"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1284.
 
GEORGE WILL

     Numbered among the self-educated, self-made and successful farmers of
Marion county is George Will, owner of a finely improved farm near Aurora, and
formerly identified with the little colony whose tenure of life was completed in
1884. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Mr. Will  was born December 21, 1839, and
comes of stanch Teutonic ancestry. His father, John Will, was born in Bavaria,
Germany, and in his native country owned quite a large country property, which
he disposed of in order to come to America, in 1839. With his hard-earned German
thalers, he bought a farm near Muscatine, Iowa, but, not liking the locality
particularly, disposed of it in 1843 and took up land in the Bethel Colony,
Shelby county, Mo. Here his death occurred at an advanced age, and he left to
his children a fair-sized property, and the heritage of a good name.
     At the age of sixteen George Will left the farm of his father and learned
the hatter's trade, and at the same time worked in the woolen mills of the
Bethel Colony. In August, 1861, at the age of twenty-two, he enlisted in Capt.
Henry Will's company, Seventieth Regiment, Missouri Militia, and entered active
service as bugler in that company in January, 1863, where he remained until
March 10, of the same year, when he was mustered out, and again joined the
colonists, who were, at that time, agitating the subject of establishing a
branch in the far west, Aurora, Ore., being eventually selected as a desirable
site. Hither repaired several bands of pilgrims at different times, but the
principal train to start across the plains outfitted in 1863, and consisted of
forty wagons and eighty men, besides numerous women and children. The men were
heavily armed and prepared for any emergency, and Mr. Will, who was one of the
travelers, does not recall any serious disturbances, or any particular suffering
from Indian attacks, illness or severe weather. After six months the party
reached Aurora, and the members dispersed to select their farms, and start their
respective industries.
     Locating in Aurora, where his knowledge of woolen mills was an advantage to
him, Mr. Will, was made foreman of the woolen mills started up by the colony.
This position was maintained with credit until the disbanding of the colony, in
1884, at which time every man received his share of land and general profits.
     Mr. Will, very early in life, evinced decided taste in music, and became a
member of a brass band at nine years of age. After coming to Aurora he joined
the celebrated Aurora Brass Band, first playing a French horn, and later the E
flat cornet, which connection he maintained until forty years of age.
     In 1884 he settled upon the farm where he now lives, and which consists of
two hundred and seventy-five acres, devoted to general farming and
stock-raising, and to hops, of which there are ten acres at present. To much of
his success in, life Mr. Will attributes the sympathy and help of a good wife,
to whom he was married in 1870, and who was formerly Elizabeth Link. Mrs. Will
came across the plains with her parents in 1867, locating in the colony of which
her father became a prominent member. Three children have been born into the
Will household, of whom Edward H. is assisting his father on the farm.; Clara is
the wife of Frank Siegler, of Aurora, and Elmer G. is living at home.
     Mr. Will is a Republican in politics, but has never taken any particular
interest in the political undertakings of his neighborhood, his farm duties
taking up the greater part of his time. In spite of early disadvantages as to
education, he is a very well-informed man, having become a great reader as the
years have gone by.  He is stanch in his approval of good schools and practical
educational training, and has seen to it that his children have profited by all
of the advantages he could give them. He is well known as an upright and
enterprising member of the farming community around Aurora, and his Jersey
cattle are among the finest, and his farm among the best improved in the
neighborhood.


     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.