The Applegate/Johnson Story: A Wallowa Pioneer Saga

Almost all students of Oregon history are familiar with the Applegate family of Douglas County Oregon. They were early pioneers in Oregon, who braved the hardships of the Oregon Trail, suffering the loss of two young sons on the Columbia River. Once in the Oregon Territory, they settled first in the area around Dallas Oregon, north of Salem.

Later the men of the family rode south to Douglas County and found land they knew would support their large families. All three Applegate brothers, Jesse, Lindsey and Charles, acquired farms and soon brought their families south to the area around Yoncalla, Oregon. The Applegates are mostly known today for researching and finding a better trail for Emigrants coming to Oregon and California.

It is safe to say they were influential in the developments and politics of early Western Oregon. Less known is the influence they had in Wallowa County. The family of Melchi and Delilah Johnson had also come over the trail from Missouri and settled in Douglas County Oregon.

Their son, Joseph F. Johnson married Fanny Applegate. Joseph and Fanny’s marriage was one of three between the Johnsons and the Applegates. In 1872, J.F. Johnson decided to leave the rainy Willamette Valley and come to Wallowa, Oregon to establish a farm and raise sheep. This farm was in the Lower Valley, between the town of Wallowa and the opening of the Wallowa River Canyon, also known as the Minam Canyon.

J.F. and Fanny raised eight children, daughters Ada and Olive and six sons, Ernest, Leonard, Arthur, J. Ray, John and Rowland. Sons Ernest and Arthur remained in the Lower Valley. Olive married James McAlister. They established a farm, located below Enterprise, the site of today's 6 Ranch. Leonard, J. Ray and John purchased land in the Snake and Imnaha River Canyons. In this way, the family influenced all of Wallowa County.

Other Applegates came, but did not stay long. Fanny’s brother Albert Applegate established a farm near J.F. and Fanny's and stayed long enough to build a large house. The Wallowa History Center has obtained a picture of this landmark house, known as the Old Yellow House to the Johnson family. Brother Buck Applegate came for an extended visit. His daughter met and married A.E. Tulley of the pioneer Levi Tulley Family. The house they built still exists at 301 Holmes St. in Wallowa. They stayed in Wallowa long enough to see their son Kenneth Tulley graduate Wallowa High School in 1922. The Tullys then moved to Portland.

In the end, J.F. and Fanny’s family were the only Applegate descendants to remain here. The first Applegate descendant to graduate from Wallowa was J. Ray in 1915. He was followed by 36 other descendants to graduate from Wallowa. Enterprise High School has had some descendants graduates as well.

In old age, J.F. travelled in California and in Old Mexico. He brought back stories and souvenirs for the family. He was instrumental in encouraging a large migration of Wallowa County residents to relocate to the Turlock, California area. (see Wallowa History Center Quarterly of Summer 2024.)

J.F. and Fanny’s graves can be found in Wallowa’s Bramlet Cemetery. Dozens of other Johnson/Applegate Descendants are there as well.

Research for this article included a trip to Yoncalla, Oregon to view Charles Applegate's beautiful pioneer home. The home is furnished with the Applegate’s possessions, many of them treasured antiques. The home is managed today by a Board of Directors. An Applegate family member lives close by.

In 2026, the Wallowa 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall was Linda Johnson Chrisman, a 5th generation descendant of Charles Applegate.

Authors note: Sources for this article are Skookum, by Shannon Applegate, This Valley by Lola Johnson Hopkins, Arthur by Lois Johnson Fleshman and personal interviews with Shannon Applegate and Dale Johnson.

Written by Marilyn Hulse, October 2026