"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  p. 468.  Grant Co.

JAMES WICKISER

     In the person of Mr. Wickiser we have one of the typical frontiersmen who
were so instrumental in opening up our western territories for the settlement
that subsequently came from the more populous states of the east.  His life has
been filled with incident and adventure that are attended upon this rugged
existence and an unstinted amount of credit is due to him for his worthy efforts
in blazing the way into the savage regions and in working faithfully and
unremittingly for their development and advancement.
     In 1828, in the state of Ohio, he was born, and there passed the first
twelve years of his life.  He then came with his parents to Missouri, later to
Iowa, and then to Illinois, in which latter state his parents remained until the
time of their death.  In 1853 James was led by the glowing accounts from the
Golden state region to come hither for the search that many were prosecuting so
successfully.  He landed at American valley and there mined for twelve years,
and then came to Umpqua valley, Oregon, and took up a homestead, where he was
engaged in farming for ten years.  Leaving this pursuit then he went to what was
at that time Cook county and again took up mining and followed it
uninterruptedly until sixteen years since.  He then sold his ranch and all his
other property and came to Izee and retired from active service.  His golden
years are being spent in the quiet retreat of this retired region and it is his
to enjoy the goodly competence that his industry and wisdom have gathered during
the yeas of toil.  Mr. Wickiser has never contracted a matrimonial alliance,
being disposed to prefer the quieter joys of the celibatarian.  He is highly
esteemed by all and enjoys the confidence of the entire community, while his
friends are numbered among all the residents of the place and wherever he has
sojourned in his pilgrimage career.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.