"History of Southern Oregon, Comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos Counties. Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources." A. G. Walling, Publisher. Portland, OR. 1884. pg. 544. JOHN B. WRISLEY A man whose almost entire life has been spent on the frontier, was born in Middlebury, Vermont, August 16, 1819. During Wrisley's early life his father was proprietor of a large manufacturing establishment at Hoosac Falls, but being called upon suddenly for the payment of a large security debt he was financially broken up, and removed with his family to the Genesee valley in the state of New York. When John was only thirteen years of age his father moved to Silver, Washtinau county, Michigan, then a wild territory,settling with his family at a point from which their nearest neighbor was eighteen miles distant. Here John B. Wrisley learned blacksmithing and the rudiments of farming, and in 1840, the family scattered, he went to the territory of Wisconsin and commenced work in the lead mines at Mineral Point. On June 15, 1845, he married Eliza Jane Jacobs, by whom he has raised ten children, the eldest daughter, Mrs. Alice Goddard, being the first white child born in the Rogue river valley. In 1849, Mr. Wrisley crossed the plains alone to California, working at Auburn, Placer county, at Yankee Jim's on the North Fork of the American river, and on the Trinity, being one of the first miners on the latter stream. Returning to Auburn from Trinity, he found an extremely rich claim, but being in bad health and unable to work, he returned to his family in Wisconsin in 1850. He did not remain long, however, and yearning for the free wild life of the early days on this coast, he started across the plains with his large family and a large band of cattle, arriving in Yreka with but two yoke of cattle and one cow out of the whole band. Mr. Wrisley remained but a short time in Yreka. Coming to the Rogue river valley in 1852, he located a donation claim on the north side of Rogue river where he resided for thirteen years. In 1865, Mr. Wrisley bought a farm near Central Point, which now comprises four hundred and eighty acres of rich land, and as near the frontier as he wishes to be. John is truly a pioneer if there is one, and knows the danger of pioneer life. He has voted for the state constitution of Wisconsin, California and Oregon. He has passed safely all the Indian wars of this section as a high private, never accepting military or civil office. John B. Wrisley still continues to reside on his farm near Central Point -- a view of which can be found in this work -- and is noted for being an honest, upright gentleman, a careful industrious farmer, honored by friends and beloved by his family. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.