Ilwaco in Pacific County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
John Edmund Pickernell
Photographed by Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, November 18, 2025
1. John Edmund Pickernell Marker
John Edmund Pickernell
New Hampshire 1818
Washington Terr 1877
Wife Tonwah
Settled this site 1842
Signatory Champoeg Convention 1843
Erected 1988 by Direct descendants of Pickernell, the City of Ilwaco, the Ilwaco Heritage Foundation, and the Sacajawea Chapter NSDAR.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.
Location. 46° 19.101′ N, 124° 0.504′ W. Marker is in Ilwaco, Washington, in Pacific County. It is at the intersection of Ortelius Drive and Capt Robert Gray Dr on Ortelius Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6801 Ortelius Drive, Ilwaco WA 98624, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Washington State. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Clamshell Railroad Driving Tour (approx. 1.8 miles away); A Disastrous Year (approx. 2.8 miles away); An Evolving Playground (approx. 2.8 miles away); Fort Canby (approx. 3½ miles away); Keeping Pace with Technology (approx. 3½ miles away); Lewis and Clark Trail (approx. 3½ miles away); Life of a Lighthouse Keeper
this page online
More about this marker. On the top and center of the marker is the insignia of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Regarding John Edmund Pickernell. Pickernell was a member of the First Constitutional Convention held at Champoeg, Northwest
Territory.
In a letter dated Ilwaco, March 15, 1909, Julia Pickernell Russell stated that her father's wife was called Emaline Redhead, the daughter of Tohwah (Chinook) and Temish or Sea Woman (Quinault). Pickernell died by drowning in the Meriwether shipwreck and was buried on his donation land claim, later known as the C. Christensen farm. In 1970 the grave of a white adult male thought to be Pickernell was uncovered while clearing that property and was moved to the Ilwaco cemetery near the grave of Eugene Bouton, grandson of John Pickernell and other relatives of the Pickernell family.
The Sacajawea Chapter of Olympia was likely involved in this project because Maxine Padget was a member of Sacajawea Chapter, Regent from 1950-1954 and her husband was Ransom Alvin Padget, a direct descendant of Pickernell.
Photographed by Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, November 19, 2025
2. The marker is on an undeveloped piece of land with public utilities.
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, circa 2016
3. John Edmund Pickernell Marker
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, circa 2016
4. Grave marker of John Edmund Pickernell in Ilwaco Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 19, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 4. submitted on November 21, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
