Honoring War of 1812 Veteran Gabriel Walling - Photos by Q Madp

Gabriel Walling (1788-1857) is interred in the Amity Pioneer Cemetery which is a registered historic cemetery with the state of Oregon Parks and Recreation Heritage Programs. Until recently, Gabriel Walling was not recognized as a veteran of the ‘War of 1812.’ This year is the 200th anniversary of this war which was the last involving foreign troops on United States soil.

As the son of a Revolutionary War soldier, Gabriel Walling joined the Army as a private. After the ‘War of 1812,’ he became a lawyer and was elected to the Iowa State Legislature. He came to the Willamette Valley in 1847 by wagon train at the age of 59 and acquired a 640-acre land claim on the banks of the Willamette River near Oswego. Mr. Walling served in the Territorial Legislature and was chosen as a Judge of Clackamas County. He fathered nine children and, in 1856, his oldest son purchased land upon which much of Amity is now located.