Epilogue

Those of you who read our Pioneer Adventure of September, 2004 on this website Pioneer.htm will recall that we set out on that trip to find the burial place of
Eb's great-grandfather, James Mims Wilson, wagon-master of 32 covered wagons heading to California.

We did find the spot and left a small wooden
memorial cross to mark his grave.

It had been on Eb's mind
to have a more permanent grave marker
placed there
to honour James's dream
of moving his family west
where they would eventually settle
in Scott Valley.

We already had plans to travel to Eureka, Nevada
(favorite small town of ours on The Loneliest Highway)
for July 4th week and to hear a concert
by Don Edwards, the cowboy troubadour.

We decided since we would be half-way
to Green River, Wyoming
that it would be a good time
to complete the Pioneer Adventure.

We contacted Craig Peacemaker of Siskiyou Memorials
to have a grave stone made
and with the information we gave him,
Craig created this beautiful piece.

Needless to say, Eb was thrilled with it!

We packed up our truck and little trailer
and headed off, joined by our friends:
the Renners, Dickinsons, Johnsons and Kramms.

We spent a week in Eureka and then headed toward Wyoming. We had already made plans with Eb's nephew Bob Craig and wife Shirley (who live in Utah)
to meet us in Green River.

They were excited to be a part of this latest Adventure and volunteered to bring the shovel, the cement, the water and whatever else it would take to 'plant' the grave stone.

We arrived at the meeting place on Tuesday, July 11th
and with thunderstorms here and there,
we weren't sure if Eb's son Ron and wife Gail
would be able to fly their plane in
to nearby Rock Springs, Wyoming or not.

An opening in the weather patterns that day made it possible for them to leave Scott Valley airport
early that morning, fly in to Rock Springs, rent a car
and meet up with all of us . . .
14 people all arriving within 20 minutes
of each other was quite a feat!

Eb and I led the way,
hoping we would be able to find the dirt road
which led to the burial site!
Sure enough we did.
It seems that some places
are just engraved in the mind and heart.

We were amazed at how green everything was this year.

The little wooden cross was just where we left it,
although the 'permanent marker' writing
had weathered away in the past two years!

Bob Craig, Eb and Ron Whipple
(before)

The 'youngins' (Bob and Ron) began their work
in honouring their great-great grandfather
while the 'oldins' supervised.
(Don Johnson, Charlie Kramm, Ken Dickinson & Dan Renner)

The last word, of course,
came from 'head supervisor' Eb.

Bob put the finishing touches on the edges

and Ron cleaned up the stone.

Bob then serenaded us on his special saw
with 'Home on the Range'!

Charlie Kramm offered up a special prayer

and a group photo was taken.
(It does make one wonder how many of these same people
were a part of the original wagon-train adventure
back in 1863!)
Dan & Ginger Renner, Charlie & Carol Kramm, Jeanie & Ken Dickinson, Eb,
Gail & Ron Whipple, Bob & Shirley Craig, Ruth & Don Johnson
(photographer Che'usa Wend)

Bob Craig, Eb and Ron Whipple
(after)

Gail found a nearby cactus
and we planted a small part of it
for perpetual flowers

The next day when Ron and Gail left Rock Springs airport,
they took this overhead photo
which shows the
Blacks Fork River meandering
through the barren terrain.

We headed for home also
as we had lots to do in preparation
for a 'Whipple Family Reunion dinner'
to be held in Cheeseville that next week.
(62 people from California, Washington, Oregon,
Arizona, and Utah arrived
to renew old friendships and meet new relatives!)

We were amazed when Sara Sue Whipple
brought some of the family albums
and in one was this photo
which we had never before seen!

James Mims Wilson

The photo had to have been taken
in either Illinois or Missouri
prior to his death in 1863
and then brought across on the wagon-train trip
by his wife, Martha Woods Walker Wilson!
I'm sure she clung to it,
holding it in a very dear place . . .
next to her heart.

Finding this photograph made the perfect ending
to our Pioneer Adventure!

We hope you have enjoyed taking this journey with us . . .

Eb and Che'usa
August, 2006

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My webpage for Art Studio,
is now www.CHE-USA.com
(click on that link to travel there!)