rrand.html

History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

ROBERT RAND AND FAMILY 1884

Robert Rand was born in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, Aug. 28, 1835. In 1837 his parents moved to Jackson Co., West Virginia where Robert spent his boyhood days. He attended school in a little log school house which was constructed without the use of a single nail, the logs being held together by wooden pins. The floor and seats were both made from split logs, and wooden pins held the legs of the seat in place.
There were no backs for the children to rest against and often the seats were so high that they could not touch their feet to the floor.
In 1850 the family started to Wisconsin, going by water on the Ohio river.
At St. Louis the mother died from cholera and was buried there, the father with his seven children continuing the journey. To Robert, fifteen, and Lucy, thirteen fell the task of supplying the mother's place as far as possible, and making things easier for the younger and more helpless children.
They located in Dane county staying there two years when the father died and the support of the family fell upon Robert and his older brother, They moved to La Crosse where Robert worked in the James McKinley lumber camps for two years. In later times these two years were often alluded to as the "Days of hard times."
In 1855 Lucy was married to William Boorman and in 1857 Robert was married to Christiana Glispie.
Two years later he started for the California gold mines in company with two uncles; while waiting at Council Bluffs for enough gold seekers to join them to make up a train, both of his uncles changed their minds, sold their outfit and re-turned to Wisconsin. They tried to persuade Robert to return with them but he refused and a few days later joined another company bound for California. Four days after they left Council Bluffs they reached Cottonwood Creek and camped early to prepare for an approaching storm. Hardly were their preparations completed when it broke in all its fury. No one slept that night for it was a typical Platte River thunder storm and although it only lasted an hour, every tent went down and two days were required to dry their things and repair their wagons.
On July 3rd as they were nearing Fort Laramie the Overland stage passed them bound for California with four passengers aboard. Horace Greely was one of the passengers and was to speak that night at the fort. Every one of their party heard that speech except the one whose duty it was to stand guard. In the speech Horace Greely predicted a railroad across the continent.
Rand completed his journey, tried his luck in the gold mines and returned to his home in Wisconsin.
Twenty five years later Robert Rand came again to the Pacific Coast, this time he was accompanied by his wife, his two sons and one daughter who were grown and two younger sons who were "just boys".
He located in Hood River and purchased the Collier place, just south of Indian Creek. A brother, M.V. Rand came with him, and was soon joined by his family and a sister, Mrs. Boorman, with her family came later, also two uncles, John and Jack Rand.
In their new home they engaged in general farming and strawberries, for a time, then took charge of the Mt. Hood Hotel which they conducted for several years, when they returned to their farm. In the latter part of January, 1899 Mrs. Rand became ill and was taken to a Portland Hospital where she died. She was buried in Idlewilde Cemetery near her home. An exemplary woman, a devoted wife and mother and a kind and dependable neighbor.
William Rand, the oldest son, married a teacher, Miss Minnie Le Roy, daughter of Rev. Leroy of Willamette Valley. They live in the town of Hood River and have an interesting family. Mr. Rand is an employee of the P.L. & P. Co.
Elmer J., the second son, married Miss Georgiana Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra L. Smith, on September 12, l892. They were the parents of two children, Everett who died at the age of fourteen years as the result of a fall. Laura who is now Mrs. Terrell of Bend.
Elmer assisted his father on the farm, then engaged in the mercantile business in the town of Hood River and later was in the Real Estate business in Portland. He died in Hood River in 1923.
Henrietta became the wife of Axtel Rhamb and spent several years in Sweden visiting at his boyhood home.
Adelbert married Miss Roberts of Hood River and that is still their home. Ernest is also married and lives not far away.
In later years Robert Rand purchased a tract of land on the state road which included the mouth of Phelps Creek. He erected a small hotel on the grounds cleared the surroundings and, gave the Indian name "Waugwingwin" to the falls and also to the hotel.
He sold his holdings to a company who erected a fine hotel for tourists on the premises and conferred the name of Columbia Gorge Hotel.