The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-12-28
LIFE SKETCHES OF
EARLY PIONEERS

The following history of the pioneer
days of Oregon has been submitted tC
the Glacier by Rev.sW. G. Kennedy:
| These were the stalwart men who
pitched their tents far out upon the
trail of the empire fought the battle
with the Indian foe; and conquered the
bowling wilderness of Oregon.
(Prefatory note: | am not attempt.
ing to write biographies but to write
of incidents and adventures connected
with these great empire builders.
Local courtesy demands that speak
of one of the pioneers of the Dufur
Valley; one whose name will be for
ever connected with the building OF
the beautiful town of Dufur. ] write
of Mr.. A. j. Dufur, Sr.)
Mr.. Dufur possessed the elements of
sterling character which ever marked
the heroes of the West. He will be
remembered by many readers of the
Dispatch. | saw him first at Phiadel-
phia at the Centennial of 1876. He
represented Oregon there as Supern.
tendent of our state EXHIBITS. | shall
never forget my acquaintance with
him there. He was brim full of Ore
gon enthusiasm and knowledge. His
eye seemed to rest on every corner OF
the state and he never tired telling OF
the great variety of its marvellous
products. Who would have been a
better representative?
Mr.. Dufur was native of New
Hampshire and served in the war OF
1872. He crossed the Great Plains to
California in 1857, and came to Ore.
gon, at Portland, in 1860. 1t was
there he met his wife and son CA. J.
Jr.,) who had come to Portland by
steamship via the lsthmus of Panama
| In 1872 ne came to the wild valley OF
Fifteen Mile. How we'll he wrought
in building a home; in founding this
Christian civilization, and redeeming
wild Wasco county from the cattle
herder and wild Indian bands, the
homes, town and valley stand as g
monument to his memory.
Mr.. A. b. Meacham: | remember
this man well. Was associated with
him during the COS and 70's. He was
pioneer of Oregon one who wrote
his name as high Up among the Stal.
wart heroes of this wild territory. He
was Superintendent of indian Affairs
for Oregon; builder of roads; counsel.
lor and interpreter of battle fields
and a writer of the things he saw anC
knew. saw him first in the GranC
Ronde Valley and Blue Mountains.
He went into that country following
the great rush into the Idaho mines ir
1868. He saw his opportunity to builC
that first graded road over the Blue
| Mountains. This was built at great
expense and hardship for the times he
built it-l863, but it still bears his
name.
He followed the general course OF
the Old Emigrant road. He built q
large two-story house at Old Lee
encampment, veritable hotel. There
he entertained the travelling public fol-
many years. The memory of his hos.
pitality in that wild mountain house
will be recalled by many. He was ar
embodiment of energy; practical fore
sight; lover of humanity and dis
cerner of human character, whether
in with white man or red man.
While at this mountain house ar
incident occurred which attested his
great courage. The notorious Mat
Bledsoe came that way. Bledsoe wa.
a refugee from the rebel army. He
had become terror and gambler oi
the mining camps of Idaho and now
belonged to the Sagebrush Rangers
Riding on one of his raids he saw
a little boy playing soldier, carrying
the American flag. This hero of the
war; self boasting terror of men: got
off his horse, took the flag and stamped
it in the dust. When the child came
to the house and displyed his dirty flae
Mr.. Mecham mounted his best riding
horse. overlook the desperado, com.
PEELED him to get off his horse, pull of
his coat to receive Meacham's whip
/ And then he promises never to dis
grace his country's flag again.
In 1873 the terrible Modoc war came
on. General Candy was IN command
of military affairs up on this coast
He went with several regiments int
the Modoc country and ran those
Indians into their lava beds. Their,
they were besieged for several weeks.
Finally the Indians pretended peace
and asked for council with Canby
and his leaders. Mr.. Meacham was
then superintendent of Indian Affair:
and was with the army as interpreter
He warned the general and told him Of
the treschery of Capt. Jack. But Gen,
Candy thought Meacham lacking II
courage ana discernment of Indiar
character. He called MIR. Dyar, Mr.
Mescham, and DR.. Thomas of Sar
Francisco to accompany him and went