Samuel Gerking, covered wagon pioneer of 1862, died yesterday evening at 3:50 at the family residence, 1314 Washington Street at the age of 84 years after having lived in The Dalles for about 19 years. He came here from Umatilla County.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon from Crandall’s. Interment will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery. No announcement was made today of the minister who will officiate or of pallbearers for the services.
Samuel Gerking was born in Indiana, November 24, 1844. He crossed the plains in 1862 and settled in Umatilla County. He lived in and near Athena until 1910 when he moved to The Dalles and had made his home here ever since. He was married to Miss Martha A. Smith at Athena, July 22, 1886.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Martha A. Gerking, and five sons, Frank, Leonard, Ralph, Halbert, and William C., all of The Dalles; seven daughters, Mrs. Effie Toole of Merrill, Ore., Mrs. Mildred Patterson of Portland, Mrs. Lloyd Jennings of Seattle, Mrs. Della Perry of Hood River, Mrs. Alta Zobrist of Seattle and Mrs. Lynn Doyle and Mrs. Ethel Leabo of The Dalles. He also leaves 26 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren; a brother, Martin and a sister, Mrs. Angie Junkins of Portland.
The Dalles Weekly Chronicle, April 25, 1929
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman