jessie.html

The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., July 26, 1934, page 4

INTERESTING PIONEER INTERVIEWS

While Jesse Lincoln Windom, resident of Goldendale, is not particularly a pioneer of this section, he is, indeed, the pioneer of the northwest.
Mr. Windom came to Goldendale 18 years ago. In the sense that one could not pry him or his wife away from this locality, Mr. Windom is a true pioneer. He believes, and his decision to reside in this locality bears out that belief, that there is no better land anywhere in which to live.
It is here that Mr. Windom has enjoyed comparatively good health. In other districts, he has not fared so well, as far as health is concerned. So, due to this one thing more than anything else, The News correspondent was led to believe that this was the reason for the decision to spend "the rest of my days," as he put it.
Mr. Windom was born in Linn County, Oregon, near Halsey on the 27th of June, 1863. Naturally, he is now 71 years old. To meet him would be to estimate his age at not more than 55. His hair is far from gray. His active appearance is wont to lead one to believe that he is not nearly so old as he says. His conversation is interesting and his memory is good. Last spring, Mr. Windom said, he had a stroke of paralysis. He has fought the effects of that illness and has come out feeling himself again.
But let Mr. Windom tell his own story:
"I was an orphan. My father was not able to help me and my mother passed away when I was six or seven years old. From that time, it was up to me to obtain my own and subsistence and believe in what little education I could get under the limited circumstances.
"I was assisted in my education by friends who cared for me from time to time I went to school as much as I could in schools in my locality. I look back now and sometimes wonder just how I could work the way I did and care for what schooling I was able to get.
"At the age of 20, I decided that I would follow some of my friends to Central Oregon. There had been several residents of the Halsey section make the trip to Madras, Culver and Prineville in that Central Oregon section.
"My older brother and myself finally made up our minds to leave our homes in Linn County and reside near Culver. Before I became 21 years old, I worked on farms in that vicinity and bought and sold a few horses. I made quite a bit of side money in the horse business which was pretty good in those days. I dickered with a lot of the stock raisers here and I eventually got to be a pretty good trader.
"With what money I had earned, and when I became _1 years of age, I filed on a homestead near Culver. There were 160 acres in the plat. I kept to my raising of stock and planted many acres of grain.
"Finally I bought some more land, enough to make a 280 acre farm. A buyer came along one day and I sold out. Then I bought another farm, 340 acres. Shortly thereafter, I was married.
"Sadie, my wife, or rather Sarah, as she was named, had come from Linn County too, but we had never met before she came to Central Oregon. I learned that she had resided but five were six miles from my home in the valley.
"My wife's father was county judge of Crook county for many years.
"All of our children were born while we were in Central Oregon. They were a Velma, Mabel, Myrtle, Vera, Jessie and Don. Velma and Mabel are gone. Myrtle McCord resides at Prineville and will and will visit us this week here in Goldendale. Vera Stram lives on our old place on Crofton Prairie. Don Windom is still here in Goldendale.
"For 30 years, we lived in Central Oregon. When my health began to fail, I decided it was time to seek a new location. I went all over this part of the country seeking a spot where I could best benefit myself and bring back a lost health. We came to Goldendale and settled on a ranch in the Crofton Prairies section.
"Soon after that, I developed ulcers of the stomach and I underwent an operation at The Dalles. The operation kept me confined to my bed for some time, but after I regained my strength, I felt fine. I suppose that that was what the matter was, for I 'kicked' along pretty good from that time on.
"I went to the Prineville (Central Oregon) district where those famous vigilantes were under organization.
"I remember one incident very clearly. A group of men had cut a tree down and it had fallen on property which was owned by a man named Longdon. After the tree toppled over, Langdon told two men who were cutting up the huge log that they had better leave the tree as it lay, and not return it for further work.
"The men disregarded the warning and came back. Langdon was near the tree with a loaded, double barreled shotgun when they started operations. He warned them again. They stayed. He shot. One shot at one, and the other at the second. Both men suffered such severe wounds that they died immediately.
"This man Langdon went up the Ochoco Creek to a farm where his brother lived. He later returned. As he came to his home, he stooped low to pick small gravel to toss at a window of the room in which his wife was sleeping. She asked him not to come in but to leave the country. He did not regard the request seriously.
"Langdon entered his home and before long, several men were in his room. A deputy sheriff was with him the men. He promised protection. Langdon went with the officer. While the two men were reclining in a room in the city - I guess it was a room, for I can't remember of there being any jail of any nature, the officer merely guarded his prisoner - several masked individuals entered and shot the prisoner.
"The story goes that Langdon knew what was to be done, so he just turned his head towards the wall of the cabin or room, and waited for the fatal shots. The shots came and Langdon was dead.
"Another example of vigilantes rule was the dragging of an individual employed by Langdon, through the town and out a mile or so to the Crooked River bridge where a noose was placed around his neck and he was kicked over the side of the bridge. Some say that the unfortunate man was dead before they hanged him due to the severe ride behind the saddle horse. As to that, I cannot say. The employee had come to town, on a Saturday night, and in celebrating took off his hat and swung it kept carelessly over his head, shouting 'hurray for Langdon.'
"I know that a little after the activities of the vigilantes became acute and several men had been killed for small misdemeanors, an organization known as the 'Moonshiners' was formed.
"These moonshiners consisted of farmers who had not like the way the vigilantes handled the situation. In due time in the vigilantes were put out of business.
"I know that the vigilantes were supposed to be organized for the sacred keeping of good law and order but there was always some question as to their intent. Sometimes where actions were severely criticized and there seemed at times, an opinion that the vigilantes were organized for their own good and no one else's. As to the real purpose of the organization, I cannot say. I took no part in the activities and did not express any opinions after I saw what happened to some of the men who did.
"Well, that will probably give you enough to write about. Of course, there are many other stories. I realize that your space is somewhat limited and I only gave you a few of the high points.
"As to my residence here in the valley, I can surely say that this is the cream of the country in which I have lived. On the farm which I operated for many years in this locality, I was fairly successful. While I was not able to lay up any great amount of money or accumulate a great amount of wealth, the soil was always pretty good to me, and best of all I was able to regain most of that health that I had lost when I resided in other parts of the northwest.
"It was not long ago that I traded my farm in Crofton Prairie to my son-in-law for Goldendale property. I knew that I was getting to the place where I couldn't operate the farm myself and I didn't like to sell the farm at a discount because I felt like my farm was worth more than the going price at the time so I thought the best way for me to do would be to let my daughter and husband have it.
"There are many acres of excellent alfalfa farmland on the farm and the cattle do fine. The milk and cream is also marketed locally.
"I merely 'loaf' around town of most of the time. You must remember that I'm not as young as I used to be."
Although Mr. Windom is 71 years old, the gray hairs of his head, do not indicate his age. He is one of the few men who has not become bald in later years and his hair is nearly as black as it was 50 years ago. The gray is scarce. He walks with a sprightly spring in his gait and he would lead one to believe that he is at least 15 years younger.