Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Wegner, Julius  F. W.  January 22, 1845 - 
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Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net July 31, 2006, 11:51 pm

Author: Colonel William Parsons

Page 366, 367

JULIUS F. W. WEGNER
	Like many of our most worthy citizens, the subject of this sketch was 
born in Germany, where also he passed the first seventeen years of his life, 
coming to this country with his mother, his father, Godfrey Wegner, having 
died when he was quite young.  Here he has demeaned himself with a wisdom and 
enterprise that have won him a place among the leaders and also given him a 
financial standing among the most substantial.  His birth occurred near 
Wollin, Germany, on January 22, 1845, and there he received a good education 
from the public schools of the land.  Being apprenticed to a blacksmith while 
quite young, he was well master of that basic trade when he landed in New York 
with his mother, Frederica Wegner.  After a short stay in the metropolis he 
went to Rochester, the same state, and engaged in the locomotive works at that 
place.  After three years at this work he went to Portland, Oregon, via the 
Isthmus, crossing the land in five hours on Cayuses.  After a stay of three 
months here he went to Yreka, California, working at his trade for three years 
there, and then came to Granite in this county, where he established a store 
in connection with his brother, Fred, and also operated a blacksmith shop.  In 
1874 he sold out and came to Pilot Rock and opened a shop, continuing there 
for ten years.  During this period occurred the Bannock war, when nearly all 
the people of Pilot Rock fled to Pendleton for protection, but Mr. Wegner and 
a few friends built a fort of lumber and remained until the close of 
hostilities, never being molested by the savages.  In 1884 he sold out the 
shop and took a homestead, to which he has added by purchase from time to time 
until he now has the magnificent estate of eleven hundred acres.  In 1894 he 
sold his horses, of which he had a large bunch, and purchased sheep.  His 
bands now aggregate over three thousand, and he has become one of the 
prosperous stock owners as well as one of the large real estate holders of the 
county.  In political affairs he is quite active, having been elected to serve 
for twelve successive years as director in his district, which demonstrates 
both his capabilities and the confidence of his constituency.
	He was married to Miss Olive Pearson, a native of Willamette valley, 
on April 5, 1874.  To them have been born the following children: Ralph W., 
Walter W., Elsie May, Floyd J., Elmer James, Ivy M., Jessie, and Grace V.  
Mrs. Wegner’s parents, Joseph and Eletha Pearson, were early pioneers of 
Pennsylvania and Indian war veterans.  Mr. Wegner is a member of the Pioneers 
of the Pacific, Harry Miller Camp, No. 7, of Pilot Rock, where he enjoys a 
commendable position in the esteem and confidence of his fellows, while his 
ability and geniality have won him hosts of friends and command the respect of 
all, while also he has at this, the zenith of life, the satisfaction of 
enjoying the rewards of his wisely directed energy and the pleasure of 
meditation on well spent days.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.


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