The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., May 24, 1910, page 7

BINGEN
(Observer)

     Mrs. J.M. Filloon, of Guler, who is well acquainted with Klickitat history, furnishes the following particulars regarding Bingen:
     Bingen is the place which is distinguished in the history of Klickitat county as the first ranch settled in the county. Erastus S. Joslyn came to the police now called Bingen in 1852, and settled on the ranch later owned by Judge Byrkett. Here it was that the first orchard in Klickitat county was planted. This was in the year 1852 are possibly the next year. He built a log house and began to improve his claim, where he also acquired considerable stock. In 1855-6, during the Indian uprising the redskins burned his dwelling, destroyed his orchard and drove away the stock. Joslyn and his family fled to a place of concealment across the river, and from where he watched the depredations of the murderous natives. Friendly Indians warned Joslyn that his place would be attacked and he fled in time to save the lives of himself and family.
     At the close of the war Joslyn returned to his ranch and lived there until the fall of 1874.
     Another place about as old as that of the Joslyn's is the Curtiss place of Granddalles, which was first settled by Captain Jordan, who, with his regiment was stationed at Fort Dalles, at what is now the Dalles, Oregon. The Joslyn place is well known by the older generations as one of the historical points of the Columbia River. Some of the logs were there three years ago, that Joslyn made and which he used in one of his buildings. The Joslyn spring is where visitors, who are history lovers, like to drink from. Whenever Mrs. C.J. Crandall, Mrs. John Marden or others of the Historical Society of The Dalles visit Bingen, they wend their way to the old Joslyn place, as they call it. Mrs. Maden located the place near the landing where the stockade or impromptu fort was located during Indian troubles. Bingen is favored in having these two places within her gates, it is believed by the Fort Dalles Historical members. These would draw visitors who happened to be in easy reach of Bingen. Somehow visitors in town love to see the "oldest place." They will climb high hills or almost inaccessible places in order to reach some point known in history of the land where everything is comparatively new.
     So at Bingen, its historical place, would draw the attention of visitors even if the original house was not there. It is said that the old Indian who fired the Joslyn House in '56 still lives near Bingen, and is known as White Salmon Dave.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer