OR Jacksonville, Oregon veteran bio sketch #4

John Winn

Lt. Colonel
Joined
Mar 13, 2014
Location
State of Jefferson
This guy and his brother were a pair. I'll post his brother's bio next.

George Kemp Wait
Co L 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry
Co D 2nd Colorado Cavalry (March and April, 1865 only)
Co. K & F 13th Infantry, Indian wars
Co. C 14th Infantry, Indian wars

b. 1-7-1845 Quebec, Canada
d. 10-13-1907 Jacksonville, Oregon


George enlisted as a private in Co L January 18, 1864 at Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He was described as 18 years old, born in Canada West (what is now Ontario), a farmer, 5 ft 4 in, dark complected, and with dark hair and gray eyes (note that he stated in his pension application that he was born in Quebec). He was living in Pittsburg Township, Dane County, Wisconsin at the time. His company was first sent to Arkansas where they had frequent skirmishes with Gen. Joseph Shelby’s forces and were employed to escort trains. In September they were moved to Kansas and George spent the winter at Ft. Zarah, a small outpost located about 23 miles southwest of Kansas City. In April 1865 the regiment was reorganized and George was detached for two months to his brother’s unit, Co D 2nd Colorado Cavalry, to be provisioned and to receive clothing (I can only guess the 3rd Wisconsin was short on supplies at the time). George was present with the regiment May - August 1865 but I can find no record of what the regiment was doing in those months. The regiment was mustered out October 23, 1865 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

After the war he enlisted in the 13th Infantry Regiment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October, 1869 and mustered out as a corporal in company K at Camp Robinson, Nebraska in 1874.

Apparently George was a hard case in his youth as this 1869 article from the Junction City (Kansas) Union newspaper attests:

“Most of our people doubtless remember George K. Wait, who, a little over a year ago, had a desperate hand-to-hand encounter with Indians, near Wilson Creek station, coming out of the fight with some terrible wounds and an Indian scalp. George, with five other boys, had a lively fight with a lot of rebels in Idaho, Colorado, a few days ago. A party came into town and deliberately tore down the Stars and Stripes. George and friends went after them, and killed two, tarred and feathered two, and wounded six of them. Rebs and Indians had better let the crowd George travels with alone.”

The Wilson Creek station was one of many located on the Butterfield Overland Dispatch trail, established in 1865, over which a stage and freight lines traveled. It ran across Kansas and Colorado, roughly along the route of current-day U.S. 40. Wilson’s Creek station was on the Smoky Hill River about five miles northwest of Sharon Springs, Kansas. The Butterfield operated until 1870 when the transcontinental railway began operation. During the trail’s operation it was patrolled by the military to protect travelers and freight from Indian attack. That George was wounded is verified by the dispatch reporting the attack on Wilson Creek station, quoted here:

“Gov. Crawford:
The following dispatch has just been received from Wilson’s creek, 18 miles west of Harker:
R.M. Shoemaker, Leav., Kan.:
My camp was attacked yesterday at 7 A.M. by Indians. We lost one killed, John Kessler, from Springfield, Ohio; and John Waite badly wounded. Five or six Indians were killed. I leave here to-night with more soldiers for our protection. Kessler’s body is here. J.B. Riley, Resident Engineer.”

Whether George literally obtained a scalp remains a mystery. The 13th fought Indians in a number of places during George’s tour but his record does not have any details other than enlistment and discharge dates so it’s not possible to say where he might have been involved in combat with Indians other than at Wilson’s Creek.

When his tour with the 13th ended he re-enlisted in the 14th infantry regiment at Camp Douglas, Utah on October 31, 1874 and mustered out at Fort Cameron, Utah on October 7, 1879 as a corporal. Camp Douglas, located a few miles east of Salt Lake City, had been established initially to keep the Mormon threat under control but later served to protect settlers and mail routes from Indian attack. During George’s tour the 14th fought the Sioux and other tribes in many places. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any detailed accounts of the regiment’s movements so it’s not possible to say how much combat George saw in his second tour but it’s more than likely he did see some. Fort Cameron, located east of present-day Beaver, Utah was opened in 1872 to protect settlers in central Utah from Indian attack and to keep an eye on potential Mormon rebellion. It was closed in 1883.

