William was born in Mason County, Illinois to George Nave Alkire and Jally Ann GRANT in 1847. His parents brought he and six siblings west on the Oregon Trail, arriving in Oregon in October 1851. The family settled a Donation Land Claim of 320 acres in Mohawk, Lane, Oregon on 15 May 1853.
Early on, William helped work his parents farm, but in 1864 at age 17 he volunteer'd in the Union Army, serving as a private with the obscure but notorious Olney's Detachment of the Oregon Cavalry, or "Olney's Forty Thieves" as nicknamed by regular Army. Formed July 12, 1864, this controversial 40 man unit was created to protect settlers along the Columbia River Gorge against Indian reprisals, but was disbanded after only 90 days by the Army on 31 Oct 1864 pursuant to their reputation. Unlike nearly all who served in this detachment, William was able to continue his military service by enlisting in Co. H. 1st Reg't. Oregon Infantry on his 18th birthday on 10 Feb 1865, three months before the end of the Civil War. His military record describes him as 6' tall, blue eyes, light complexion and hair with a scar on one knee from an ax wound. William was confined to the Fort Vancouver Hospital for about 4 months during his time of service and finally mustered out in June 1866 by reason of special order #38.
William married 15 year old Martha Luella Davis, 25 May1867. He worked as a freighter during their early marriage years while living in Oregon and Washington,frequently leaving his wife and children for long periods when they lived in hostile Indian territory. In fact, the family had faced several "close calls", which may have prompted William to change occupations, by becoming a day laborer and farmer before they finally moved to Kootenai County in Idaho sometime in the 1880's. In Coeur d'Alene, William supplied soldiers at Fort Sherman with meat as a hunter and acted as an Indian interpreter. William was also an early trapper and guide in the area and active in local silver mining, contracted by land owners to locate silver mines for a fee as documented in city records.
William and Martha had 10 children with four preceding him in death. He passed away at the age of 72 at his home on the morning of Tuesday 3 Jun 1919, with his obituary appearing in "The Coeur d'Alene Daily" newspaper later that day. His funeral was held Wednesday, June 4 at 2 pm at the Cassedy and Nelson Undertaking Parlor with the Reverend Monbeck officiating. William was a member of the A.T. McReynold's G.A.R. Post #19, represented at the funeral along with the G.A.R. Women's Relief Corps, the organization his wife Ella was actively involved.
Williams lineage traces back to Harmonas Alkire (1700-1796) who was born in Scotland, Franklin, Pennsylvania, but this is where the trail runs cold. William's original roots on American soil are yet to be determined.
Scott Adell
Early on, William helped work his parents farm, but in 1864 at age 17 he volunteer'd in the Union Army, serving as a private with the obscure but notorious Olney's Detachment of the Oregon Cavalry, or "Olney's Forty Thieves" as nicknamed by regular Army. Formed July 12, 1864, this controversial 40 man unit was created to protect settlers along the Columbia River Gorge against Indian reprisals, but was disbanded after only 90 days by the Army on 31 Oct 1864 pursuant to their reputation. Unlike nearly all who served in this detachment, William was able to continue his military service by enlisting in Co. H. 1st Reg't. Oregon Infantry on his 18th birthday on 10 Feb 1865, three months before the end of the Civil War. His military record describes him as 6' tall, blue eyes, light complexion and hair with a scar on one knee from an ax wound. William was confined to the Fort Vancouver Hospital for about 4 months during his time of service and finally mustered out in June 1866 by reason of special order #38.
William married 15 year old Martha Luella Davis, 25 May1867. He worked as a freighter during their early marriage years while living in Oregon and Washington,frequently leaving his wife and children for long periods when they lived in hostile Indian territory. In fact, the family had faced several "close calls", which may have prompted William to change occupations, by becoming a day laborer and farmer before they finally moved to Kootenai County in Idaho sometime in the 1880's. In Coeur d'Alene, William supplied soldiers at Fort Sherman with meat as a hunter and acted as an Indian interpreter. William was also an early trapper and guide in the area and active in local silver mining, contracted by land owners to locate silver mines for a fee as documented in city records.
William and Martha had 10 children with four preceding him in death. He passed away at the age of 72 at his home on the morning of Tuesday 3 Jun 1919, with his obituary appearing in "The Coeur d'Alene Daily" newspaper later that day. His funeral was held Wednesday, June 4 at 2 pm at the Cassedy and Nelson Undertaking Parlor with the Reverend Monbeck officiating. William was a member of the A.T. McReynold's G.A.R. Post #19, represented at the funeral along with the G.A.R. Women's Relief Corps, the organization his wife Ella was actively involved.
Williams lineage traces back to Harmonas Alkire (1700-1796) who was born in Scotland, Franklin, Pennsylvania, but this is where the trail runs cold. William's original roots on American soil are yet to be determined.
Scott Adell
William was born in Mason County, Illinois to George Nave Alkire and Jally Ann GRANT in 1847. His parents brought he and six siblings west on the Oregon Trail, arriving in Oregon in October 1851. The family settled a Donation Land Claim of 320 acres in Mohawk, Lane, Oregon on 15 May 1853.
