Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon
Pioneer Henry Ward Beecher
Moved to Adair Co., MO when he was 8. At 15 he enlisted in Co. A, 39th Missouri Volunteers and served until 19 July 1865. Saw many battles and skirmishes.
In 1867 he accompanied Gen. Marcia, chief inspector of US troops to New Mexico, and encountered several Indian raids.
About 1872 with infant son, he and wife started for far West. First to San Francisco, then Portland, OR by boat. After short stop in Willamette Valley went by team and wagon to Eastern OR landing in the Grande Ronde Valley in 1875, then in 1876 came to Wallowa Valley (then called Indian Valley) and took up a pre-emption on Alder Slope. There were few families then at Alder, and he kept the first post office.
Active in GAR (John F. Reynolds post), served as commander for two years. [editors note: another article list the “facts” a little different]