His obituary says he was an “Indian scout” and Civil War veteran who had been engaged in farming and mining for the “past six years.” It also says: “It was through his untiring efforts that Billy the Kid, the outlaw who terrorized the Arizona and Mexico country in the ‘80's was finally captured, Wait at that time being in the employ of the Government as a scout.”

His death certificate says he had a stroke complicated by alcoholism and exposure, was 64 years old (i.e. born 1843), and was born in Illinois. At the time of his death he was engaged in stock raising in partnership with George Neuber in the Squaw Lake district. George Wait had a homestead claim of 160 acres about a mile west of the Squaw lakes which his brother, Lewis, eventually inherited after a lawsuit over ownership (settled in 1914 after three years’ litigation). The ranch (T. 41 S., R. 3 W., Sec. 4 NW 1/4) is currently an in-holding in the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest and appears to still be an operating farm.

George Neuber was a colorful, well-to-do Jacksonville resident who owned a saloon and card parlor at 130 W. California Street and, reportedly, spread his money around liberally and helped those in need. He is perhaps best remembered for firing a cannon during a September 1904 G.A.R. reunion that shattered windows on California Street and for blocks around. Mr. Neuber was the informant on George’s death certificate and there isn’t much information provided so it looks like Mr. Neuber didn’t really know much about George. I find it interesting that Mr. Neuber would have been the informant as George’s brother, Lewis (also a veteran, buried in City block 189), was still living at the time of his death and was eventually appointed administrator of his estate (1910). The delay in opening George’s probate case implies to me that Lewis was primarily interested in the ranch property and didn’t step up to the legal plate until he felt he might gain possession of it. Why, exactly, ownership of the property was in dispute could not be determined but the General Land Office eventually ruled in favor of George and so Lewis gained possession.

On his pension application George stated the he had lived in the following places:

Dickinson County, Kansas in 1866 and 1867;
Denver, Colorado from 1867 to 1877;
New Mexico and Arizona from 1877 to 1881;
California from 1881 to 1884;
Washington and Oregon from 1884 to 1903.

The only census on which George is found is for 1880 where he is recorded living in Gothic, Colorado listed as born about 1847 in Canada, occupation miner. Thus, his dates of residency listed above seem to be at least somewhat incorrect.

He received an invalid’s pension in 1903 and was living in Watkins, Oregon at the time. He described himself as 5 ft. 8 in. tall, 140 pounds, light complected, with light brown eyes and auburn hair and stated he was born in Quebec. He stated that he had “one bullet hole through my right side, one bullet hole below my left knee” also noted that “I am broke down in my back 3 ribs broken, hearing in left ear entirely gone, catarah of stomach, and general debility Rhumatism unable to walk without aid of caine.” There is a letter from Dr. J.W. Robinson stating that he attended George on June 16, 1903 for injuries received by being run over by a horse and that George suffered a fracture of the 7th rib on the right side followed by pleurisy, that his lumbar spine was injured, and that George is unable to do any manual labor. At the time of his death George was receiving $10 a month ($263 in 2016 dollars).

Sources:
Jackson County Genealogy Library
Ashland Tidings obituary V 18 p 93
Southern Oregonian obituary V 2 p 26
death certificate p122

Lawrence Daily Journal (Lawrence, Kansas) November 16, 1869 p 2

Ashland Tidings September 3, 1914
settlement of lawsuit regarding his Squaw Lake ranch.

Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1909-1910, edited by George W. Martin (State Printing Office, Topeka, Kansas, 1910) p 541

National Archives
compiled service record
pension application
 
This guy and his brother were a pair. I'll post his brother's bio next.

