The Washington Historical Quarterly, The Washington University State Historical Society, Seattle, WA.,
Vol. XV, No. 4, October 1923, pages 248-261

KLICKITAT COUNTY: INDIANS OF AND SETTLEMENT BY WHITES

     This county derived its name from a tribe of Indians that occupied the country before the advent of the white man. At one time their home was near the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, but engaging in a war with the Cayuses, they were defeated and driven westward until their final stand was made in the "Gorge of the Columbia"; here they became closely allied to the Yakima Indians and formed a part of that nation. The Klickitats were an intelligent, energetic and aggressive tribe, alive to the advantages of trade with the white man and jealous of their rights to the land which the Great Spirit had given them.
     Lewis and Clark in 1805 mention in their journal that "the two friendly chiefs, who had accompanied them down the Columbia, became very restless as they neared the rapids and wished to return home, fearing the warlike tribes below."
     After visiting with the Echeloot or Wascopum Indians, mention is made of stopping at three different settlements, the last one spoken of being at the mouth of a swift and rapid stream which they called Cataract River but which later was written "Clicitat."
     When the fur traders established their posts east of the Cascades they were compelled to pass through an Indian village on the north bank of the Columbia. This village was called Wishram and in the fishing season of 1811 contained about three thousand inhabitants, the greater portion being of the Klickitat tribe. Taking advantage of their numbers and position in the pass, the Indians levied toll on the whites as they passed through, and, if in the mood, they committed robbery and murder.
     Quick to understand business opportunities the Klickitats brought in furs from the headwaters of Klickitat, White Salmon, Lewis and Cowlitz rivers. About the year 1835, and later, these indians began making pilgrimages to the south bank of the Columbia and down the river, searching, no doubt, for more plentiful game. They established a village on Sauvie's Island, passed up the Willamette River taking possession of the lands occupied by the Tualitan and Calapooya Indians and further south to the Umpqua River. They were accomplished horsemen and skilled in the use of firearms and, being restless and energetic easily overcame the weak and indolent tribes of the Wilamette Valley. They established depots for collecting furs and levied tribute from the tribes which they had conquered. As early as 1843 they were hiring out to the farmers as farm hands, giving good satisfaction as their superior intelligence and energy were recognized. They further intrenched themselves in the good graces of the whites by volunteering as scouts in the war against the Rogue River Indians.
     In 1853 fifteen Klickitat Indians with Chief Quatley at their head accompanied General Lane to a council of Rogue River warriors at Grave Creek. As the conference was progressing the Rogue River chief made a call to his followers who sprang to arms; at this juncture Quatley seized and held the treacherous chief while General Lane with pistol in hand held him as hostage until he had induced the leading men to sign a compact of peace.
     The Donation Land Law, passed in 1850, giving 640 acres of land to each family, caused a large immigration to come to the Willamette Valley. To make room for these settlers it became necessary to place the Indians on reservations and indemnify them for the land taken. In treating with the Indians the commissioners consulted only with the tribes that were in the valley when the whites first settled there, ignoring entirely the Klickitats who claimed the country by right of conquest. All Indian tribes had been governed by this rule among themselves and the Klickitats endeavored to enforce their claims and, in at least two instances, won their case in the white man's local court. These rights, however, were not upheld by the general government and in 1855 the Klickitats were ordered to their home east of the Cascade Mountains and north of the Columbia River.
     They returned with hatred and revenge burning in their hearts, adding to the discontent already existing. In May, 1855, the government called a peace council at Walla Walla for the purpose of making treaties that would satisfy the various Indian tribes and also provide land for immigrants. This council the Klickitats refused to attend. Kamiakin, Chief of the Yakimas, attended and reluctantly signed the treaty but refused the presents offered. He returned to find that his people did not approve if his action and the Klickitats became enraged when they learned that by Kamiakin's signature their lands had been taken from them without their knowledge.
     In August, 1855, a party of miners passing through the Yakima country disappeared entirely, a little later a party of five miners were fired upon and two killed. September 23rd, 1855, Indian Agent A.J. Bolon, going alone to Fort Simcoe was killed by Yakima Indians and his body burned. This occurred on Spring Creek seven miles northwest of Goldendale. A troop of soldiers sent out from The Dalles were defeated by an over-whelming number of Indians.
     On October 28th a raid was made in White River Valley, in which eight persons were killed and a two year old child kidnapped. This child was found the following day. The Indians participating in this raid were from the Klickitats, Nisqually and Green River tribes. A general war was in progress in Walla Walla Valley during the winter of 1855 and 1856, in which both the Yakimas and Klickitats joined.
     Up to this date only one family had located on land which is now known as Klickitat County. Erastus Joslyn and wife located in 1853 on the north bank of the Columbia about two miles east of White Salmon River. Nearly opposite on the south bank of the Columbia at the mouth of Dog River a settlement of white people was made in 1854. Many Klickitat Indians were living there, this place being known as Waucoma, there being also an Indian village a mile south on Indian Creek. The white people locating at Dog River were Nathaniel Coe and family, William Jenkins and family and two brothers of Mrs. Jenkins, Nathan and James Benson.
     Mr. and Mrs. Joslyn were conscientious people and, like, William Penn, called the Indians for a council and paid them for their land. Each Sunday religious services were held at the Joslyn home and the Indians were invited to attend, and a flour-ishing Sunday School was soon established with Mrs. Joslyn as teacher. News of Mrs. Joslyn's class came to the military officers at Vancouver, and they instructed the Joslyns to notify their Indians that on a certain day they must bring in their fire-arms and ammunition and give them up to the officers sent to receive them. This was in midwinter when the Indian needs his gun to kill game for the preservation of life; nevertheless, on the day specified, about thirty Indians surrendered their firearms. The officers, not content with this submission, seized three of the most prominent Indians and sent them to The Dalles in irons This was done over the earnest protests of Mr. and Mrs. Joslyn. These Indians who were sub-chiefs and whose names were Epea, Chtimcully and Stemelew were sent from Fort Dalles to Vancouver and placed in jail from which they escaped a few days later. They returned to White Salmon and taking their belongings and their families went to Yakima and joined the hostile Indians.
     In February, 1856, Sapotiwell, a friendly Indian, acquainted Mr. Joslyn with a plot of the Indians to kill him and his wife. Not deeming it wise to remain, they moved to the Cascades, leaving David Galentine in care of the stock with Samuel Wood-burn Hawks, a fourteen year old boy, as helper. As Galentine was milking a cow in the corral one evening, he heard a woman's voice softly calling him. He was a frontiersman and knew the Indian's methods, so he drove his cow nearer the fence and continued to milk, while an Indian woman hidden in the brush, told him that the Indians were on their way to kill him. She begged him not to tell who had told, as they would kill her if they knew. As he finished milking the cow he opened the gate and turned the cows and calves together, then going to the house he secured his gun and ammunition and calling Sammy to follow, quietly worked his way to the thick willows near the river. All night long the blood thirsty savages hunted for the fugitives, and several times passed near them, but the white man's cunning was greater than theirs. When morning dawned the fugitives stood on a point of land nearly opposite Mosier and hailed The Dalles steamer on its way down. They were taken on board and put ashore at Dog River where they found a refuge at the Coe home. The military authorities, hearing of this trouble, sent a company of soldiers down from The Dalles to protect the settlers at Dog River. The Klickitats and Yakimas, on the Joslyn farm, saw the soldiers when they arrived and immediately set fire to the Joslyn buildings, David Skootskin applying the torch. Mr. and Mrs. Joslyn came up the river from the Cascades that day to visit the Coe family, they arrived in time to see their house and other buildings destroyed by fire.
     The lieutenant in command determined to punish the Indians and taking his handful of soldiers and every able bodied man in the settlement, hailed the first steamer passing. As they neared the Washington shore they discovered that they were outnum-bered ten to one by the Indians, so he wisely concluded not to enter such an unequal contest without orders from his superior officer and returned to the Oregon shore. The friendly Indians at White Salmon had already left and joined the Klickitats located at Dog River, bringing with them every boat on the north bank, thus preventing the hostiles from following. Nevertheless, a few of the "braves" secured a boat that night and crossed the Columbia, firing on the friendly Indians camped near the Coe home. A few shots from the military force sent them back across the river.
     A few days later the Indians disappeared from the north bank and the soldiers returned to The Dalles and all was peaceful along the Columbia.
     On March 25th, Mrs. Coe and others noticed a continual passing of what appeared to be people on horseback on an Indian trail near the mouth of White Salmon River. The nex morning, across the Columbia, were seen two Indians waving their blankets and calling. The friendly Klickitats were afraid to go over, fearing treachery, but on the advice of Nathaniel Coe, four of their number, well armed, crossed over and returned with Wasco John and his kloochman who had been held prisoners at Yakima by Kamiakim and while there had learned of a plot to destroy the settlements at The Dalles and the Cascades. Having made their escape they did not dare to use the regular Indian trail but traveled up the Touchet, then over the highlands to the head-waters of the Klickitat and through Camas prairie to the mouth of White Salmon River. "They had been long on the way having encountered much snow and now they were too late for the blow was to be struck that day." Their words were true for even then the battle was raging at the Cascades and only fear of the presence of the military at The Dalles, saved that place from destruction.
     The Indians from Klickitat and Yakima were joined by the Cascade Indians and the attack was made simultaneously all along the six miles from the upper to the lower portage. There was a blockhouse about midway of the line, well located for defense and provided with a small cannon but there was no ammunition. Those who could reach Bradford's store put up a brave defense and only one was killed of the forty persons who took refuge behind its walls. Nine government rifles with ammunition had been left at the store for transporation about an hour before the outbreak, and this saved the day for the whites who held out until help came from The Dalles on the morning of the 28th. The stairway to the upper floor was on the outside, and it could only be reached by facing the fire of the Indians, so a hole was speedily cut in the ceiling near the stovepipe and men clambered up to defend the upper floor.
     Lawrence Coe had charge of the lower floor, Dan Bradford took the second floor and an experienced frontiersman, named Alexander, took charge of the attic. This was the most vulnerable point of attack for the Indians threw rocks and burning brands upon the roof, but the sure aim of his rifle soon kept them at a distance. This man was later a resident of Rockland and also of Goldendale, his wife had been a slave of the Witwash tribe.
     At the beginning of the massacre, an Indian, known as Simpson, started for Vancouver for help. On the morning of the 27th the steamer Belle came from there bringing Sheridan with forty men. Their numbers were insufficient to give battle and they could only wait for reinforcements but their presence prevented the Cascades from rendering further aid to the Yakimas and Klickitats and protected the remaining men at the lower portage.
     There were two steamers employed on the run between the portages and The Dalles at this time. The Wasco connected with the Oregon side, was just starting on her up trip when hostilities began. She was commanded by Captain McEarland, his son Cornelius being engineer. She made a quick run to The Dalles for help, but found the ninth regiment had already been ordered to Walla Walla and was on its way, a messenger was sent to recall it while the steamer waited. The Mary, lying at the mouth of Mill Creek, had her fires down and no crew. Her captain, Dan Baughman, in attempting to haul in the lines, was fired on and fled to the woods, the fireman, Lindsay, was shot through the lungs, the engineer, Buskminster, concealed behind the woodwork, shot down the Indians as they attempted to, board her but was unharmed himself. Johnny Chance, a ten year old boy on the boat, shot an Indian and then received a bullet in his leg. In the meantime the hatches were being burned to get up steam, and she finally pushed out into the Columbia. The pilot house then became the target of the Indians but Hardin Chenowith, lying on the floor, turned the steering wheel as directed from below and tooted defiance at the redskins. The steamer, landed on the Oregon shore, took Atwell's fence rails for fire-wood. Among the refugees who came on board there were Mrs. Atwell and Mrs. Joslyn. When again in midstream the Mary slowed down to take' on Iman's family who had fled from their home on the north shore in a small boat, the youngest member of the family being only a few hours old. The Mary bore her cargo of living freight to The Dalles, reaching there in the night.
     On the morning of the 27th, a company of soldiers on the Wasco and Mary started for the Cascades. They were compelled to stop overnight at Wind Mountain and did not reach their destination until the morning of the 28th. According to army customs, on landing, the bugle was sounded, instantly the Indians fired and disappeared, except those who were too drunk to comprehend the situation. General Sheridan with his soldiers and reinforcements from below, moved up and joined the soldiers from The Dalles. The Cascade Indians were under treaty and nine of them were held guilty of treason and hanged, among them Chief Chenowith. Of the Yakimas and Klickitats none were ever punished by the government. Eleven whites were wounded and recovered, eighteen were killed outright or died of their wounds or were tortured to death.
     Soon after this massacre a block house was built near the Joslyn farm, and Indian Agent Townsend stationed there, with Charles Coe as assistant. The Joslyn farm was used for storing supplies for the Indians. Another block house was built near Bradford's store and a small military force located there for a time, but neither Sheridan nor Grant ever occupied it.
     The Indian Agency at White Salmon was discontinued in 1859 and the block house was afterwards used as a dwelling. The loyal Klickitat Indians that had located on the south bank near the mouth of Dog River had become known as Dog River Indians, but about that time, through the efforts of Mrs. Coe, the name of Hood River was substituted for Dog River, and those Indians have since been known as Hood River Indians.
     On January 25th, 1856, a band of hostiles attacked Seattle. They were led by Leschi, chief of the Nisquallies, but said to he a Klickitat by descent, and Owhi, brother of Kamiakin. The Indians were repulsed by home guards, aided by men from the sloop-of-war, Decatur, then waiting in the harbor. Sealth, an Indian, furnished information to the whites which enabled them to be prepared for this defense.
     The scenes of war shifted further east, Other tribes joined the general uprising but always the Yakimas and Klickitats, active and revengeful, were in the forefront. General Wright, with a large and well organized force, went through the eastern part of the Territory spreading terror in the path of the Indians. The murderers of Agent Bolon were apprehended and hanged; Kamiakin escaped and Owhi, his brother, was shot while trying to escape; Quemouth, brother of Chief Leschi, was shot by an unknown party, the knife of McAllister who was killed at Connell's Prairie being found on his person. Leschi was tried and hanged. Donati's comet became visible about this time and added to the terror of the Indians who began to sue for peace. The war was over in that section of the country and Eastern Washington and Oregon was thrown open for settlement October 31, 1858.
     An Indian requires only a trail, civilization demands roads. Sometime before the murder of Agent Bolon, a trail was surveyed and cut from The Dalles north to Fort Simcoe in the Simcoe Mountains. The engineer in charge was a Mr. McClellan, in the employ of the government; he was later known as General George B. McClellan.
     It was while traveling on this trail September 21, 1855, that Agent Bolon was murdered, and General Hailer was sent from Fort Dalles with about one hundred men to inquire into the trouble. He was confronted with about fifteen hundred warriors, and hastily sent back for aid. Lieutenant Day with forty men came to his relief and they constructed the blockhouse in October, 1855. It was built of logs secured from the nearby hills, and was surrounded by a stockade eight feet high. A mili-tary force was stationed there to protect the surveyors and road makers employed by the government. Another trail was being built from St. Helens on the Columbia River eastward passing south of Trout Lake and intersecting the first trail near the blockhouse. This second trail was never completed, but it can still be traced by marks on the trees. Captain Dent, brother-in-law of General Grant, opened a military road in 1857 on the line of the first trail. The first settlements in Klickitat County, excepting those along the Columbia River, were made near this road. A.H. Curtis settled at Rockland Flats, opposite Fort Dalles, before the Indian troubles began; also an army officer named Jordan fenced several hundred acres. J. H. Alexander and Alfred Allen were other early settlers at this point, the nearness of Fort Dalles affording them protection.
     Early in the spring of 1859, Amos Stark took land in Klickitat Valley. He erected a log house, doing the work entirely alone; he then went on a trip to California; before his return many settlers had moved in, bringing their families and their stock, for Klickitat County was then primarily a stock country. Willis Jenkins brought one hundred and fifty read of cattle and horses and settled near the blockhouse. When that post was abandoned by the military in 1860 he homesteaded the land. Then came Lewis Parrot and family with his son-in-law, John J. Golden, from whom the town of Goldendale derived its name. The Tarter family, Mortimer Thorp, Calvin Pell, Charles Splawn, Stanton H. Jones, Captain McFarland and his son Cornelius, Jacob Halstead, James Clark, Nelson Whitney, William Murphy, Jacob Gulliford, Francis Venables, Marion Stafford, Waters and Sons. Robert Parker and John Nelson located on the Swale and Tim Chamberlain on Chamberlain Flats. Ben Snipes, one of the largest stockmen of Klickitat County came in later. So rapidly did the country fill up that the legislature of 1859 proceeded to organize that section into a county, much against the will of the settlers.
     The county as first organized was longer north and south than east and west, about half the territory then included in Klickitat County now belongs to Yakima County. The county seat was located temporarily on the land claim of Alfred Allen. The officers appointed were: County Commissioners, Alfred Allen, Robert Tartar, James Haistead; Probate Judge, Willis Jenkins; Sheriff, James Clark; Auditor, Nelson Whitney; Assessor, Edwin Grant; Treasurer, William Murphy; Justice of the Peace, John Nelson. These appointed officers did not appreciate the honors thrust upon them and failed to qualify so there was no county organization until the following year when an election was held, on party lines, and those elected qualified and served.
     In 1860 Thomas and John Burgen came to the Valley. John located on the Swale and there Newton Burgen, his son, was born in 1861. He is said to be the first white child born in the county, but I do not know the exact date. Clara McFarland, daughter of Cornelius McFarland, was born at Goldendale, May 16, 1861.
     In 1860, a woodyard was established at Columbus, John J. Golden contracting to deliver one thousand cords of wood to the boats at ten dollars per cord. The wood was cut from the hills back of Goldendale and hauled to the boat landing, six yoke of oxen to each wagon carrying five cords and requiring two days for the round trip. Another woodyard was established at Chamberlain Flats, thirteen miles east of Columbus, by Tim Chamberlain.
     There is no finer climate in the world than is found in Klickitat County. Much of the land is mountainous, the hills and valleys being covered by a very nutritious bunch grass, hence the raising of sheep, cattle and horses at once became a profitable industry.
     Armed Indians roamed at will over the country on their hunting and fishing expeditions. The increasing number of whites and their growing herds aroused the jealousy of the redmen and they became insolent and committed many depredations which the white people resented and punished when possible. The smoke of signal fires rising from mountain tops was seen and friendly Indians gave warning to the whites of impending trouble. The white families fled to The Dalles and Agent Bancroft, who was stationed at Fort Simcoe followed with his assistants, leaving a trusty Indian in charge at the Fort. A.J. Splawn, at that time being little more than a boy, crawled near enough a blazing bonfire built by the Indians to watch them in their war-dance and hear much of their talk. A few hours later he and Calvin Pell were warned by an Indian girl to make their escape at once as two Indians were then on their way to kill them. These Indians had stopped at her father's lodge to borrow another gun and while the father detained them the daughter sped on her errand of mercy. After many war councils were held by the Indians, they decided to heed the advice of the wiser heads and the war cloud was dissipated.
     The settlers came back to their growing herds, depending on the bunch grass to provide food for their stock as it had done in previous winters. The winter of 1861-'62 began with a snowfall in November, the ground remaining covered until the last of March, with a continued low temperature. Near the Columbia river the snow melted and the stock came through in fair condition but in Klickitat Valley three-fourths of it perished.
     The following summer Ben Snipes collected the remnant of his herd and drove them to British Columbia where he disposed of them at fabulous prices. This gave the settlers fresh courage and grain was planted to insure against future losses.
     While the settlers suffered severely from their losses by the cold weather, the loss to the Indians was much greater, for their half-starved and over-worked animals nearly all perished. This to the settlers was a blessing in disguise as an Indian will not go to war without his horse and all war talk ceased.
     Egbert French, who with his Indian wife had settled at an early date at the mouth of Klickitat River, sold their land in 1866 to James Oliver Lyle. Mr. French moved to Goldendale and started a store there. Mr. Lyle was a native of Pennsyl-vania. He came to California in 1853, then returned to Iowa, where he married Mrs. Martha (Snipes) Corsal in 1857. They crossed the plains in 1863 and settled at Rowena, Oregon. They moved across the Columbia to Klickitat Landing and engaged in the stock business.
     Other settlers came in later but a stock country does not fill up rapidly. Among the early settlers we find the names of Lev-itt, Whitcomb, Gilliam, Snider, Spencer, Hewett, Hensell, Rothrock, Van Bibber, Higby, Balch, Shippy, Campbell, Boni, Conkling, Daffron, Barlow, Silva, Tupper, O'Neil and many others.
     The Whitcombs moved from Hood River in 1875 to Row-lands Landing. A year later, they took land two miles further east, giving their place the name of Pine Hill. The Whitcomb family consisted of Thomas M. Whitcomb and wife, three sons and a number of daughters. Mr. Whitcomb had been a minister and sometimes preached for the neighborhood, but gained his livelihood from his farm and growing stock. He donated about an acre of land from his place to the Congregational Church when it was established at Pine Hill. He and his wife and one daughter are buried in the cemetery near their home.
     E.B. Hewitt came in 1879 and took land at the mouth of Major Creek. He acted as road supervisor in 1881 and opened the road from Lyle to Glenwood. His instructions from Goldendale were: "Remove no obstructions, nor do any work where the settler can do it himself." The result was that a road was opened at small cost, but was a long, crooked and rough road, but those were pioneer days, with pioneer hardships. At that date there were no doctors or nurses nearer than The Dalles and Portland so Mrs. Hewitt, being a skilled practical nurse, soon became in great demand, and traveled night or day to help the sufferers. She not only filled the place of doctor and nurse but many times did the work of the household when the unfortunate ones required her help.
     When the postoffice was first established the Post Office Department objected to the name of Klickitat Landing as being too long, so on an appointed day the patrons of that office voted on a name and chose Lyle from the list suggested, thus com-memorating the name of the first white family to locate there. Mr. Lyle was also the first postmaster and first storekeeper. His wife died in 1887. His daughter, Mrs. Ira Hewitt, died in June, 1909, leaving four children besides an adopted daughter. Mr. Lyle's death occurred late in the fall of the same year, 1909. A son, George W. Lyle, is still living.
     A bachelor, commonly spoken of as "Julius," located further back from the river and engaged in sheep raising in 1867. Jesse Snider and family came to Lyle in 1880, taking land northeast of the Whitcomb farm. Four sons and three daughters came with the parents. The only one of these remaining in that section now is George Snider, who has large holdings in orchards and land. One son is a minister, one daughter is Mrs. George Lyle, another is Mrs. Hattie Hinshaw. The father, mother and one daughter are buried in the cemetery near Pine Hill.
     Mr. James Balch came to Klickitat County in 1871 but did not remain long, returning to the Willamette Valley. In 1878 the family moved to Goldendale where Mr. Balch acted as County Judge. In the fall of 1880, they moved to Lyle, settling on land west of the Whitcomb farm. The land they settled on lay on a sloping bench overlooking the Columbia River and in early spring produces an abundance of food for stock, but the soil is shallow and underlaid with a rock formation, so it soon dries out and proves a disappointment to the farmer. While on a business trip to Goldendale, Mr. Balch collected some money due him, placing it in a small satchel. He did not reach his destination at the usual time, but came home in the middle of the night, in an exhausted condition, with his clothing soaked, his money and satchel missing and his mind a blank. An Indian who was last seen with him was questioned but with no results. The mystery was never cleared up. He was treated for awhile at Steilacoom, then sent to his boyhood home where he died. The family moved to Hood River in 1886.
