Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 536.
 
SARAH TROTTER

     the mother of Mrs. Milton H. Bennett, mentioned elsewhere in this work, was
born in North Carolina, July 10, 1851. She is now a resident of Kent, Sherman
county, Oregon. Her father, Jonathan Wheeler, was also a native of North
Carolina, and the descendant of an old and distinguished American family. His
grandfather, as well as other members of the family, served with distinction in
the Revolutionary War. The mother of our subject, Esther (Stephens) Wheeler,
was, also, born in North Carolina, and was a cousin of the late Hon. Alexander
H. Stephens, vice president of the Southern Confederacy from 1861 to 1865. He
was born near Crawfordville, Georgia, February  11, 1812 ; died at Atlanta,
Georgia, March 4, 1883. He graduated at the University of Georgia in 1832,
studied law ; was chosen member of the state legislature in 1836 ; was member of
congress from Georgia from 1843 to 1859 ; opposed secession in 1860; was
Democratic member of congress from Georgia from 1873 to 1882, and was governor
of Georgia in 1883. He was the author of "The War Between the States," and a
"History of the United States."
     Our subject was married, in Missouri, January 26, 1868, to James A.
Trotter, a native of Missouri. His father, Allen S. Trotter, was a native of
Indiana, and claimed to be the first white child born on that side of the Ohio
river, in Indiana, near Vincennes. He was reared in Boone county. His parents,
of Irish descent, came from Virginia. He was one of twelve children descended
from an old, distinguished and  wealthy Irish family.
     Our subject and her husband lived in Missouri nearly six years; thence they
came to Clarke county, Washington, locating near Vancouver. He secured a
homestead in the timber, and worked hard and industriously in clearing this
land, for twelve years ; he then sold it for eight hundred dollars. They lived
in Vancouver about two years. In 1894 they came to Sherman county, principally
on account of the ill health of Mr. Trotter; thence they returned to Vancouver
where he passed away May 14, 1899. After his death our subject returned to
Sherman county and took a homestead on which the town of Kent was subsequently
built. In 1901 she platted the townsite and has since disposed of a number of
lots.  Mrs. Trotter has two brothers: Julius, at Carthage, Missouri; and David,
at Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  They are both veterans of the Civil war, having
served in the union army.  She has one sister, Mary, the wife of Henry Barnes,
of Arkansas.  Her husband had one brother, Joseph W., living at Vancouver.  He
served in the First Washington Volunteer Regiment during the Philippine war.  He
had, also, one half-sister, Mrs. Hattie Culton, of Portland, Oregon.   Our
subject has five children living; William F., a blacksmith in Okanogan county,
Washington; Maggie, wife of Milton Bennett, mentioned elsewhere; James S., a
farmer of Sherman county; Mamie, living at home; and Iva, widow of Ned Lane, of
Kent.  Mrs. Trotter is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and a lady
who is highly esteemed throughout the community.
 


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.