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The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., December 16, 1910, page 1

GRANDMA WHITCOMB DEAD
Great Great Grandmother and Second White Woman in the White Salmon Country

     Grandma Whitcomb is dead from natural causes, death claiming her at the age of 85, at her home at Gilmer, fifteen miles north of White Salmon.
     The deceased was a great great grandmother, was the second white woman in the White Salmon country, and bore four different names, her maiden name and those of three husbands, for she was married three times. Miss Westover left the vicinity of Montreal for New York state and while still in her teens journeyed to Michigan. Marrying Joseph Bradshaw in 1852, she placed all her worldly goods in an ox cart and joined a small party of pioneers about to take the long trail to the golden west. They underwent the hardships of the desert stretches and came safely through the defiles and passes of the Rocky mountains, wending their toilsome way down the western slope in the latter days of this summer. Instead of tires giving out the wooden wheels collapsed and once in awhile a faithful ox was left to mark the trail with his whitened bones. The Dalles was reached just after the massacre of the Cascades settlement by the Simcoes. Soon afterwards her husband died and she cooked for the garrison of troops at The Dalles. She was taken in marriage by Wm. Gilmer and by boat drifted down the Columbia to what is now the Ira Rowland place four miles above White Salmon. As Mrs. Gilmer three more children were born to her, William Gilmer and at the age of 60 was courted and won by Steven Whitcomb. No children were vouchsafed them, and two years ago her husband passed away at the age of 86.
     As Mrs. Gilmer, the deceased helped erect the first log cabin in Gilmer Valley, thirty-five years ago, which cabin was a hospitable place for travelers up and down the unsettled country. Not only was she the friend of her own race, but the Indians called her their "old tillicum" which, translated, is "friend."
     She is survived by Joseph Bradshaw Jr., Sarah, and George, and Wm. Gilmer. Margaret Gilmer having died. Lourette Tiedeman of Gilmer, is the great great granddaughter.
     In religion the deceased was a Methodist and was buried by Rev. Seldon Ewing in the Gilmer cemetery.


The Oregonian, Portland, OR., December 19, 1910, page 15

AGED WHITE WOMAN DIES
Mrs. Elizabeth Whitcomb Passes at 85, at Home of Son in Gilmer

            HUSUM, Wash., Dec. 18. � (Special) -- Mrs. Elizabeth C. Whitcomb, who died at the home of her son, William Gilmer, in the town of Gilmer, six miles north of here, was a great-great-grandmother and the second white woman to locate in the White Salmon country.  She was born in Canada and died last Friday at the age of 85, her husband being 86 years at the time of his death two years ago.
            During her life Mrs. Whitcomb bore four names, having been married three times.  As Miss Westover she married Joseph Bradshaw in 1852 in Michigan, and journeyed to the Pacific Coast with a small party of pioneers.  The party reached The Dalles immediately after the massacre of the Cascades settlement by the Simcoes.  Here her first husband died, and she married William Gilmer.  The newly-wedded couple floated down the Columbia to the White Salmon country.  As Mrs. Gilmer three children were born to her.  William, George and Margaret.  William Gilmer, Sr., died at the age of 60, when she married in Steven Whitcomb, who passed away at the age of 86.
            Thirty-five years ago Mrs. Whitcomb helped to erect the first log cabin in Gilmer Valley.


The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., December 22, 1910, page 5
"White Salmon"
(From the Enterprise)

     Grandma Whitcomb is dead from natural causes, death claiming her at the age of 85, at her home at Gilmer, fifteen miles north of White Salmon. The deceased was a great great grand-mother, was the second white woman in the White Salmon country, and bore four different names, her maiden name and those of three husbands, for she was married three times.

 

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer