The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-12-26
GLACIERS FIRST
EDITOR PASSES
jill. CRADLEBAuGH DIES AT SALEM
S. F. Blythe, Who Purchased the Pioneeer
Paper from Mr.. Cradlebaugh, Pays
Fine Tribute to the Veteran

(The following sketch of the life of
John II. Cradlebaugh, first editor of
the Glacier. is written by 5. F. Blythe.
who succeeded him as local publisher
With deep regret and sorrow pioneers
of Hood River learned last week of the
death of John H. Cradlebaugh He
died at Salem, Ore. December II,
aged 70 years. He leaves "a widow,
son. Rudy Cradlebaugh, and step
daughter. He was born in Springfield,
Ohio, but spent his early boyhood with
relatives at Dover, Tenn. Dover is a
small town on the Cumberland river,
where Fort Donelson is situated The
wooded hills, the valleys and creeks
about Dover, where the Union and
Confederate armies maneuvered and
fought during the battle, were familiar
scenes to the youth who in after years
was to become the first editor in Hood
River and writer of renown through
out the Pacific coast. His father was
a colonel in the Union army. In some
of his campaigns in the west his son,
John Cradlebaugh, accompanied him.
The boy got to see good deal of the
war though he was too young to enlist.
At the close of the war Col. Cradle
baugh was appointed by President
Johnson United States Judge for Ne
vada. His son. John, accompanied
him to that famous mining section
where AT that date rich strikes were
daily made.
In the wild and woolly" atmosphere
of the mining camps John era 1lebaugh
grew to manhood. 1t was here he
gained his knowledge of metallurgy.
After varied career as!prospector and
mining expert he drifted to San Fran
cisco and later to the state of Wash
ington. At Goldendale was his first
venture in journalism. At The Dalles
for several years he published the
Wasco County Sun. In June, 1889,
Geo. T. Prather started the Hood River
Glacier and John Cradlebaugh was
made its first editor. The type for the
embryo venture was set up in the Office
of the Wasco Sun and the paper print
| ed there for three months. Mr.. pra-
ther had taken subscriptions for only
| three months and at the expiration of
that time gave the goodwill of the pa.
!
latter bought press and type, moved
to Hood River and built house on the
southwest corner of Oak and Third
streets, the front room of the house
being used for the printing Office while
the balance was occupied as a resi-
dence. The same house now stands or
the south of the same block, fronting
on State street. Two stately oak trees
stood in front of his door in Third
street. Here, under his own wine and
| fig tree. as he termed it, John era.
dlebaugh had home he cherished, and
mere he spent the happiest days of his
life. The little Glacier, with the aid
of a light law practice, made living
for the family.
For three or four years the Glacier
made its weekly visits replete with
witticisms by its editor as well as pro.
found editorials.
John Cradlebaugh had great faith ir
the resources and possibilities of HooC
River valley. He took leading part
IN the affairs of the community. This
was before the days of big apple orch
ards. Strawberries were the main crop
Hard times came to Hood River. With
no organized shipping agency, returns
on the berries shipped did not pan ou
as they should. Then came the disas
trous year of 1894, when the big tiooC
in the Columbia washed out our rail
road for 80 miles and berries could moi
be shipped, they rotted on the vines
John CradIebaugh, like the rest of tn,
pioneers, had no income. There wa.
nothing doing, nothing to hold mar
of his genius.
He went to The Dalles and assumed
editorial charge. .of the Daily Chronicle
After year or two he went to Port
land and for time was on the editori
al staff of the Oregon journal. Fifteer
years ago he went to Salem and wa
employed as editorial writer on tn,
Capitol Journal up to the time of hi
death.
John Cradlebaugh was a man of rar,
talent. His book of poems, published
several years ago, is cherished by hi
old-tme friends of Hood River II
was genial, whole souled fellow, witt
fund of humor delightful.to his asso
ciates.