Growing in the Waitsburg City Cemetery is a little old moss rose bush. The original bush was brought to the American colonies from Europe. This rose was blooming in the Carolinas when Colonel William Heath and Sergeant William Jasper were heroes in the Revolutionary War. In the early eighteen hundreds, it was "slipped" and transferred to Kentucky where Polly Heath married John Jasper. In 1847, the little rose was again "slipped" and was brought across the Oregon Trail by the Jasper's, by ox team to the Williamette Valley. In 1856, Albert G. Lloyd, while serving with the Oregon Volunteers in the Indian Wars, found a piece of ground on the Touchet River that was to his liking. He returned to the Williamette Valley, married Lois Jasper, and in 1859, left on horseback with his bride to the land that was to be the first pre-emption in the Touchet Valley. Again a slip from the rose was in the saddle bags. This little rose was first planted as were the first corn crops in the valley, in the mounds of dirt thrown out of the ground by the gophers. In 1865, the City of Waitsburg was incorporated, and a cemetery laid out. The Lloyd's twins, Clara and Freddie, who died in infancy, were buried there. The little rose was again dug up and put at their headstone as a living memorial, and now a hundred years later, it is still blooming there.
Headstones in the cemetery bear out this history:
A. G. Lloyd
Lois Jasper Lloyd
Polly Heath Jasper
Lois Heath
(The story was written by Eric N. Aldrich, grandson of A. G. and Lois Lloyd. It was published The Times, Waitsburg, WA, 30 September 1965)
I often wonder if the legend is true, or is it just a family story. But the rose meant a lot because it is on the graves of Lois Lloyd's babies. Fredy & Clara died in 1877, 138 years ago.
Morgan and Jace Kuntz, at the rosebush in Waitsburg City Cemetery
They are the 4th great grandchildren of Albert G. & Lois Lloyd
The rosebush in Huntley
Mother gave me a slip of the rosebush for my home in Huntley.
The year after she died, was when it bloomed the best.
Now I need to learn how to "slip" a rose so that I may give plants to other family members.
Any tips would be appreciated!