     The Shippeys, father and Sons, operated a sawmill in the hills north of Lyle.
     Among the early residents who live on their own land are some Indian families whose residence antedates the incoming of the whites. Charley Parker, whose children attended the public school, raised his family according to the rules of civilization and is known and respected for his upright conduct. Joe Stahi, whose home is on Major Creek, claims to be a descendant of a chief and is as proud of his lineage as any descendant of royalty. He is well versed in Indian myths and knows of the first coming of the whites as told him by his mother. He describes very vividly the coming of Lewis and Clark, of their landing below the rocky point of land at Lyle, of their going up the hill to the Indian camps where they bought some dogs, paid for them, gave presents to the women and children then went on to the "Big Chuck." He further stated that "One Indian woman and papoose was with the white men" and that "Lewis and Clark hias close white men." A few years ago Joe Stahi, Chancy Parker and Chief Wallahe of High Prairie, who is sometimes called "Skookum," were chosen as a delegation to go to Wash-ington to represent the claims of the Klickitats. Joe spoke of Mr. Taft as a "fine man" and brought back photographs of himself and others taken in Washington.
     The towns of Cleveland and Bickleton in the eastern portion of the county were not settled until after Goldendale had become well established. In 1877, the following parties settled near the site of Cleveland: Samuel Martin, Isaac and Ralph Cousins and Ripley Dodge. Edward D. Morris came in June, 1878, followed by Simeon E. Warren, Alcana Miller, Henry C. Hackley, John Baker, Dickson P. Shattuck, Lysander Coleman with his sons, also George Alexander, William J. Story, George Ellis and Josiah Smith. On Six Prong Creek, Dixon Gaunt and Ben Butler, with his two sons James and Marion, brought in their bands of stock and claimed the land. The families of Joseph Nixon and William Fadden were probably the first to settle on Pine Creek, followed by Milton Imbrie, George Lawman, David Sprinkle, Charles E. Flower and his brother Samuel P. Flower who located ten miles south of the site of Bickleton. On Alder Creek we find Robert M. and John Graham, Angus Forbus, Gottfried Peterson, L. J. Bailey, George W. McCredy, Rasmus Gotfredson and Charles N. Bickle, from whom the town of Bickleton received its name.
     In 1879 Ephraim McFarland built a sawmill on the creek west of Bickleton. Other mills followed in that vicinity but this was the first. In 1878, when Chief Egan with his renegade band of Indians swept northward through eastern Oregon and Wash-ington and western Idaho, the settlers of eastern Klickitat County fled to Goldendale for protection but the trouble was over in two months and they were back again in their homes with but little loss.
     At this time a company of mounted riflemen was organized with Ephraim W. Pike as captain. The government furnished rifles and ammunition and they were thoroughly drilled. This was the first military company organized in Klickitat County and was known as "The Klickitat Rangers," but they were not called into service.
     The question of county seat agitated the various centers of population for some years but in November, 1878, by a popular vote Goldendale was selected. Not wishing to tax the county at large, a subscription was taken in Goldendale and $3,500 secured with which a court house and jail were built. In 1888, a fire destroyed a large portion of the town including the court house and jail, these buildings being replaced by brick structures costing $25,000. In 1881, the first county fair was held at Goldendale. These fairs have become an annual event of great educational and monetary value to the county, benefiting every line of industry and encouraging the younger generations to attain higher and better ideals. The wise provision of the founders of the school system in Washington, whereby transportation and school funds are provided for isolated communities, makes it possible for every child to secure a common school education. Many of the districts teach one or more grades of the High School, and where the population is sufficient High Schools are established.
     The cost of marketing their wheat was a great handicap until a railroad was built from Goldendale to the Columbia with its southern terminus at Lyle. The building of numerous highways and bridges is rapidly developing the latent resources of the county and opening its scenic attractions to the world.

DELIA M. COON

[HOME]
©  Jeffrey L. Elmer