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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., May 13, 1937, page 5

ADAMS ADD TO HISTORICAL DATA CONCERNING TERRITORY
Spring Once Boasted Brass Band; Former Residents Tell of First July 4 Celebration in Locality;
Was Handed Through Window to Speak Piece at Program, He Says
By T.D. Adams

About 1852 Erastus S. Joslyn from Massachusetts, settled on the north bank of the Columbia river opposite the mouth of Hood River. He built a cabin, set out and orchard and with his family made a real settlement. At the outbreak of the Yakima Indian war, 1855-6, friendly Indians warned them of danger and they escaped across the river. Near, from a concealed place, he watched the Indians burn his house, destroy his young orchard and drive off his stock. They were rescued by soldiers on a river boat. After the war they returned and re-established their home remaining here until 1874. I think that he was the first to settle in the Klickitat county.
During this war the soldiers made a military road from The Dalles to Fort Simcoe, and built Fort Blockhouse on Spring Creek. This road crossed the Simcoe mountains just west of "Tater Hill." A large tract of land was fenced at Rockland (Northdalles) for pasture and a substantial corral of made of large peeled poles. This was done by an army officer by the name of Jordan.
Hon. Leon W. Curtiss is said to be the first white person in born in Klickitat county, while Newton Bergen the first born in Klickitat valley, 1860. All the country east of the Cascade mountains was closed to settlers during the war but opened soon after. In 1859 some 15 families settled in the valley. About 1867 the county was organized with the county seat at Rockland where it remained so until 1879 when it was moved to Goldendale.
I shall now write mostly of Spring Creek where my folks settled in October, 1873. There were four families and one single man, J.W. Jackson, in our party, all settled on Spring Creek. My father's, Hugh Adams, claim was joining the Blockhouse farm on the east on the west creek; just above on the same branch was the Robert Mael family, and the Key family where Amos Stark had built a cabin in 1859.
On the middle creeks was Jacob Short; below him on the same branch were Jacob Adams, Dick Calwell and J.A. Stout. At the head of the large spring on the east creek was "Uncle" John Hause; just below where H.R. Adams, Merril Short and J.W. Jackson, and Pat Ryan at the military road crossing. Hugh Calwell was just west of Blockhouse. Ab Morris settled on the Horner place in 1874.
The Croftons and Barverstocks came about this time. The Whitney saw mill was built in 1860. The Spring Creek school, District 5, was started in the early seventies. Mrs. J.A. Stout (first wife) taught the first school. The early teachers were Mrs. Fenton, Miss Tisha Walker, J.A. Stout and others.
As for religion, Hugh Calwell, a Methodist, had been preaching at different places prior to 1873. Two Baptist preachers, Short and Harper, organized a church and it flourished for several years and I recall several baptismal scenes in the east creek.
The Presbyterians were represented a little later, also Anti-Mission Baptist and Christian Advents. All Sundays were occupied. Services were generally held at the school house. There was a good Sunday school and numerous socials, sings, concerts and exhibitions.
The school at first included practically all the country between the Little and Big Klickitat rivers some pupils coming four or five miles.
At one time over 50 pupils were enrolled. They used what textbooks they had or could be gotten. I especially recall the old Elementary speller and Wilson's reader.
Some years later Crofton Prairie and Cross Roads (No. 14) were organized and the school houses in all these districts were social centers, for church, Sunday school, debates, spelling schools and political meetings.
Perhaps, about 1882, the Goldendale debating society sent out a challenge with the question: "Resolved: That a Republican Form of Government Is the Best and Most Stable Form of Government." The challenge was accepted, and a return challenge sent on the question: "Resolved: That the American Indian Was Unjustly Deprived of His Land."
Spring Creek won both debates with different speakers for each debate. Among the Spring Creek debaters were: I. Bennett, W.R. Neal, Joe White, Hartman Spalding, John Bullack, John Hause, jr., John Tilden Among the Goldendale debaters were: Robert Miller, Hugh Phillips, W. White and a Mr. Chapman.
About this time Spring Creek also had a good brass band of eight pieces. The members were Frank French, instructor, Hartman, Howard and Gibb Spalding, James Bullack, Bill Gilmore, John Hause, jr., and William Newland. They played at celebrations on Spring Creek and Goldendale.
The young people would come out to hear the band practice which on still nights could be heard over the neighborhood. A favorite place for holding celebrations was on Mill Creek just below the Ed Thompson house.
The first Fourth of July celebration I attended was on the Jake Short place one-half mile east of the present school house in a pine grove, with a literary program in the afternoon in the old school house. The house did not hold near all the people. I was handed through a window in order to reach the platform to say my little piece. Spring Creek was very fortunate in having a good song leader and teacher in music - Jacob Short.
The Spring Creek cemetery was started in the fall of 1895.