On July 18, between Bed Tick Creek and here at LaPrele Creek, six-year-old Joel Hembree, the second youngest son, fell from the wagon tongue on which he was riding and was fatally injured.

Diarist William T. Newby wrote, July 18: “A very bad road. Joel J. Hembrees son Joel fel off the waggeon tung & both wheels run over him. Distance 17 miles.” July 19: “Lay buy. Joel Hembree departed this life about 2 o’clock.” July 20: “We buried the youth & ingraved his name on the headstone.” Dr. Marcus Whitman described the fatality as “a wagon having passed over the abdomen.” This is the oldest identified grave along the Oregon Trail.

Joel’s body, originally buried 1/4 miles east, was moved here March 24, 1962, and placed beside Pvt. Ralston Baker, who was killed in an Indian skirmish on May 1, 1867.

North 400 feet is the site of the 1860’s LaPrele Stage and Pony Express station.