Rose J. (Russel) Wilson
April 25, 1938; Oregonian, p 4  (photo)
"Benton Pioneer Taken By Death"
Corvallis, April 24

   Mrs. Rose J. Wilson, Benton county's oldest pioneer resident, died this morning in her home on Monroe street.  She was 89 years of age, having been born in Holt county, Missouri, in 1850, the daughter of Levi and Mary Russel.

   She crossed the plains with her parents when she was a year old, settling with them on a donation land claim a few miles north of Corvallis.  Later the family moved to the village of Corvallis where the daughter attended the old Corvallis college, then under the supervision of President Finlay.

   On December 12, 1868, she was married to Lewis F. Wilson, who with his parents had crossed the plains in 1853.  They spent two years in Prineville, moving back to Corvallis in 1879, where Mrs. Wilson has resided ever since, her husband preceding her in death a few years ago.

   Mrs. Wilson was one of the aggressive leaders in the pioneer history of Oregon.  She helped organize the St. Mary's chapter of the Eastern Star here and was its first worthy matron.

   In 1883 she called together a group of young women at the Young America Engine company's hall and organized the Women's Coffee club for the purpose of serving coffee to the firemen during the frequent conflagrations that occurred in the city.  This developed into the Woman's club of which she served as first president.  She was also instrumental in organizing the College Folk club and was the originator of the idea for the establishment of the Eastern Star and Masonic home in Forest Grove.

   She is surprised by one son, Attorney E. E. Wilson, president of the board of trustees, First National bank, and member of the state game commission.

   Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Mayflower chapel in this city.