The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-25
PIONEERS OF CLATSOP
A Romantic Episode in the Early his
tory Of the Oregon Coast
DISAPPOINTED SUITOR
The School District Still Enjoys
The Fruits OF His Baffied
Hopes Northwest
News.

p. w. Gillette writes to the Orego-
MAN regarding old days In Clatsop
county. The following extracts are
taken from the article:
Clatsop is the oldest settled county.
and Astoria is the oldest town in the
state. The exploring expedition sent
out by the government OF the United
| States, under command of Captains
LMeriwether Lewis and William Clark.
erected log houses on the west bank OF
the river ''Netdle." at a point named
by them "Port Clatsop." where they
spent the winter of 1906 and 1906. Re-
mains OF some of their cabins could be
seen as late as 1850 and In 1852
walked from Clatsop plains to the
place OF their encampmeut on the same
trail opened and used by them In going
20 and from the ocean. It had ever
| since been kept open by use OF Indiana.
elk and other wild animals. The Indi-
an name OF this beautiful little river
Netdle has long since been dropped.
and Is only known and remembered by
| few of the oldest settlers. 1t has
taken the name OF Lewis a Clark"
which tt will doubtless forever keep
Indian names. Hike themselves. VIII be
soon forgotten
| But the FIRST permanent settlement In
Clatsop county was not made until
April IL. 1911. when the ship Tonquin.
a vessel sent out from New York by
John Jacob Astor. disembarked 16 men
with tools. provisions. utensils and sup
plies, who were to cooperate with
lange force OF men, sent across the
plains by Mr.. Astor for the purpose OF
establishing an extensive fur trading
business at the mouth OF the Columbia
-. INa.lH.. - n
work clearing land. planting seeds,
constructing a fort for protection
against Indians and houses In which 20
live. They named the place Astoria,
in honor OF it's founder. In 1913. the
British took possession OF Astoria. and
Mr.. Astor's property was transferred
to the Northwest company, an English
company. Later on Astoria fell into
the hands OF the Hudson Bay company.
also an English company. In whose
hands Il remained until the home
seekers of the United States came and
took up the lands under treaty sttpula-
tion between the two countries. After
taking Astoria the British named II
/ Font George, and when / went there I'm
1852 all OF the Indians and some OF the
old white settlers still called II Fort
/ George. The peninsula on which Asto-
/ ria stands. or Smiths point (now Tay-
I lor's point, was known as Point George
I'm 1911, when the Tonquin arrived
there
In 1871 the Methodists established a
mission on Clatsop plains. at n place
afterward owned and patented by w.
II. Gray. but they remained there but
a short time. leaving the place In
charge OF Rev. J. l.. Parrish. who sold
1t 20 w. II. Gray In 1886.
In the early part OF 1919. A. Trask.
w. T. Perry and w. w. Raymond
carfna n Olaf e,r. MIA nj Iatat. An hs.
same year came William Hobson and
family. Thomas Owens and family. ~.
Bberman, George Summers and Sam
uel Hall. Trask and Perry remained
/ but a few years in Clatsop county.
Trask moved 10 and became a pioneer
now perpetuates his name. w. w.
Raymond settled at Tansy point, now
the embryo city of Flavel Raymond
was Indian agent there. and On 1859
claimed to have over 800 Indians under
his care. All of those Indians and
their offspring have disappeared from
the face OF the earth. and now do not
know OF living one OF the tribe 10
tell the tale of their departure. II Is
but Justice 10 say OF the Clatsop Indi-
ans that they were always peaceable
and friendly with the white people
and never gave them any serious
trouble. The white people. as usual.
brought contagious diseases among
them. which they were not able 10
control. but which finally annIhiiaaed
/ the natives.
Samuel Hall was a bachelor and
made rather a dramatic episode in the
early history of Clatsop by falling des-
perately In love with an attractive
school teacher. who taught In the
southern district on Clatsop plains.
His suit was ruthlessly rejected by
the fair one Hall went hopelessly
away 10 California. where he died.
leaving a will. giving all OF his proper
ty TO the school district In which he
/ had so ardently and fatally loved. The
school district still enjoys the fruits OF
/ his folly.
The Immigration of 1913 was the firs,
of any magnitude that ever crossed the
/ plains. IL consisted OF Ill wagons,
/ with 300 males over Is years OF age,
/ and numbering IN all about 1000 per-
sons. Many OF these never reached
Oregon: Some died on the road. some
became disheartened and turned back,
others went to California. Peter III.
Burnett was elected captain OF the
company. DIR. Whitman. on his return
from Washington. overlook the COM
/ pany about the time n reached the
I South Platte river, and Travelled
through with II. volunteering his serv-
Ices as guide. Among this company
were many sterling men. who later
| took prominent part In organizing the
new territory and state-the Apple
gates. waldos. Rembrees. John Hob
son. Peter II. Burnett. J. W. Nesmith
and many others. who have held I'M
portant positions and been valuable
citizens IN building up a new empire.
| III. III. Hunt and Ben Woods crossed
the plains IN 1s43. but did not go 10
| Clafsop until 1874. when they built
Hunts mill" This was the first saw
mill ever built on the Columbia river.
II stood near the place now known as
| Clifton q. W. & v. Cooks cannery).
and / think they own the old mIllsite
Mr. Hunt selected this place on ac-
count Of the water power there He
hauled the mill irons for this mill
across the plains. which. considering
| the great distance. the many dangers
| and almost insurmountable Obstacles