The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-03-23
A Useful Life
Is Over.

The Astorian has received the fol
lowing account of the life of Mr.. Thorn
as Hodgkins. 1t will be read with in
terest by every pioneer of this state
for nearly all of them knew and helt
him in close friendship.
Thomas Hodgkins, who died at the
Esmond Hotel in Portland, Or, on the
10th of March, after an illness of only
four days, was born in Woolwich, Me.
81 years ago. At the age of 26 he left
his native state for the Pacific coast
and arrived in California in the spring
of 1852, and soon after started for the
gold fields, and after prospecting nearly
all summer through the northern part
of California, he, with others, started
north for the Rogue river mines in
Oregon, where he arrived late in the
fall. He spent the greater part of the
winter in the snow of the mountains,
often suffering the pangs of hunger,
but buoyed up by the hope that spring
would soon come and raise the block
ade. But the first advent of spring
brought other and unlocked for trou-
bles in the form of the Rogue River
Indians who took the war path and
opened hostilities on the miners, many
of whom were killed, but the subject of
this sketch, after many long days and
nights of travel, enduring the hard
ships incumbent on such journey
through almost an endless wilderness,
arrived in Portland, Oregon, early in
the spring of 1853. Having been born
on the banks of the Kennebec river,
his early years were spent in fishing
and rafting. and while resting few
days in Portland, he heard of the Col
umbia river salmon which again turned
his attention to the fishing industry
and he went down the river in search
of suitable location to engage in the
business.
He selected site in Columbia county
about two miles below and opposite
Oak Point, where he took up dona-
ton land claim and here made and
used the first salmon gill-net that was
ever cast in the waters of the Columbia
river. The following year he built the
first fish tray ever constructed by a
white man on the river. This was
made similar in shape to those used in
that vicinity at the present time, but
instead of framing them and using up
rights and Stats as they do now, his
first trap was made by driving stakes
about three feet apart and weaving
alder and willow brush in the stakes,
and even in this rude trap he caught
a great many salmon which he either
smoked or salted and afterward ex-
ported to the Sandwich Islands.
In 1857 he returned to Maine and
again engaged in fishing on the Kenne-
bee which he followed both summer
and winter for nearly ten years. Dur
ing this time he was married to Mrs.
H. A. Wescott, who survives him. In
1867 he came to Oregon again, his wife
following him year later, where they
have resided ever since. Mr.. Hodgkins
has twice represented the people of
Columbia county in the legislature.
first in 1872 and again in 1880. In poiit-
lcal faith he was a democrat, but in
politics, as in all of his business and
other transactions he was broad and
liberal minded, always using his in
auence and vote for the man he con-
sidered would secure the best results
for the state of his adoption, which he |
loved and honored to an unusual de-
gree
So he was not only a pioneer of Or |
egon, to which association he belonged, |
but he was the pioneer fisherman of |
The Columbia river and has kept pace |
with the progress of latter years in the
mode of catching fish. At the time Of |
MS death he and his partner, l.. w. |
Ball, owned one Of the best, If not the |
pest, seining grounds in the river.
By his death Columbia county loses |
me of her most influential and benev-
'lent citizens, and his wife and grand
daughters mourn a kind and affection
lte husband and grandfather, but 1t Is /
consolation to them to know they |
lave the sympathy Of all who knew
him. His memory will long be cher
shed in grateful remembrance by the
Door and unfortunate who ever found
n him sympathetic and helpful
riend, while those who were drawn to
lin by the bonds of close friendship
eel that the hand of death has de-
'rived them of one who was as near
md true to them as one Of their own
zindred. OF him it may be truly said,
IAN honest man is the noblest work
# God"
Tho cfo ha,.