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The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., October 4, 1934, page 5

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

George W. Gilmer, rancher residing between Laurel and Glenwood, post office at Laurel, is without a doubt one of the most interesting pioneer personalities of the western section of Klickitat County.
A News representative, meeting Mr. Gilmer at the Camas Prairie picnic and rodeo at Glenwood earlier in the summer, was granted the privilege of placing his name on the subscription list. Mr. Gilmer stated at that time, that he did not have the fee in his pocket but would "in the next year or so," come in to Goldendale and pay for the paper.
The Laurel pioneer was in Goldendale Saturday. After re-acquainting himself with several old time friends, he drifted around to the office. He had just ridden, horseback, from his home to a point not far from here with a herd of pure bred White Face cattle. He had rounded up the cattle in the Glenwood country and had made the trip here.
Mr. Gilmer stepped briskly into the office, despite his 74 years, planked down his cash, and asked several questions concerning politics. He said:
"I have been riding for quite some time and have been able only to snatch a paper for news here and there and I am wondering about some of the questions of the day. I see by the paper where they believe that the Lindberg baby case is about settled. They should surely let this fellow down with the limit, I believe. I certainly have no use for such men of his kind.
"I can hardly see how a human can be so atrocious but then we have all kinds to make up the old world."
"How long have I lived in this county? Well, sir I am 74 years old and I came to Klickitat County when I was seven. I am a native northwest pioneer, all right, as I was born in The Dalles.
"We moved to the west end of the county and I have practically resided there ever since. I was postmaster at a Gilmer, named for my family, for 23 years.
"I remember old Schuster, the county's first sheriff. He was a fine old fellow. I believe he was assessor at the same time he was sheriff. I believe he has a son or to left in this country yet. Didn't I read about him in one of your papers here at a short while back? I thought so, I'd like to meet him some time, perhaps I already know him, but I haven't seen any of the family for several years.
"You can believe me that the sheriff's job was no cinch in those days. The trip to White Salmon and over in my section of the country was a real task. It was all, of course, horse and buggy, and I believe he used to make most of his trips on horseback.
"He would start out on one of his trips or calls and spend many nights camping out underneath the stars with only the round stones for a pillow. He was a great old fellow. Absolutely fearless, as I remember.
"Yes, I have been roadmaster over there several times. There was quite a bit of cooperation between my old friend, Oliver Kreps and myself. He would be the official for a while and then I would get the appointment. Yes, I built a lot of roads.
"You talk about accommodation - I remember one time when I was coming into Goldendale with my team and wagon and I got to the Klickitat near the Leidl crossing and Mr. Crevlin, he used to live this side of Blockhouse, was building a bridge across the Klickitat. I saw that the bridge was still under construction and I supposed that I'd have to go back as there was no way to get the wagon across."
"I talked with Crevlin, a mighty accommodating fellow, and by golly, he had his crew lay rafters across the bridge skeleton, helped me push the wagon across, and then I swam the horses over. I certainly did appreciate this and I never did forget it. No contractor would do that much for a man nowadays. He'd only laugh at your plight and tell you you'd have to turn around and go back.
"The old builder did the same thing for me on the return trip. I'll tell you that that those were the days. I shall never forget the horseback riding we did then.
"I was just talking with Oliver Kreps, a neighbor of mine and a mighty good friend who lives just two and one-half miles from my ranch, the other day. Oliver is 76, and the both of us have ridden all over the county. Oliver and myself are agreed that, by golly, the two of us, as old as our years indicate, can stand up better under difficult riding conditions than any other two in the county. You look like you might not believe this, but young fellow, I'll tell you we do a lot of good stiff riding yet.
"I enjoy it here and it sure does keep us old fellows in good trim. We can't expect to be as active as we were in former days, but we must stay as active as we can to keep enjoying life at its best."
About this time, Jack Sellers, another pioneer of the Woodland section just outside of Goldendale, dropped into the office, and after introducing the two old timers, it was found that they had known each other a long time but had not met for a good many years.
The two gentleman struck up an interesting conversation that gradually drifted around to politics.
"I am a republican," said Mr. Gilmer, "but I have a very definite ideas on some things and I believe in giving the devil his due. I support the man, in county politics that I believe best suited for the position and I forget about partisan politics when I sincerely believe the welfare of the county is at stake.
"My ranch? It is a small one, only 120 acres, located on the old Camas lake bed. You know the lake is drained and I have some fine soil there. I raise mostly hay on the land for the stock which I raise.
"Peculiar thing about this lake business. The lake was drained and there are some years when we need water badly and then there are other years when we can raise a nice crop without the aid of water. Now this year, we had too much moisture the first of the year and the crop was impeded by the abundance of soil moisture. It would be nice if we had a regular irrigation, though, so we could insure a good crop each year.
"Well, I've got to get going. I've spent a lot of time in here saying nothing, and I suppose you fellows have other things to do without talking to me. If you get up into my part of the county, be sure and drop in and see."
Mr. Gilmer was assured that his time was not ill spent and that the interviewer was not bored in the least, as a matter of fact, the conversation was most interesting and worthwhile.