The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-11-29
PAST HISTORY :
WAS ROMANTIC
DAUGHTER OF CHIEF CnENOWITH
Wife Of Amos Underwood Passes Away
and is Buried With the Hon.
Ors Of Her Race.

Mrs. Amos Underwood, who has
been In failing health, died at her
home back Of Underwood Saturday at
an advanced age aud Sunday was bur
led in the Indian hurying ground
there with ceremonies considered sp-
piopriate to one of her race.
The lerge Under wood family were
all present, including her husband,
who came from Stevenson, where be
has been undergoing treatment for
failing health. The services we're
conducted by Indian Jim, who is we'll
known both on the other side of the
river and at Hood River and included
the rienteirinR of two sons born to
Mr.. and Mrs. Underwood and buried
In 1881 and 1886 respectively. 1t WIS
the wish of Mrs. Underwood that she
receive burial according to the Gus
toms of her race and her family re-
spected 1t.
The passing Of Mrs. Underwood is
not without interest and historical
Significance, as she was daughter of
the well known Indian chief, Cheno-
with, after whom town Is named In
Washington, and who figured very
prominently In the Indian war along
the Columbia river In the early days
Of the white settlers. In company
with six other Indians Chenowith was
executed by rival tribe OF Indians
for being too friendly to the whites.
He claimed during the trial by court
martial and to the last that he and
bis companions we're innocent, but
his protestations did not avail.
After her fathers death Mrs. Un-
derwood, whose name was Ellen, was
woed by an army officer, but she did
not look on his Isuit with favor and
would have refused him had it not
been that she was persuaded to accept
by the pleadings Of many of her race
who thought that 1t would be a good
stroke of diplomacy to make an al
lance with the army officer. So they
we're married according to the Indian
custom and for two years lived to-
gether, when the soldier was trans-
frered to post In California, but his
young wife refused to 90 with him.
girl who had never cared for him was
mole attached to her people and the
shores of the beautiful Columbia
where she and her forefathers had
lived for many years, than she was to
the officer, and they parted Her hus-
band went to California, where he
served several years and was trans
ferred to Alaska, but before going to
the far northern post of duty same to
the camp at what is now known as
Underwood and once more pleaded
with her to accompany him, but she
again refused and he went away to re-
turn no more and 1t is said that he
met bis death In the Alaska country.
Afterward she met Amos Under
wood and they we're betr0thed and
had several children, all OF whom died
but one, Mrs. Olsen.
During her long life Mrs. Under
wood had seen many changes In the
abode of her childhood and when she
could be induced to tell of them did
so most Interestingly. Like many
other places along the Columbia the
landing named after her husband was
the meeting place and camping place
for travellers long before Hood River
was in existence. The numerous and
powerful race of which she was de-
scendent is fast becoming extinct or
being absorbed and In a few years
more they will be but legend.