Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-08-21
MARY'S MAIDEN NAME.
Choice Piece Of History About Benton
Biggest Mountain.

| DAABSSt nOuuTA1u.
The June number of the core
} gon Native SOM gives a meri
torious poem entitled s'Chin-tim
i-ni" which is said to have beer
composed by a gentleman II
Corvallis. The poem is accom-
panied with an interesting legend
which explains how the Indians
came to give the name "Chin'
timini" to the beautiful meun.
tain. The poem and the legend,
which have been extensively
copied may appear at some
future time in the GAZETTE.
But the mountain had another
name in the early days when
the pioneer was paving the way
for the Oregonian of the future.
1t was called Mount Kellum;
and Mrs. Elizabeth c. Henkle
has upon our request written a
story giving some interesting
"reminiscences aud telling who
christened the mountain thus,
and, how it came about. She
said: -s.,--
"Memory reverts back to the
early days of Oregon when the
pious people went great dis
tances on the Sabbath to attend
public worship. Men that had
teams, horses or oxen, would
load in their families and lunch
baskets early Sunday merning
and drive the nearest way to
church. We were not confined
to muddy or dusty roads then as
we are now, and we spent the
day, or at least two services, one
before and the other after din
ner, and all seemed to enjoy
themselves both temporarily and
spiritually-as the minds eye
was not taxed with deciding who
had Oh the latest style hat or
dress.
''It was in the summer of 1854
that 1neetiHgs were held in the
house, on Bush Wilson's dona-
ton claim, now known as the
William Armstrong farm. At
this date, the spot where the old
house stood is free from under
growth of timber, while sur
rounding it is dense growth of
oak trees. It was one of the
warm simmer days when all
were in the shade of some large
oaks eating dinner that we saw
upon Marys Peak a smoke and
ire-the first that was ever kim
lied by white man. 1t caused
quite little excitement, some
fearing a volcanic eruption.
Their fears were, however, dis
oelled when the report went
abroad that old, Judge Kellum
lad started early that morning
rom Henkle's saw mill which he
le was then building. He had
earned that a proposition had
made to name the mountain after
he first white man who would
limb to the summit. His equip
nent for the trip was a lunch,
. butcher knife, hatchet and
.hree yards of factory, the last
,amed article was to be used in
;aising a signal on the summit.
"He was = brave man, and it
:equired bravery to make the
rip alone, when the Indians had
;uch a horror of the mountain.
They believed there was a
syme' living up there that car
led the Siwashes off and mann
naloosed him. and they said
'grisly bear kill Indian
"The old judge in going up
oy a direct route, got down in
ieep canyons under oyerhanging
lifts and unfortunately lost his
ratchet. He had to back out
Ind hunt a ridge to follow. He
made the ascent in good time.
On arriving near the summit he
Jaw a little way ahead a big,
black bear running down the
1ill toward him. He had moth
ng to defend himself with save
! small butcher knife, so he
caught hold of each side of his
,oat and threw it open to make
himself look as large as possible,
and yelled: Here we are.' He
said old bruin turned little and
Kept on, and the judge was very
willing that the bear should go,
and did not feel like encounter
ng him or contending for rights
It that tilme.
"Being without his hatchet
ae had no pole on which to raise
ais flag of muslin, SO as a signal,
he set the grass On fire. After
resting a while, eating his lunch
and taking in the sights, he re-
Traced his steps for Henkle's