since the early years of her married life.

Artemisia was seven years old when her family traveled the Oregon Trail. The daughters in the family were assigned the task of tending the stock. They walked the entire distance from Missouri to Oregon. According to my aunt Margaret Nana (Jackson) Glover, Artemisia carried with her a favorite little blue blanket to which she was very attached. The wagon train came across some Indians that wanted to trade for goods and one of the braves happened to catch sight of Artemisia and her blanket. He snatched it away from her, and the little girl flew at him kicking, scratching and screaming. A group of squaws started laughing and pointing at the brave and he sheepishly returned the blanket.
PLEASE NOTE: Another granddaughter of Artemisia, Florence (Jackson) Perrisich also left an account of this story. It matches exactly, except for the color of the blanket. Florence believed it was a red blanket. Of course, it is not the color of the blanket that is of importance. What is really important is that it shows that Artemisia was a very spunky little girl, who possessed a true pioneer spirit.