George Kemp Wait
Co L 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry
Co D 2nd Colorado Cavalry (March and April, 1865 only)
Co. K & F 13th Infantry, Indian wars
Co. C 14th Infantry, Indian wars

b. 1-7-1845 Quebec, Canada
d. 10-13-1907 Jacksonville, Oregon


George enlisted as a private in Co L January 18, 1864 at Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He was described as 18 years old, born in Canada West (what is now Ontario), a farmer, 5 ft 4 in, dark complected, and with dark hair and gray eyes (note that he stated in his pension application that he was born in Quebec). He was living in Pittsburg Township, Dane County, Wisconsin at the time. His company was first sent to Arkansas where they had frequent skirmishes with Gen. Joseph Shelby’s forces and were employed to escort trains. In September they were moved to Kansas and George spent the winter at Ft. Zarah, a small outpost located about 23 miles southwest of Kansas City. In April 1865 the regiment was reorganized and George was detached for two months to his brother’s unit, Co D 2nd Colorado Cavalry, to be provisioned and to receive clothing (I can only guess the 3rd Wisconsin was short on supplies at the time). George was present with the regiment May - August 1865 but I can find no record of what the regiment was doing in those months. The regiment was mustered out October 23, 1865 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

After the war he enlisted in the 13th Infantry Regiment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October, 1869 and mustered out as a corporal in company K at Camp Robinson, Nebraska in 1874.

Apparently George was a hard case in his youth as this 1869 article from the Junction City (Kansas) Union newspaper attests:

“Most of our people doubtless remember George K. Wait, who, a little over a year ago, had a desperate hand-to-hand encounter with Indians, near Wilson Creek station, coming out of the fight with some terrible wounds and an Indian scalp. George, with five other boys, had a lively fight with a lot of rebels in Idaho, Colorado, a few days ago. A party came into town and deliberately tore down the Stars and Stripes. George and friends went after them, and killed two, tarred and feathered two, and wounded six of them. Rebs and Indians had better let the crowd George travels with alone.”

The Wilson Creek station was one of many located on the Butterfield Overland Dispatch trail, established in 1865, over which a stage and freight lines traveled. It ran across Kansas and Colorado, roughly along the route of current-day U.S. 40. Wilson’s Creek station was on the Smoky Hill River about five miles northwest of Sharon Springs, Kansas. The Butterfield operated until 1870 when the transcontinental railway began operation. During the trail’s operation it was patrolled by the military to protect travelers and freight from Indian attack. That George was wounded is verified by the dispatch reporting the attack on Wilson Creek station, quoted here:

“Gov. Crawford:
The following dispatch has just been received from Wilson’s creek, 18 miles west of Harker:
R.M. Shoemaker, Leav., Kan.:
My camp was attacked yesterday at 7 A.M. by Indians. We lost one killed, John Kessler, from Springfield, Ohio; and John Waite badly wounded. Five or six Indians were killed. I leave here to-night with more soldiers for our protection. Kessler’s body is here. J.B. Riley, Resident Engineer.”

Whether George literally obtained a scalp remains a mystery. The 13th fought Indians in a number of places during George’s tour but his record does not have any details other than enlistment and discharge dates so it’s not possible to say where he might have been involved in combat with Indians other than at Wilson’s Creek.

When his tour with the 13th ended he re-enlisted in the 14th infantry regiment at Camp Douglas, Utah on October 31, 1874 and mustered out at Fort Cameron, Utah on October 7, 1879 as a corporal. Camp Douglas, located a few miles east of Salt Lake City, had been established initially to keep the Mormon threat under control but later served to protect settlers and mail routes from Indian attack. During George’s tour the 14th fought the Sioux and other tribes in many places. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any detailed accounts of the regiment’s movements so it’s not possible to say how much combat George saw in his second tour but it’s more than likely he did see some. Fort Cameron, located east of present-day Beaver, Utah was opened in 1872 to protect settlers in central Utah from Indian attack and to keep an eye on potential Mormon rebellion. It was closed in 1883.

His obituary says he was an “Indian scout” and Civil War veteran who had been engaged in farming and mining for the “past six years.” It also says: “It was through his untiring efforts that Billy the Kid, the outlaw who terrorized the Arizona and Mexico country in the ‘80's was finally captured, Wait at that time being in the employ of the Government as a scout.”