Early on, William helped work his parents farm, but in 1864 at age 17 he volunteer'd in the Union Army, serving as a private with the obscure but notorious Olney's Detachment of the Oregon Cavalry, or "Olney's Forty Thieves" as nicknamed by regular Army. Formed July 12, 1864, this controversial 40 man unit was created to protect settlers along the Columbia River Gorge against Indian reprisals, but was disbanded after only 90 days by the Army on 31 Oct 1864 pursuant to their reputation. Unlike nearly all who served in this detachment, William was able to continue his military service by enlisting in Co. H. 1st Reg't. Oregon Infantry on his 18th birthday on 10 Feb 1865, three months before the end of the Civil War. His military record describes him as 6' tall, blue eyes, light complexion and hair with a scar on one knee from an ax wound. William was confined to the Fort Vancouver Hospital for about 4 months during his time of service and finally mustered out in June 1866 by reason of special order #38.
William married 15 year old Martha Luella Davis, 25 May1867. He worked as a freighter during their early marriage years while living in Oregon and Washington,frequently leaving his wife and children for long periods when they lived in hostile Indian territory. In fact, the family had faced several "close calls", which may have prompted William to change occupations, by becoming a day laborer and farmer before they finally moved to Kootenai County in Idaho sometime in the 1880's. In Coeur d'Alene, William supplied soldiers at Fort Sherman with meat as a hunter and acted as an Indian interpreter. William was also an early trapper and guide in the area and active in local silver mining, contracted by land owners to locate silver mines for a fee as documented in city records.
William and Martha had 10 children with four preceding him in death. He passed away at the age of 72 at his home on the morning of Tuesday 3 Jun 1919, with his obituary appearing in "The Coeur d'Alene Daily" newspaper later that day. His funeral was held Wednesday, June 4 at 2 pm at the Cassedy and Nelson Undertaking Parlor with the Reverend Monbeck officiating. William was a member of the A.T. McReynold's G.A.R. Post #19, represented at the funeral along with the G.A.R. Women's Relief Corps, the organization his wife Ella was actively involved.
Williams lineage traces back to Harmonas Alkire (1700-1796) who was born in Scotland, Franklin, Pennsylvania, but this is where the trail runs cold. William's original roots on American soil are yet to be determined.
Scott Adell
Early on, William helped work his parents farm, but in 1864 at age 17 he volunteer'd in the Union Army, serving as a private with the obscure but notorious Olney's Detachment of the Oregon Cavalry, or "Olney's Forty Thieves" as nicknamed by regular Army. Formed July 12, 1864, this controversial 40 man unit was created to protect settlers along the Columbia River Gorge against Indian reprisals, but was disbanded after only 90 days by the Army on 31 Oct 1864 pursuant to their reputation. Unlike nearly all who served in this detachment, William was able to continue his military service by enlisting in Co. H. 1st Reg't. Oregon Infantry on his 18th birthday on 10 Feb 1865, three months before the end of the Civil War. His military record describes him as 6' tall, blue eyes, light complexion and hair with a scar on one knee from an ax wound. William was confined to the Fort Vancouver Hospital for about 4 months during his time of service and finally mustered out in June 1866 by reason of special order #38.
William married 15 year old Martha Luella Davis, 25 May1867. He worked as a freighter during their early marriage years while living in Oregon and Washington,frequently leaving his wife and children for long periods when they lived in hostile Indian territory. In fact, the family had faced several "close calls", which may have prompted William to change occupations, by becoming a day laborer and farmer before they finally moved to Kootenai County in Idaho sometime in the 1880's. In Coeur d'Alene, William supplied soldiers at Fort Sherman with meat as a hunter and acted as an Indian interpreter. William was also an early trapper and guide in the area and active in local silver mining, contracted by land owners to locate silver mines for a fee as documented in city records.
William and Martha had 10 children with four preceding him in death. He passed away at the age of 72 at his home on the morning of Tuesday 3 Jun 1919, with his obituary appearing in "The Coeur d'Alene Daily" newspaper later that day. His funeral was held Wednesday, June 4 at 2 pm at the Cassedy and Nelson Undertaking Parlor with the Reverend Monbeck officiating. William was a member of the A.T. McReynold's G.A.R. Post #19, represented at the funeral along with the G.A.R. Women's Relief Corps, the organization his wife Ella was actively involved.
Williams lineage traces back to Harmonas Alkire (1700-1796) who was born in Scotland, Franklin, Pennsylvania, but this is where the trail runs cold. William's original roots on American soil are yet to be determined.
Scott Adell
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Francis Edgar Alkire
1869–1878
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George Edward Alkire
1872–1948
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Charles Walter Alkire
1874–1903
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Archibald Allan "Arch" Alkire
1876–1921
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Alpheus William "Arthur or Art" Alkire
1879–1966
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Bertha Josephine Alkire Fuller
1880–1936
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Grace A. Alkire Clark
1883–1931
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Pearl Rebecca Alkire Smart
1888–1944
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Perry McKinley Alkire
1893–1896
