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.

Her exact burial location within the Odell Pioneer Cemetery is unknown, as her headstone is missing. While members of families were typically buried near each other, the remaining McTeer headstones are not grouped together as one might expect of a family plot. Mary Lulu’s headstone lacks a base, and her brother Harry’s has one, which may suggest that Mary, Ella, and others are actually buried behind the Coovert family plot and that Mary’s marker was moved at some point.

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

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