His death certificate says he had a stroke complicated by alcoholism and exposure, was 64 years old (i.e. born 1843), and was born in Illinois. At the time of his death he was engaged in stock raising in partnership with George Neuber in the Squaw Lake district. George Wait had a homestead claim of 160 acres about a mile west of the Squaw lakes which his brother, Lewis, eventually inherited after a lawsuit over ownership (settled in 1914 after three years’ litigation). The ranch (T. 41 S., R. 3 W., Sec. 4 NW 1/4) is currently an in-holding in the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest and appears to still be an operating farm.

George Neuber was a colorful, well-to-do Jacksonville resident who owned a saloon and card parlor at 130 W. California Street and, reportedly, spread his money around liberally and helped those in need. He is perhaps best remembered for firing a cannon during a September 1904 G.A.R. reunion that shattered windows on California Street and for blocks around. Mr. Neuber was the informant on George’s death certificate and there isn’t much information provided so it looks like Mr. Neuber didn’t really know much about George. I find it interesting that Mr. Neuber would have been the informant as George’s brother, Lewis (also a veteran, buried in City block 189), was still living at the time of his death and was eventually appointed administrator of his estate (1910). The delay in opening George’s probate case implies to me that Lewis was primarily interested in the ranch property and didn’t step up to the legal plate until he felt he might gain possession of it. Why, exactly, ownership of the property was in dispute could not be determined but the General Land Office eventually ruled in favor of George and so Lewis gained possession.

On his pension application George stated the he had lived in the following places:

Dickinson County, Kansas in 1866 and 1867;
Denver, Colorado from 1867 to 1877;
New Mexico and Arizona from 1877 to 1881;
California from 1881 to 1884;
Washington and Oregon from 1884 to 1903.

The only census on which George is found is for 1880 where he is recorded living in Gothic, Colorado listed as born about 1847 in Canada, occupation miner. Thus, his dates of residency listed above seem to be at least somewhat incorrect.

He received an invalid’s pension in 1903 and was living in Watkins, Oregon at the time. He described himself as 5 ft. 8 in. tall, 140 pounds, light complected, with light brown eyes and auburn hair and stated he was born in Quebec. He stated that he had “one bullet hole through my right side, one bullet hole below my left knee” also noted that “I am broke down in my back 3 ribs broken, hearing in left ear entirely gone, catarah of stomach, and general debility Rhumatism unable to walk without aid of caine.” There is a letter from Dr. J.W. Robinson stating that he attended George on June 16, 1903 for injuries received by being run over by a horse and that George suffered a fracture of the 7th rib on the right side followed by pleurisy, that his lumbar spine was injured, and that George is unable to do any manual labor. At the time of his death George was receiving $10 a month ($263 in 2016 dollars).

Sources:
Jackson County Genealogy Library
Ashland Tidings obituary V 18 p 93
Southern Oregonian obituary V 2 p 26
death certificate p122

Lawrence Daily Journal (Lawrence, Kansas) November 16, 1869 p 2

Ashland Tidings September 3, 1914
settlement of lawsuit regarding his Squaw Lake ranch.

Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1909-1910, edited by George W. Martin (State Printing Office, Topeka, Kansas, 1910) p 541

National Archives
compiled service record
pension application
George's "mining" activities clearly occurred when he was in Gothic, which was near Gunnison and Crested Butte. Interesting that he would list Denver. Back in the day, Gothic had some prolific silver mining but that got played out by the 1890's. 1880 actually is when the silver rush started, IIRC. A few of the buildings are still around today and it's a pretty scenic ghost town.
 
George's "mining" activities clearly occurred when he was in Gothic, which was near Gunnison and Crested Butte. Interesting that he would list Denver. Back in the day, Gothic had some prolific silver mining but that got played out by the 1890's. 1880 actually is when the silver rush started, IIRC. A few of the buildings are still around today and it's a pretty scenic ghost town.
George's brother was pretty active in Gothic. I posted his story, too, as they just seem like a pair. I've seen some pictures of Gothic. There's a biological research station there now.
 
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