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Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site

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Coordinates: 46°38′43.7″N 123°39′40.3″W / 46.645472°N 123.661194°W / 46.645472; -123.661194
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Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site
Heritage marker at the site
Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site is located in Washington (state)
Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site
LocationMenlo, Washington
Coordinates46°38′43.7″N 123°39′40.3″W / 46.645472°N 123.661194°W / 46.645472; -123.661194
Area0.34 acres (0.14 ha)
Established1959
Administered byWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Hiking trailsNone
DesignationWashington state park
ParkingGravel lot
FacilitiesNone

Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site, part of the Washington State Parks system, is located on Washington State Route 6 north of Menlo, Washington, and 5 miles southeast of Raymond. The park is the burial site of Willie Keil, known as the "Pickled Pioneer".

History

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Willie Keil was born January 12, 1836, in Bethel, Missouri, to German-born American immigrants Dr. William Keil and Louisa Reiter. The family was part of a religious community, known as Bethelites, who planned to migrate to the West. Willie had trained to drive an ox wagon and was planned to have been the lead driver for the migration expedition. Before departure, Willie became ill with malaria and died on May 19, 1855, four days before the trek was to leave Missouri. Willie, before his death, asked his father to continue the journey regardless of Willie's illness. Dr. Keil honored his son's wishes, converting a wagon into a hearse and transporting Willie's body during the pilgrimage. Willie's remains were preserved in a whiskey-filled[a] lead-lined tin coffin as the wagon train traveled to the Washington Territory.[2][3][4]

During the expedition, members of the Sioux nation came upon the wagon train outside of Fort Kearny and viewed Willie's remains, offering to escort the party to its destination in a swift manner. The entire migration, 34 wagons total, survived the trip to present-day Menlo and Willie was buried on December 26, 1855,[b] on a hill that overlooks the state park.[2][3][4][5] Due to the nature of Willie's embalming, he was given the moniker, the "Pickled Pioneer".[6]

As Dr. Keil did not find the area suitable for the building of a community,[6] most members of the wagon train resettled at Aurora, Oregon. Other pioneers are also interred at the park.[7] A family descended from the original expedition donated the 0.34 acres (0.14 ha) for the park in 1959.[6]

Myths and legends

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Reports and retellings of Willie Keil, his body and death, as well as the Bethelites journey, have led to a few myths that are not substantiated. Published accounts claim Willie's illness may have been due to cholera and the casket made of different types of materials, including zinc.[8] Willie's body has been reported to have provided safe passage through Native American lands during the migration, assumed as a manner of respect for the dead during a time of war between settlers and indigenous people.[9] In various accounts, during the readying of the wagon train, the camp of followers suffered severe sickness and many travelers died before the expedition began.[10]

Park features

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The hill where Willie Keil's body was buried

Hikers and bicyclists using the Willapa Hills Trail can access the site by making a slight crossing over the highway. The park has a heritage marker and interpretive panels. The gravesite itself is not accessible to the public.[11]

Significance

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The travel of Willie Keil's body was considered to be possibly the longest funeral procession in history by Guinness World Records. In 1993, a wagon train reenactment of the journey took place to celebrate coinciding milestones of the centennial of Aurora and the 150-year anniversary of the Oregon Trail.[8][9] The event included a mannequin of Willie, colloquially referred to as "Pickled Willie", which was laid in a coffin and symbolically buried in Aurora.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ Newspaper accounts decades after Willie's death report that the brand of whiskey was Golden Rule.[1]
  2. ^ Various newspaper reports list a variety of burial dates, including November 26, the day the wagon train arrived, or weeks later into December. See sources listed.

References

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  1. ^ a b Esposito, Stefano (August 25, 1993). "'Pickled Willie' rides West again in re-creation of unusual journey". Times-News (Idaho). pp. A1, A2. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Davis et al. 2008.
  3. ^ a b Nordstrand 2003.
  4. ^ a b Patrich, Chris (May 6, 2019). "Facelift planned for Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site near Menlo". The Chinook Observer. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "The Willie Keil Story". The Daily Chronicle. June 3, 1977. p. V24. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c McDonald, Julie (October 26, 2022). "Pickled Pioneer's Resting Place Sparks Toledo Man's Memories". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Burlingame 2021.
  8. ^ a b Bloom, Michael (July 24, 1993). "Conestogas Rumble Again On Historic Oregon Trail". Tyrone Daily Herald. National Geographic News Service. p. 6. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Martin, Forrest (May 12, 1993). "Wagon hearse departs city for Oregon". The Examiner (Missouri). pp. 1A, 8A. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Hill, Bill (December 11, 1970). "A Dead Man's Tale: The Corpse That Led A Wagon Train West". Oil City Derrick Newspaper (Oil City, Pennsylvania). Copley News Service. p. 14. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "WILLIE KEIL'S GRAVE STATE PARK HERITAGE SITE". parks.state.wa.us/. Washington State Parks.

Sources

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