The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-12-23
H. |. HOWE WAS
PIONEER TEACHER
FIRST CLERK In FIRST LOCAL STORE
Place Of Business Begun by E. L. Smith
The Early Day School Houses
We're Crude Affairs

Henry L. Howe, city recorder and
judge of the municipal court, having
held the office for FIVE consecutive
terms, was a pioneer schoolmaster of
the community and has the distinction
Of having been the first clerk in Hood
Rivers first store. MIR. Rowe was
elected to the recordership in Decem-
ber 1911, having defeated his competi-
tor. Geo. W. Dimmick by one vote.
Since then, usually without opposition,
he has romped in at the polls without
difficulty.
MIR. Howe has been a servant of the
public since he reached manhood. He
was born at West Union, Fayette coun-
ty, Iowa, SO years ago. In 1864 the
family removed to Janesville. Minn.,
where they remained until 1871, when
they removed to Grand Island, Nebr.
In the public schools of the latter place,
with an additional winters work at
Lincoln, the Hood River valleys pio-
neer sch0olmaster secured his educa-
tional training. His first school was
taught in 1876 at Spring Branch. Neb.,
and for four years Mr.. Howe spent the
winter months teaching. while the sum-
mers were passed at work on the farm.
Mr.. Howe arrived in Hood River in
1880. He was given charge of the East
| Side school, the homes of the patrons
of which were scattered over an area
of $4,000 acres. The school house, a
rude structure, built of rough clap
boards, was located where the present
station, Lenz, on the Mount Hood Raj
way Go. g line now stands. The drec-
| tar nf ha lax txio
were d. A. Turner, F. M Jackson and
Mason Baldwin. In the late fall of
1880 E. l.. Smith opened the valleys
first store in the district now known as
Ruthton. just west of the present city
of Hood River. Mr.. Howe was en-
ployed as clerk there until August of
1881. In the early winter of '8l Mr..
Howe journeyed back to Elysian. Neb.,
where on December 10 his wedding to
Miss Belle Bishop was solemnized. He
returned with his bride in the spring of
1882. On his second arrival he was
given charge of the Pine Grove school
district, the large East Side school dis
trict having been divided into the Odell
and Pine Grove districts. The first Pine
Grove school, located at the foot of
Van Horn Butte. was built of hewn
logs.
During the summer of 1882 Mr.. and
Mrs. Howe spent their first honeymoon
days in Hood River encamped in tent
near the old home of d. A. Turner.
With much merriment today, although
at the time it caused him much cha
grin, Mr.. Howe tells the story of how
he pitched the tent. 81 had never put
up a tent, he says. "snd it never en-
tered my mind that center pole would
fully. and no sooner did have the can
vas stretched then the entire roof and
wall came tumbling down on me. 1t
would never do to let those older boys.
my students, know of this episode. A
knowledge of the art of living in the
woods and the ways of the frontier was
necessary to maintain the best disc-
pline.' The story was told to the heads
of families of pioneers, and Mr.. Howe
was the vicim of much joshing, but the
secret was kept from the boys. and it
is possible that until this day some of
them have never heard of the incident.
Another laughabe incident of the
early days, one that is often told at
the meetings of the Hood River Pio-
neer Association. of which Mr.. Howe
is secretary, concerns the first noun
tain trout caught by Mrs. Howe.
Hood river furnished the pioneers
with much delectable food. 1t was
easy to fill creel in few hours. SO
pentiful were the trout. Mrs. Howe
accompanied party on an outing. Her
hook was baited by D. A. Turner, a
member of the party. "Just drop il
over in that deep pool. said Mr.. Tur'
ner, aud no sooner said than the bait
was tempting the finny population OF
the mountain stream. In an instant 8
big FELLOW had struck. and Mrs. Howe
,, jerked him ashore. Come quick, i
she called, "l've got him! I've got
him But what must I do with him?'
, Mrs. Howe taught at the Barrett
school district on the West Side in 1882
! From that year until 1901 Mr.. Howe
taught in the local schools and al
White Salmon. He spent Ia years
teaching at the Barrett school. In th'
summer months he was employed clerk
ing at local stores.
In 1901 Mr.. Howe was appointed
clerk of the Burns land office. He wal
transferred to the Roseburg office il
1903 and remained there until 1870
when the Roseburg Office was place.
9 under suspension because of the cele
| brated land fraud trials. Mr.. Howe
! however, was transferred to the WALL
: Walla land office, where he remaine'
1 until 1910, when he resigned to accep
a position as cashier and bookkeeper o
y the Bragg Mercantile Co., position
: he held until his election as city re
u corder.
!. MIR. and Mrs. Howe have three chill
3 dren: Geo. ]. Howe, a member of tn
. postoffice force. Mrs. Paul S. Treiber
!. of Portland; and Miss Marion Howe,