Most children who have ever attended Wilkes grade school, originally known as Wilmot School then School number 7, know the story of the “Grave of the Unknown Pioneer Child”.
Margaret Hartley Sales born in 1866, passed on her recollection the story her father, local pioneer Doc Hartley, told her about the death of a little girl in 1849 and was buried on the Wilkes farm around 169th. The little girl, who was very ill, arrived the day before with her parents in a covered wagon. They were one day from their Oregon City destination that started several months before on the Oregon Trail. Mrs. Hartley cared for her until she died that night and Mr. Hartley and Mr. Wilkes helped build the coffin. She was buried the next day and her parents continued their trip. They were never known to have returned.
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