The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-04-25

not CIVILIZED haDltatlOn then, De-
tween the Missouri river and the Will
lamette valley, Oregon. | was con-
vinced then, and have been of the
opinion since, that there could be no
experience equal to the trip across
those plains in those days, to immune
a young life to dangers and hardships,
and fully develop all the qualities of
personal independence and courage.
My father settled on a donation
claim, near the town of Corvallis, il
Benton county, and lived there four
years. My first term of school, in
1854, was in a small log cabin, on an
oak-crowned hill, on Marys' river. My
mother was the teacher. That was
the "pioneer" school, and frontier in
every particular. This school house
had only the natural dirt floor, split
logs for benches, without back an old
time dirt chimney, for fireplace. The
absence sof log on one side, gave
light, and there was no such conven-
ience as desk or blackboard. About
twenty-five young immigrants attended
that school and walked from one to
three miles, all barefoot.
The Cayuse Indian war broke out in
1855, and nearly all the younger men
of the territory had to enlist as soldiers
to defend the settlements. Father be-
ing away from home all winter, my
mother was practically forted up in
her log cabin, with five children, the
oldest being only Ia years old. In 1858
the family moved to Marion county
and located on farm near the present
town Of Woodburn. Here | had better
school, church and society privileges.
Here | first began to reach out after
education. | joined a society called
the washington Literary society, .
and had the advantages of good IL
brary. | took special delight in
American history and biography. In
1860, on the fourth day of July, in
Salem, the capitol, | heard Colonel E.
D. Baker deliver most wonderful
oration; certainly one of the most
wonderful of his great speeches. There
perhaps for the first time, | felt the
real man stir within me; and the thrill
of great ambition for public life.
attended the camp meeting held on the
Rock Creek camp ground, in 1867, and
in answer to earnest seeking, obtained
assurance of the pardoning love of God.
About that time, also, | felt the con
viction of a "call" of God into the
ministry of the gospel.
In 1868 my health so far failed that
was compelled to try a change of eli
mate. | went east of the Cascade
mountains, followed the great ex-
citement" to the Auburn gold mines,
thence to Boise, Idaho. "Roughing
it" completely restored my health
About the first of December, that
year, in company with my brother-in-
law, j. z. Johnson, and my sister, Mrs.
NJ. Y. Johnson outfitted for re-
turn to the Willamette valley. We
purchased two very small mules, one
of which we packed with the camp out
fit, the other my sister rode. Two of
us walked the entire distance, $50
miles, to The Dalles, on the Columbia
river. The snow had fallen IL inches
deep on the Blue mountains, and the
weather was intensely cold. The third
day cut, while crossing the summit,
breaking our own trail, night overlook
US long before we had reached the
mountain house cabin. My feet froze
| in my boots we were facing conditions
Of extreme peril The cabin was finally
reached, where big log fire, a "tin
of coffee, and a fry of elk steak,
greatly revived our spirits. My feet
! thawod out within the boots, and |
was ready to travel the next day. |
was then but Is years old, and to the
care of my brother-in-law aud sister |
certainly owe my escape from the
peril of that night In the spring of
GA my father moved his family to
Grand Ronde valley, and | engaged in
freigh;ng the most of the two follow
! ing seasons, camping for eight months
each year and sleeping on the ground,
entirely without shelter. In this short
sketch ! cannot tell of the adventures
of those two years. In 1866 the family
having returned to the old home in the
willamette valley, determined ia
seek the advantages of college edu-
cation went to Forest Grove to the
Pacific University batched that year
with Thomas NJ Tongue aud Charles
c. Hall. Those young men were class
mates, and graduated in '6S. Tongue
studied law and Hall taught school.
The former became representative in
congress from the western district of
! Oregon. In that school there were
many graduates of note, II. W. Scott,
editor of the 0regollian, being the first.
The faculty Of that school, Dr. Marsh,
DR.. Lyman and DR.. Collier, were
grand men, Their work has become a
part of Oregon college history. can
not too highly value the influence OF
those men and their association. In
1870, | went to Walla Wallla, Wash, Il
teach school. While there | was H.
censed to preach, by the Methodist
church, at quarterly meeting held in
the old church in Wala Wala city, in
January, 1877. The pastor was Rev.
II. c. Jenkins and presiding elder, II.
X. Hines. received my first appoint.
ment in August of that year, from
Bishop James, to the Cowletz charge,
Freeport, Wash. The two years fol.
lowing were spent on the Yakima
charge, where | was the only preacher
in two counties. Yakima City was
then a slab town of 100 people. The
now city Of Ellensburg was then com.
posed of two houses. in one of which
! preached IN a lott, and lt was known
as Robbers Rcost. often visited
Father Wilbur and his Indian mission
among the Yakjmas. During those
years, viz. in 1873 and 1874, the Modoc
Indian war took place. On one of my
trips to kittatas valley a hostile band
of the Columbias, headed by Chief
Smoholla, had invaded the valley. and
camped ON the east side. The whole
settlement had been threatened for a
number of days. After preaching to a
large congregation of people on Sun
day, in grove, | was asked to 60 to
the Indian camp, on Monday, and act
as peace commissioner. In company
with three others | rode into that
camp, about 9 O'Clock that morning,
wholly unarmed. 1t was Just after