Ella E. McTeer

Ella McTeer was born on June 11, 1859, to pioneers Robert McTeer and Sarah Jane Odell McTeer. She was their second child, born at the family’s homestead located between the Webfoot area of Dayton and Hopewell.

Ella died on March 1, 1862, at the age of 2 years, 8 months, and 20 days. Little is known about the circumstances of her death. In the early years of Oregon statehood few vital records were kept, and none have been found for Ella.

For many years, Ella’s exact burial location within the Odell Pioneer Cemetery was unknown, as her headstone was believed to be missing.

According to a 1940 cemetery survey completed by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ella’s headstone was present at that time and bore the following inscription, which matches the style of her sister Mary Lulu’s marker:

Ella E.
Daughter of Robert & Sarah McTeer
Died March 1, 1862
Aged 2 years, 8 months, 20 days

Headstone Rediscovery

In a recent visit to the Odell Pioneer Cemetery, Ella McTeer’s headstone was rediscovered by the Odell Family after being found lying on the surface of the ground and partially obscured by soil. The original base was located beneath the dirt, and the stone was reset in place and stabilized.

The headstone matches the inscription recorded in the 1940 Daughters of the American Revolution cemetery inventory and is consistent in style with that of her sister, Mary Lulu McTeer. It was located near the grave of Ella’s brother, Harry McTeer, which is consistent with burial practices of the period.

This rediscovery represents the first documented confirmation of Ella McTeer’s headstone since the DAR survey of the 1940s.

Headstone base

Ella's headstone newly reset and stablized